Day 120: Relaxing + Fashion Messages

Today I learned...
...that relaxing is NOT over-rated.

Today I am thankful for...
...hilarious fashion Facebook messages with my grad school crew. :-D

Day 119: Wonderful Words + Masters Robes!

Today I learned...
...that listening to wonderful things being said about my amazing classmates is every bit as good as listening to wonderful things being said about myself.

Today I am thankful for...
...my very delightful cap and gown! The Masters robe is weirder looking than undergrad robes were once upon a time, but hey - I get to rock a HOOD and some pretty high heels will spice things up. :-)

Day 118: Decrease in Anxiety + Plans and a Walk

Today I learned...
...that my driving anxiety is in fact decreasing.

Today I am thankful for...
...making specific plans regarding what we will do on our vacation, followed by a beautiful walk by myself. :-)

Day 117: Fun with Mom + Spring Quality Time

Today I learned...
...that no matter what we are, time with my mom is fun(ny).

Today I am thankful for...
...nice weather and quality time with Rick.

Day 116: Actions + Friday

Today I learned...
...that sometimes there is no rhyme or reason to the way people act.

Today I am thankful for...
...A REAL FRIDAY. I don't have to work tomorrow. Friday finally feels like a Friday!!!!

Day 115: Thinking the Best + Time with Mom

Today I learned...
...that thinking the best of people doesn't always mean they will do the best things.

Today I am thankful for...
...the chance to be with my mom. We had dinner and saw my friend's production of AIDA. It was a great night.

Day 114: Truth + Abundance

Today I learned...
...that truth triumphs.

Today I am thankful for...
...so many things! A new niece to love! The promise of a vacation with Rick in July! No more assignments! Some relief for friends!

Day 113: Hope + Final Paper

Today I learned...
...that even when you previously assumed the good would not prevail, there is still a chance it may prevail...so essentially, don't give up hope, even when things look hopeless.

Today I am thankful for...
...FINISHING MY VERY LAST PAPER OF GRADUATE SCHOOL. EVER. THE END. I feel like I sing Hallelujahs all night long.

Day 112: Battles + Classmates

Today I learned...
...that the good guys don't always win.

Today I am thankful for...
...my wonderful and inspiring classmates- a beautiful group of people who make me smile.

Day 111: Filler + Coffee

Today I learned...
...that some instructors want you to fill pages just for the sake of filling pages.

Today I am thankful for...
...coffee to fuel me through the writing of my last grad paper ever.

Day 110: Learning + Dinner Celebrations

Today I learned...
...that I learned A LOT during my crazy 3 year graduate program. After completing a 21 page paper detailing tons of field experience, therapy practice, etc...I feel...accomplished.

Today I am thankful for...
...a delicious dinner out with Rick. We never go out so it was nice to have some time together without having to cook.

Day 109: Bombers + Anniversary

Today I learned...
...that Boston appears to be safe again, after one bombing suspect was killed and the other caught.

Today I am thankful for...
...a lovely wedding anniversary with my husband of 5 years. Love is one of my favorite things to celebrate.

Day 108: Hopeless Situations + Ice Cream Sundaes

Today I learned...
...that a hopeless situation is not necessarily a hopeless situation if you don't give up hope.

Today I am thankful for...
...Wegman's peanut butter cup ice cream sundaes. They make paper-writing better.

Day 107: Lack of Heart + Sisterhood

Today I learned...
...that some people do NOT have your best interest in mind. And that stings. Even when it's directed at someone other than yourself.

Today I am thankful for...
...the sisterhood of my Student Association committee. I love these women who fearlessly stand by each other and their friends...and who happily stand with ME when I intend to advocate on behalf of another. Thank you thank you thank you, sisterhood!

Day 106: Counseling Stats + Advocacy Day

Today I learned...
...that MSWs provide 60% of counseling services. Go, MSWs! I'm 2 weeks away...

Today I am thankful for...
...Advocacy Day in my state's Capitol. Time with friends is always great, but time with MSW friends is cohesive and makes me feel like part of a profession.

Day 105: Boston + Channel

Today I learned...
...that tragedy occurred in Boston. I was shocked and horrified. My thoughts are with everyone affected. I am glad those I know in Boston are safe.

