Sharing Thanks

Daffodils starting to Bloom at Bayard Cutting Arboretum  I am filled with gratitude after the past three days of glorious Spring weather. Temperatures in the 60s, clear blue skies, and soft breezes. I am thankful to see sunny daffodils gracing my neighbors gardens. Magnolias in bloom. I am trying to go back to the roots of this blog and just share four moments I was thankful for yesterday. I am always thankful to wake up and try to start my day by thanking all the people who are going to help me today. It's a lovely first thought in the morning. I find when I remember to start my day in this way I notice all the little kindnesses that are generously given to me. Someone holding a door for me, or letting me go ahead in line at the supermarket because I just have three items to pay for. These niceties really brighten my day. I was thankful to see Rocktopia on Broadway with a good friend. I am a classical violinist and music teacher and was so happy to see so many p...

Gratitude is scientifically proven to make us happier. I've put this Top Ten List together to help jumpstart your gratitude habit! This new thankful attitude will help your mind focus on the little joys available to all of us everyday. These suggestions are easy to do! Share your experiences in adapting some of these thankful habits. Wake up Thankful: When you open your eyes, Say thank you, thank you, thank you! You are alive, and the new day is filled with possibilities for you! Take time to stop and smell the coffee! Take the time to breathe in the sweet aroma of a cup of coffee, or home made blueberry muffins.  Enjoy your morning shower. Is there anything better than clean hot water streaming down on you, especially on these cold winter days. Be thankful for the clean water we have. Take a gratitude break. Incorporate a 1 minute break by taking a deep cleansing breathe and think of something your thankful for in this small moment of peace. Give thanks for your food...

Chalk art at Norman J. Levy Preserve Thankful for this beautiful end of summer weather with hints of Fall in the air. It was a top ten day on Long Island so I went for a 2 mile walk at the Norman J. Levy Park & Preserve. It felt great to just get outside. There is something soothing about being in nature. I love bringing my camera along and taking pictures to capture the joy of seeing a moment of beauty. I am listing my thanks today with the pictures I took of these small joys Water Lily Pond at the top of the Preserve I love this part of the park. They have a Monet like bridge overlooking the pond. I was happy to spot a few water lily blooms. After you walk around the pond I came across this incredible view. Great South Bay View from Norman Levy Park and Preserve I love the tranquility of this park. You pass a few kindred souls, walking or running in the park. I saw  someone enjoying the peace and reading a good book. It's lovely to smile and say hi to the few...

Remember a shot of water can be just as much fun! I love being around people who know how to orchestrate fun! I am a UMASS alumni, and one of our college friends hosts a reunion party every summer. It is so much fun to reconnect with old college friends and more important make some new memories together with all of our growing families. Thanks to our hosts Keith and Dora who hosted the party. It's a pool BBQ, and mostly everyone sleeps over. Guests from as far as Arizona, NY, Washington DC gather in Massachusetts to celebrate. Thanks to Keith and Dora for making a Shotski. Looking for something to do with your old skis? Keith organized pool game Olympics. And the games began with the a ceremonial SHOTSKI. There is something goofy about holding a ski and drinking with your friends. It just made me laugh Thanks to my team mate Annie in the swim relay. She held her own with the recent college grads. It was so much fun to be silly and be in an innertube kicking race. Although ...

The best Tiramisu Milkshake with a dash of color and even a magic wand! It was nice to have a magical Monday! We had a wonderful night out with some good family friends. Here was what I was thankful for yesterday. Thankful to have a great night out with our friends the Gera's! They suggested going to "Diner by the Sea" in Long Beach, NY. We were lucky to get a table as this diner is a popular hang out. I splurged and go this Tiramisu Milkshake that came with sparkling sprinkles and even a magic wand.  You know I just had to get the french fries too. Thankful to have an upside down night. Since we decided to start with dessert first, we walked done to the beautiful Long Beach Boardwalk. I love listening to the pounding surf. Thankful to see my girls enjoy running on the beach, climbing a life guard chair and taking tons of fun pictures together. They also dipped their toes in the ocean. Thankful to hear some great sounds of summer from a live band that was pla...

Sharing thanks for this Superbowl Commercial that tells the inspiring story of Derrick Coleman, a hearing impaired football player for the Seattle Seahawks. I love that they used Derrick Coleman's voice in the spot to tell his story. Derrick chose for people to know him as an NFL football player, a goal he worked hard to achieve despite his obstacles. I'll be rooting for Seattle today! I have a soft spot in my heart for this team. My daughter Liz is also deaf and wants to be known as a film director or actress. She knows how Derrick feels about batteries that help her hear with her cochlear implant everyday!

