Gratitude: Healthy perspective on a year of growth, change, humor, grief and self discovery

gra•ti•tide
Pronunciation: \ græt ɪˌtud \
Function: adjective
Etymology: Medieval Latin: gratitudo "thankfulness,"
Date: 1400-50
the quality or feeling of being grateful or thankful

An Al-Anon friend said to me recently, that his measure of growth was that his life today was marked with gratitude and service. I have much to be thankful for as I look back… and forward. Some things may seem trivial, but each in its own way contributed to this year.

Part I – Technological Distractions
The No Brainer List of Technology that I Used to “Unplug” My Brain.

Internet Based Distractions
You Tube
Yes, I am grateful for YouTube. From silly cat videos, to news, to sketch comedy to old music videos, YouTube has kept me current (in the pop culture venue) and provided hours of entertainment.

My favorites this year:
http://www.youtube.com/user/sxephil
Comments on news irreverently served.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LuJmEfO2yNI
Zombies in LA – a YouTube mini series – what more is there to say.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88NtyUfPYvI
Black Box TV – Think “Outer Limits” or “Twilight Zone.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s13dLaTIHSg
Simon’s Cat – If you are a cat person these illustrated stories are delightful.

Web Sties
http://arcadevoid.com/play/block-drop
Logic game with new age music.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/
News – gossip – columnists.

Netflix
I was able to catch up on Dexter, The Tudors, United States of Tara, Nurse Jackie, True Blood, In Treatment, the last season of LOST, streaming Eureka and the 1960’s classic Dark Shadows.

Other Things
Television
Coming home and turning on Keith Olberman and Rachel Maddow keeps me in my “liberal media” loop. AMC’s walking dead gave me another Zombie Fix

IPod Touch
I SO enjoy this device. I can check my email, log into my banking account, post to Facebook, buy books through Amazon Kindle, read or listen to FREE books through CCRLS (Chemeketa Cooperative Regional Library Service). Then there are the Aps. My favorites include Zombie Farm, Angry Birds, Soduko, Rag Doll Launcher, Doodle God,

What Worked for Me Today
Making a 30-60-90 day plan (Nod to sexephil Philip DeFranco for this idea and 12 step program “4th Step” inventory suggestions).

Lunch with a colleague and window shopping down 3rd Street in McMinnville.

Minutia
See the above links.
Tomorrow – Being grateful for the people in my life.