I have to take off from work early today as my W and I have our second marriage counseling session early this afternoon.<P>I was just thinking that positive attitudes can be just as addictive as negative attitudes and was hoping maybe we could start a group list of some of the things we live for and that make us all happy - especially if they are non-spouse related. Maybe it will help some of us keep those upbeat and positive thoughts running through our heads when we really don't feel there is anything to be happy about.<P>I will start with a few of my own:<P>1. The smell of that first day after a long winter where you can just inhale the odor of spring - the damp, warm air filled with the hope for a new year full of life again.<P>2. Having my cat jump up on my lap purring uncontrollably wanting nothing more than to have me touch her and in return look up at me with total trust.<P>3. The smell of new own grass on a warm summer day.<P>4. The feeling I get when I see or hear something that I just can't keep myself from laughing about.<P>5. Taking the top off my 4 wheel drive Isuzu Amigo on a warm Friday afternoon and driving home with the stereo playing as loud as I can get it.<P>6. Watching a Christmas Pageant at church with my youngest nieces and nephews performing. Listening to them try to recite their lines without giggling or smiling shyly.<P>7. Watching a mother animal with her newborns.<P>8. The sound and smell of a spring rain as it hits our roof at night as I go to bed.<P>There is so much to live for - it is amazing!!!

Indeed there is.<BR>Here's some of mine:<P>1. walking in the park on a nice sunny day.<P>2. Go on a byke ride with my kids.<P>3. snuggle in bed with a good book.<P>4.the first flowers in spring.<P>5. go to sleep with the sound of the waves and the breeze of the ocean.<P>6. share good moments with friends and family.<P>7. sit by the fire roasting marshmallows when camping.<P>Positive things that make us feel good recharge us even when our lives don't seem to be at their best. We sometimes are so worried that forget to do so.<BR>Take care<BR>Kat<P>------------------<BR>Each and everyone of us is deserving of a kind word, a gentle thought, and the gift of understanding.

My two main things can be seen at, <A HREF="http://briefcase.yahoo.com/bc/AKRACEFAN?c&.flabel=fld1" TARGET=_blank>http://briefcase.yahoo.com/bc/AKRACEFAN?c&.flabel=fld1</A> I updated it today so they all look good I think.LOL I was never good with this type of thing , now I am learning <BR>Lesa<P>------------------<BR>"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and<BR> lean not unto thine own understanding." -Proverbs 3:5<BR>Take care and God Bless.<P> lms20ish@jobe.net <P>[This message has been edited by LMS (edited February 16, 2000).]<p>[This message has been edited by LMS (edited February 16, 2000).]

Oh my Lesa - they are sooooooooo CUTE! Yes, I agree, kids provide us with some of our strongest motivations, laughs, and special moments to be held in our hearts forever. <P>Thanks for sharing!<P>P.S. Are you sure that you are comfortable with this? Didn't want to be a downer but there are a lot of freaks "out there" (I don't mean here specifically but...out there)<P>Lisa

How about some positive fantasies<P>1. The invention of chocolate that tastes great and has no calories, no fat and no carbs.<P>2. Finding out that some how all of your debt was completely wiped from the face of the earth.<P>3. Okay - those that have read my recent posts will be expecting this one - A Clean House <P>Here are some real ones.<P>1. Little League Season<BR>2. Singing songs together at Church<BR>3. Planting a garden and having everything really grow.<BR>4. Opening the windows and letting the fresh air in the house early on a Saturday Morning.<BR>

Lisa M,yeah it dont bother me my yahoo profile has all my old info on it from alaska. and I took out all the white page listings with my name in it when I signed on a long time ago<BR>Lesa<P>------------------<BR>"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and<BR> lean not unto thine own understanding." -Proverbs 3:5<BR>Take care and God Bless.<P> lms20ish@jobe.net

