Things that I'm Thankful For

Below is an email I wanted to put on my blog so I can look at it on times of self-reflection. . .

Thank you Greggie!! I know I can't believe it its been 8 years. Hey we
> still look the same you know - we're only improving. Anyhoo, WHEN am I
> gonna see you? its cold up here though but snowboard season is coming up.
> I'm gonna learn hopefully this season. :)
>
> I had people over we ate, drank, went out to a couple of bars, pole danced a
> bit, played pool. It was fun.
>
> 3 things I'm thankful for. --->> well really I think there are 5. . .:)
>

> 1) hAVING the BESTEST friends in the world. I truly believe that one
> should surround one self w/ people that are positive, who love and support
> you and make you a better person, not to mention they want nothing but the
> Best for you. I've cherished every interaction I've had w/ the true good
> friends I"ve grown to known' and love.
>
> 2) thank God my family cared enough to teach me "to know better" & taught me
> to work hard and have high goals and to dream. Not to mention if they
> weren't strict - I would have gotten into a lot more trouble
>
> 3) finding my home in Lake Wildwood, and living the comfortable life I
> thought people only dream of w/ a loving husband that I'm in love w/ and a
> white dog that I would never consider to eat coz he's just too pretty :) --
> Isn't that what every American dreams? :) Haha I'm such a fob Yay America
> but I am thankful for the opportunities I've had in this lifetime.

> 4) "I am not my parents" Growing up w/ divorced parents since you were 2
> (so did Jim), I'm amazed I've grown out of my fear of turning into my
> parents. Don't get me wrong Jim and I consider ourselves Functional
> alcoholics (like Daddy), and we like to party. But when it gets down to
> business, I feel confident that Jim and I can handle things and work
> together. My biggest fear was divorce but the second I rid myself of that I
> was free to find the right person. really it was by accident, half of the
> time I didn't know what I was doing. You figure someone you find will take
> care of you and you take care of them. It's simple as that. Right on the
> whole "Your love for each other should exceed your need for each other"
> and yes I might have been "like Mommy" Its
> funny how the catholic family expects you to be celibate before marriage and
> become Kama Sutra Reproducing monkeys in the bedroom after marriage. Quite a transitional makeover really.
>
> 5) "Approach love and cooking w/ reckless abandon" Thankful that I'm truly
> passionate about cooking and eating. Food I love food. and there's nothing
> better than feeding your loved ones. Hehe someone has to fatten others up
> so I stay the skinniest out of the group right? JUST KIDDIN'.
>
> Yet you still love family and you deal w/ the rough times. I am fortunate
> enough to find someone who will truly work w/ my weaknesses and glorify my
> strong assets and approach life by looking past our parents faults when
> really we maybe a lot like our parents personality wise, but its how you
> work it all out.
>
> Thanks Greg for having me think about that. You know I used to write my
> high and low of the day in my journal. and I listed things that I was
> thankful for. Hey Dude u asked? and for some reason I felt like sharing.
> Sometimes people had this point of view that filipinos are braggy but really
> its just our culture - at least from our province. If you've got it flaunt
> it - I don't think pride is such a bad thing as long as their are good
> intentions behind it. It used to piss me off when people viewed me as
> braggy when really I'm just proud of who I am and the people that have
> helped me shape who I am. And it angered me when other people used to think
> that whoa she's way too nice and friendly whats wrong w/ her when really i
> just wanted to be their friend. (It's unfortunate, when you go through the
> times that you have to please others - i've had to learn to be selfish and
> really its not so bad , you know u really do go thru the times where you're
> like god! I"m giving and giving and what have I gotten) Hey Man Greg Sorry
> _ You asked and when I stop talking you know I can't stop. :) hehe but
> hopefully you're still listening. Sometimes I get in this tangent emails w/
> my best girl friends, its like I feel the sense of responsibility to like
> drop some word and thought onto my non-married friends yet. Marriage is
> bliss, its rough at times, but the key is when you get thru it. Oh wait now
> you're getting included in my "best girl friend" emails heheh j/k.
>
> Oh yeah and I've been getting up on the wake board :) I just have to learn
> my balance to stay up longer for a while. Jumping in the water this weekend
> was freaking cold but I was intoxicated enough to jump in get out and wrap a
> towel around me. I wanna see you up on one Greg this summer, I'm curious
> what the skateboarders do on water :) Trick!!
>
> Okay I sound all over the place, but really I'm trying to avoid work - gotta
> go now.
>