Photo by Ellen Birch. Taken at the Museum of Modern Art Water Lilies room. Art evokes emotions with color and light! To establish a grateful attitude focus on the beauty that is available to you everyday. Notice the light, and color of a moment. Sit and breathe in the beauty of that moment. Carry the picture of the moment in your mind and use it to bring you to a relaxing state of mind. I had many wonderful moments this long weekend.  I was thankful to be able to spend Sunday with my good friends at MOMA! We were energized by art and learning about the artists. One of our favorite places to go is the Water Lilies room at MOMA. The colors are mesmerizing and reflective. We sat in the room and soaked in the beauty and light of Monet's genius. It is one of the most relaxing places in New York City. I was thankful to have a good belly laugh with my friends. We went to a modernist art display and were chuckling over a piece of art work that resembled a stainless steel...

Happy 2014! I look forward to sharing the new adventures I will be thankful for in the coming year. Let the good times roll. There is something liberating about putting on silly hats and tumbling into a photo booth! I love this crazy, silly photo of my family. This photo reminds me of many happy moments I was thankful for in 2013. In celebration of the New Year I am going to write some blog posts on how to add a dash of gratitude into your life. Being grateful is a choice and a mindset that can be developed by anyone, with practice. Here are the grateful moments in 2013 that this photo reminds me of. I was thankful to celebrate the wedding of my nephew Nick to the incredible Jess! The wedding in Philadelphia was a joyous event. They had a photo booth at the wedding with some silly accessories that led to many fun family photos. Our family gathered and danced the night away and toasted this beautiful couple. I was thankful my daughter Becky had a wonderful summer learning ex...

Pittsburgh Duck at night at Point Park. I was thankful to get to see the Pittsburgh duck before it swam away on my recent trip to this fun city. My older daughter is a senior at the University of Pittsburgh and we went to visit her during parents weekend. We were lucky to be able to stay at the Grand Wyndham hotel across the street from Point Park. I was amazed how many families and people came to see the duck. We had stayed here in the Spring and the park was empty. Here is what I was thankful for in Pittsburgh. I am thankful for the artist, Florentijn Hofman, for creating this floating art installation. Hofman says, "The friendly, floating, four-story-high Rubber Duck has healing properties!" The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust brought the duck to Pittsburgh to kick off the Pittsburgh International Festival of Firsts. It is estimated that over 1 million people have gone to see the duck in Pittsburgh. I am grateful for installation artists whose work inspires us to experienc...

Smiling Rocks found on Caumsett Beach I love taking walks in nature and finding unexpected surprises. I went for a walk with my good friend Stella at Caumsett State Park and was surprised to find these smiling rocks on the beach. They look like they were left by creative kids with a black crayon! There simple designs made me smile. Smiles are contagious. I just started a new pinterest board dedicated to smiles. It is hard not to smile when someone smiles at you! Smiling is an easy way to spread happiness. You can view my new Pinterest board at Smiles . Here is what made me smile today! I am thankful for a beautiful October Day! Enjoyed walking on a 68 degree, sunny October Day. I enjoyed finding a beautiful small red leaf on the sidewalk! I am thankful to the Banfield Vet center at the PetSmart at Huntington Station. They took good care of Oreo and gave her all her shots for this year!I am thankful to my Mom who came with me to the vet with Oreo. Oreo loves my mom. It was nice ...

Seeing this video today gave me a smile. Yes Beluga Whale's do boogie. Music soothes all of our souls! Here is what I was thankful for today! Thanks to the postal worker who helped me tape up a box to send a care package out to my daughter in college. Thanks for a beautiful sunny day. I enjoyed walking Oreo around the neighborhood seeing some fall floral color. I am thankful to offer a helping hand to family friends, after they got into a car accident last night. Luckily no one was injured. I was happy to provide a ride. Thanks to my cousin Barbara who sent my daughter a graduation present in the mail. She will be thrilled to get something special in the mail! What made you smile today? If you want to share what your thankful for you can write your thanks in the comments! Tweet your thanks with hashtag #sharingthanks or @sharingthanks. 

  Love apples picked fresh from the trees! Happy September everyone! I love stopping at this farm on 9H in the Hudson valley when I am coming home from my parents Adirondack country house. It is apple season! Do you have a favorite? Mine is Granny Smiths! I love the green apple taste with that extra zing of tartness. I love making apple pie this time of year. I have been busy getting my daughter's off to college. I thought this would be a good time to reflect on the summer of 2013 and share what I was most thankful for this summer. I was thankful to see my daughters Becky and Liz get closer this summer! Becky was Liz's biggest fan at her improv show at the UCBEast comedy club. Liz had a great time taking the improv class at the United Citizens Brigade where she learned the art of long form improv. Every show is a different show. If you are looking for a great place to see improv, they have many shows at a reasonable price at UCBChelsea and UCBEast! I was thankful for all...