Today I am thankful for...
...my Freedom Fighter sisters on the channel where I make videos every Wednesday. I have officially been making eating disorder recovery/motivational/self-help videos for 4 years. I've been a recovery blogger and a group leader for longer than that, but didn't start making videos until April 2009. :-) Just realized this today. :-)

Day 104: Paper Writing + a Walk

Today I learned...
...that paper writing is not quite as hellish when you 1) know that other fabulous people are writing along with you and 2) you make a hilarious and frightening video to document the insanity.

Today I am thankful for...
...a nice, sunny walk in my neighborhood. :-)

Day 103: Discussion + DVR

Today I learned...
...that talking about things you want might help you get them.

Today I am thankful for...
...me time with my DVR before lots of paper writing.

Day 102: Confidence + Promises

Today I learned...
...that confidence affects A LOT.

Today I am thankful for...
...promises of a better future.

Day 101: Endings + Good Company

Today I learned...
...that the end of one thing is the beginning of another thing.

Today I am thankful for...
...appetizers and drinks with good people after a long but good experience.

Day 100: Knowledge + Weather

Today I learned...
...that my classmates are a wealth of information and knowledge about a wide variety of really important topics!

Today I am thankful for...
...the beautiful warm weather that means spring is finally here to stay!

Day 99: Healing + Field Respect

Today I learned...
...that some people have a real, true gift for healing...and that I highly respect that.

Today I am thankful for...
...a field instructor and field liaison who respect me, have given me good experiences, and think I am ready to be a graduate level professional in a mere few weeks time.

Day 98: People Are Listening + Spring!

Today I learned...
...that people are listening to what I say, even when I think they're not.

Today I am thankful for...
...this beautiful (warm) spring weather and the clothes and shoes I can now wear because of it!

Day 97: Hubby Knows Best + Tea

Today I learned...
...that sometimes Rick really does know best when it comes to cold remedies.

Today I am thankful for...
...tea, tea, and more tea. And the time to rest.

Day 96: Not Alone + Fun Time

Today I learned...
...that I'm not alone in some of the things I think.

Today I am thankful for...
...a fun time with friends. ;-)

Day 95: Food + Care

Today I learned...
...that favorite foods improve the mood. Rick and I are both sick with bad colds, so we drove to Panera and Subway for my favorite dinner and his respectively. Then we ate at home together in efforts of self-care. :-)

Today I am thankful for...
...a husband who takes care of me, even when he's sick himself.

Day 94: Encouragement for Girls + Cat Snuggles

Today I learned...
...that there is a HUGE need for young girls to hear positive, encouraging things about themselves. I already knew this, of course, but it keep being reaffirmed and I want to be someone who does it... Someone who encourages, who teaches, who explains that self-worth is valuable. Working on more ways to get the word out...

Today I am thankful for...
...cuddly cats that snuggle me when I feel sick...and yeah, I'm still thankful for NyQuil. :-) G'night!

Day 93: Nap + Classmates

Today I learned...
...that a good, long nap can make a sick woman deliver a presentation without failing. I was sick, but went to work...decided what was best was for me to go home...so I left at 10:45 am, went home and slept until 3:30pm. Then, I got dressed and drove to class to give a presentation. If I had worked all day, I highly doubt I could have delivered a presentation.

Today I am thankful for...
...my very intelligent and caring classmates. They never cease to support me and each other.

Day 92: Time-Outs + NyQuil

Today I learned...
...that time-outs are needed when a person is sick. Even though I make it a commitment to have my Wednesday video up and ready for Wednesday morning, I couldn't... I was too ill. I went to bed instead. The world did not end.

Today I am thankful for...
...NyQuil! No, seriously - I am!

Day 91: Tumbler Antics + Letters

Today I learned...
...that Tumbler runs laps for hours (like a bunny - because he has to hop) when I'm not home. I found this out today when I was home all day and was able to observe him in his natural habitat. He must only do this on weekdays. Clearly I did not distract him from his normal routine.

Today I am thankful for...
...beautiful letters in the mail from beautiful people. Thank you.