I do have good days when life is worth it. I just would like them more often than once in a blue moon.<BR>Warm days when I get on my motorcycle and take a country ride.<BR>A cherry limeade from Sonics (route 44 size)<BR>Sharing my cherry limeade with my kids and grandkids.(that's why when one gets sick, we all do)<BR>Backyard barbeques with my family and seeing the grandkids running wild and laughing.<BR>Listening to my teenage daughters talk about how they would handle an encounter with extra-terrestrials(spel?)or ghosts. My 13year old stated that she would ask "Hey man, whaz up??"(in teenage slang) I could only shake my head in wonderment on what goes through the mind of these kids. <BR>Listening to all four of my children debate over who had it the worse. (heaven forbid, washing the dishes and feeding the dog is a terrible sentence for anyone)<BR>We have a lovebird who roams out of her cage to snack on the food droppings from the floor. When the grandkids come over, she makes a beeline for her cage because they like to chase her. It's kind of funny to watch because I know she just dreads it when they come over.<BR>The West Wing <BR>My spouse's smile<BR>And as one person just reminded me, the gift that God has given me through a dream.<BR>Thank you for forcing me to look at the good things in life. My love to you.

the 'burrowing down' into a big warm comforter on a cold winter morning...<P>the sun on my face.....the snow on my face....the rain on my face...<P>the feel of a tiny hand holding mine...<P>hearing childish giggles...and realizing they're coming from me....<P>hearing my 4 yr. old giggle, followed by 'I love you mommy'....<P>a beautiful moon to dance under --- especially with ((((Sheryl)))) and ((((No Trust))))...LOL<P>a white winter night sky.....and a walk alone...<P>through great personal tradgedy and devastation, came friendships and love that would never have been possible otherwise..through this board...<P>chasing sunsets with Deut<P>the fact that the Grateful Dead still do limited tours...even without Jerry Garcia...(may he blessed forever...sigh...)<P>hearing Deut get up in the middle of the night, and NOT yelling at our 4 yr. old, who stubbornly refuses to go back to sleep....but sitting with him, showing him playing cards with tractors on them, and having the patience to read a story or 4, to perform the 'tuck in' with grace...<P>hearing our son say 'I love you Daddy'... because he really does...<P>hearing Deut tell, for the one millionth time, the vasectamy story about the 5 pound diaper, the 125 pound dog jumping on him, the....you have to ask him.....<P>sitting down, hearing nothing...child is sleeping, Deut is asleep or out...and the house is clean....well, ish...and breathing......<P>a summer garden on a rainy day and dancing in it....<P>lobster<P>and finally, knowing that I am truly Queen of MY universe....and as such, am responsible for it....<P>Dylan

hmmm... ok... things that make me happy...<P>1. Dylan's smile<BR>2. Dylan's laugh<BR>3. Dylan's bum (hey, it's a nice one)<BR>4. Dylan's kids (coincidently mine too)<BR>5. splayed out on her bed, talking with Dylan after we have put the young to bed...<P>and also...<P>6. a good game <BR>7. the tears that come when I'm speeding down the toboggon hill and the wind is like 55 degrees below freezing<BR>8. doing a good job on something<BR>9. the last 5 seconds of the day, before I fall asleep<P>deut

The smell of a new baby and how it reminds me of the day I had mine.<P>Listening to my youngest learn to talk in sentences.<P>Watching my two older girls play soccer and SCORE.<P>Long walks when there is nothing but good things to think about.<P><BR>

Sitting on the deck at the cottage in early morning and listening to the loons. <BR>The first day of spring weather - there's a certain smell in the air that only lasts about 2 days each spring.<BR>Midnight mass at Christmas<BR>When I read my son's list of wishes and it included "I wish I had some roses so I could give them to my mum every day."<BR>Any family get-together when everybody shows up.<BR>Old houses and wondering about the people who lived there in the past.<BR>That my husband has paid for expensive training for the dog to be used for pet therapy, but hasn't even suggested that she be trained to be a watchdog (even tho our house has been robbed twice since we've had her).<BR>Having brothers and sisters that I truly admire. And the horrendous teasing and jokes that only families can get away with.<BR>Jumping from a barn roof into a hayloft (haven't done it since I was a kid, but I still remember). <BR>Drawing and painting - watching something that only I can create take shape. <BR>Having someone else like what I created enough to actually pay money for it!<BR>The very best - feeling a still, silent baby finally start to wiggle and cry. <P>

WOW!!! This is fantastic - you guys have some absolutely WONDERFUL thoughts of things that make you happy. I can imagine just about all of them (except Dylans bum - even though I tried :-P).<P>I am really glad that so many people are adding to this - I am definitely going to print all these things out so I have a list for those days when I feel down - I KNOW they would make me smile :-).<P>Keep it up and THX!!! :-))