The blue carpet at Jones Beach State Park, Parking Field 6 We are having a heat wave this week in New York. I am thankful for all the different ways I tried to stay cool today. Hope you are drinking lots of water, and using sunscreen! Here is what I was thankful for today! I took a morning walk at Jones Beach with my good friend Susan today. We walked the blue carpet down to the beach and cooled off walking next to the ocean. Love walking along the shore and getting my feet wet. Everyone is happy at the beach. It's fun to see kids jumping the waves and building sand forts and castles! I am thankful for my good friends the Gera's! It was fun meeting them for lunch today at On the Border and catching up with each other. We enjoyed watching our waiter make guacamole at our table! It was fresh and delicious. The air conditioning was blasting and I loved sipping my peach iced tea.  Thankful for some relaxing summer time! After lunch I spent some lazy couch time with my new ...

Thanks mother nature for providing us with clean air, drinking water, delicious food and love! Mother's day is Sunday May 12th! Want to thank your mom and show your appreciation! You can thank your mom in the comments section of my blog or on my twitter @sharingthanks using hashtag #thanksmom!       It was a beautiful Spring weekend.  Here is what I was thankful for! I am grateful to my Mom who has always been there for me encouraging me every step of the way! Thanks for your love, your boundless energy, and your creative spirit! I love you MOM!!!!! I was thankful to enjoy seeing Iron Man 3 with my daughter Becky! We loved Robert Downey's performance of Tony Stark and the great script with some memorable lines! I was thankful to my Mom for throwing an instant party which allowed us to have an impromptu family gathering to wish my niece Chelsea a great trip to Spain!I I was thankful to give a music lesson on Saturday morning to Sam. I really enjoy...

Let's Go Duck's! We have been having some beautiful Spring weather out on Long Island. Last Saturday we headed out to see a minor-league baseball game for some family fun. I love being outside and watching a sporting event live. Here is what I was thankful for. Thankful to enjoy a beautiful evening outside with my daughter Liz and her friend Kavita! Happy that the ticket prices for the game are $10 - $12. Every seat in this small stadium is a good one! Love that the parking is free as well. Thankful to see a few people in our section have the thrill of catching a foul ball. This may be a lesson in life that there is a silver lining to a mistake. Let's face it a foul ball is a strike and when a fan catches a foul ball it is a small miracle for them. They have a huge grin on their face and they leave the stadium with a happy memory and a souvenir. Thankful for the amazing Grucci Fireworks after the game. It was a clear night and the fireworks were dazzling!  I love th...

Enjoy this Ocean Guided Meditation video with Deepak Chopra. I watched it, and it took me to a state of beautiful calm! Namaste! Little Buddha from Hick's Spring Flower Show I loved taking this picture. Looking at this peaceful Buddha statue meditating next to his tree provides me with an instant moment of calm. What is amazing is that these instant moments of calm are available to us everyday if we choose to stop and savor a moment, take a deep breath and count to 4, repeatedly. Studying music gives us the ability to learn to count measures. There is something very relaxing about counting measures with people who gather to make music together. The harmony and the counting provide relaxation and the joy of coming together to create beautiful music. I believe by counting measures we are tapping into the rhythm of life. Here is what I was thankful for yesterday. I was thankful to the waitress at Chili's who found my cell phone for me. What a relief to call the re...

Love these colorful watering cans on sale Hick's I am loving watching all the gardens in neighborhood start to bloom. I've seen pansies, tulips, jonquils, daffodils, magnolia tress. The world is bursting with beautiful colors and floral fragrances permeate the air. Enjoyed a walking meditation breathing in all of spring. I am thankful I am not an allergy sufferer. I am thankful for all the kindnesses I have received recently! I'm feeling so supported and loved. It is easy to list my gratitudes today! Thanks to my parents! Congratulations to them for getting a new car. I was so surprised when they called me and told me they want to gift our family there old car. We have 4 drivers and 2 cars so this extra car will really help us all get where we are going a little easier. My daughters are so excited! I am thankful for my daughter Becky who celebrated her 21st birthday this week. Where did the time go! I am proud of her and the young woman she has become! She is a fun,...

Eisenhower Park Sky, January 2012 I just finished reading, "Happy, Simple Steps to Get the Most Out of Life" by Ian K. Smith, M.D.. Its a quick read and has many helpful practical tips to being happier. In his book he reports research done by psychologists led by Martin Seligman showed that recognizing the good that happens in your day can boost your levels of happiness. In the study the exercise that had subjects list three things that went well each day while identifying why those three things went well showed the greatest results in decreasing depressive symptoms and increasing happiness for six months. Since I started this gratitude blog, I am able to focus on the good. In addition I feel it helps me cope with problems with a more positive attitude. This is a simple thing that everyone can do that really does improve the quality of your life. Saw some sun burst through the clouds today for a little while. Here is what I am thankful for today. 1) Thanks to the kind...