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Home » 99 Things I Am Thankful For

99 Things I Am Thankful For

November 27, 2019

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Girl Kissing Boy

A few Novembers back, some people I know took the 30-day Gratitude Challenge, that is they named one thing they were thankful for every day through the thirty days of the month.

It’s a cool idea. The thing about these kinds of events is that it makes you dig below the surface and recognize things you weren’t even consciously aware of about yourself.

An exercise I call “99 Things I Am Thankful For,” can help you in all kinds of ways, too.  You get a sense of what’s important in life, where your priorities lie and what brings you joy.

What you’re thankful for. 

For a writer, it can also help you find your personality. Your distinct voice.

I keep this list on the wall by my computer screen. When I need a break from writing, it reminds me of all the things in life I take for granted. So, in a way, it’s a gratitude list, too.

 99 Things I Am Thankful For

  1. Squirrels eating peanuts
  2. 1930s screwball comedies
  3. The smell of a bold roast coffee brewing
  4. Time for writing
  5. My juggling balls
  6. Opportunities to teach something new, to anyone
  7. Day car trips with @bobWP
  8. A good supply of watercolors
  9. Black licorice
  10. New car smell
  11. Foggy fall days
  12. Snow globes
  13. Fountain pens that write thick, gloppy letters
  14. A first grader’s missing-tooth grin
  15. 20th-Century classics
  16. Crows
  17. The smell of new-cut firewood
  18. Paper to make snowflakes with
  19. Walks in the woods
  20. Ella Fitzgerald songs
  21. Chances to see my daughter perform in a stage play
  22. @bobWP’s laugh
  23. Anyone’s laugh
  24. Red-sky sunsets
  25. The smell of daffodils
  26. Bubble wrap to make popping noises with
  27. Lap time with Chester the cat
  28. My breath on a cold day
  29. Homemade veggie pizza
  30. The New York Times
  31. My Pavarotti & Friends for Bosnia Concert CD
  32. The beauty of the Manhattan skyline
  33. The beach on a stormy day
  34. Judy Collins’s version of “Send in the Clowns”
  35. Slightly tart wild blackberry pie
  36. Canadians
  37. Hitchcock movies
  38. Flannel pajamas
  39. Canada geese flying low over the water
  40. The sound of rain on the roof
  41. The smell of a cedar tree
  42. Veggie spring rolls with red chili sauce
  43. My network of writer friends
  44. Improv comedy
  45. A house to live in
  46. Access to health care
  47. Squalls coming off the ocean and soaking everything
  48. Scented marking pens
  49. Double tall, slightly dry, nonfat cappuccinos
  50. Getting the letter “Q” in a Scrabble game
  51. Chocolates that have caramel centers
  52. Central Park in the spring
  53. NYC’s antique book shops
  54. Globes
  55. Loud thunderstorms
  56. Penguins—real or drawn
  57. The sound of a baby’s laugh
  58. Enough pens for journal writing
  59. Poets
  60. World maps
  61. Good health
  62. Memoirs
  63. Molasses cookies
  64. Christmas trees
  65. A crackling fire—crackling or otherwise
  66. Art produced by 5-year-olds
  67. Hot Tamales (the candy)
  68. People who adopt rescue animals
  69. Documentaries on the making of movies
  70. Bald eagles
  71. Sunlight on stained glass windows
  72. Mentors I have had
  73. Artichokes
  74. Scented candles
  75. Cousins who find me and reconnect
  76. Double shots of espresso
  77. The Metropolitan Museum of Art
  78. The sounds of backyard birds
  79. Baby raccoons
  80. The smell of asphalt after a summer rain
  81. Snow falling on cedars (not the book—actual snow falling on cedars)
  82. Playground slides (when no one is watching)
  83. Scottish bagpipes
  84. Icy puddles I can step on to hear the cracking sound
  85. Trenchcoats
  86. A ferry’s foghorn
  87. My Kindle Reader
  88. The chance to experience a star-filled night in Mali
  89. Notecards with Impressionist art
  90. Libraries
  91. The Washington (DC) National Zoo
  92. The cartoons in The New Yorker magazine
  93. Old clocks
  94. Having learned to cook (finally!)
  95. Snow angels
  96. The song “Danny Boy”
  97. Tree houses
  98. Bubble blowers
  99. Sounds of a children’s choir

Are any of these on your list, too?

Any that aren’t on my list?

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Joan Z. Rough says

    November 13, 2013 at 8:36 am

    What a great idea, Judy. I’m going to do this tonight. We have a lot of things in common.

    Reply
    • Judy Lee Dunn says

      November 13, 2013 at 3:29 pm

      It is always amazing to me the things that people have in common and we do not know it. I think I could have gone on with at least ten more things after I reached #99. We should all publish our lists on our own blogs. That would be fun!

      Reply
  2. Wynn Collins says

    November 13, 2013 at 1:59 pm

    I loved reading your list, Judy! We like many of the same scents like chopped firewood, molasses cookies and asphalt after rain–to name a few. Sometime I feel like I’m so blah and well, boring. Maybe putting a list together will remind me of ME!

    Reply
    • Judy Lee Dunn says

      November 13, 2013 at 3:32 pm

      Making a list like this shows us just how unique we are. And I think it showed me that I see the world through all my senses, having a number of sound/smell/touch things in there, too. When you finish your list, hang it up so you can be reminded of all the things you cherish!

      Reply
  3. Di Mace says

    November 13, 2013 at 2:27 pm

    I love all your list, but have three additions for it: Vanilla (taste and smell), smell of fresh baked bread (especially with butter) … and shoes!

    Reply
    • Judy Lee Dunn says

      November 13, 2013 at 3:34 pm

      Well, fresh-baked bread would be right up there for me, too. (Not so much the vanilla and the shoes.) Hmm. I’m thinking I could probably do a Part 2. Great to see you here again, my friend.

      Reply
      • Di Mace says

        November 13, 2013 at 3:39 pm

        Nice to talk again. I’ve missed our weirdly wired exchanges!

        Reply
  4. Tara Therese says

    November 13, 2013 at 2:34 pm

    Yes, that’s a great idea. I used to keep a gratitude journal and would write 5 – 15 things everyday that I was grateful for. I’ve stopped the practice so your challenge is great for reminding me of how blessed I am.

    I just wrote 99 things I love. Did you really take ten minutes to write that whole list? I took 16 mins and my list was not as detailed as yours! They were mostly just single word nouns. I guess I type slowly.

    Reply
  5. Judy Lee Dunn says

    November 13, 2013 at 3:36 pm

    This IS close to a gratitude journal, isn’t it? On the ten minutes, I just made that my reader challenge. I’d say it took me more like 15 minutes.

    Glad you were up to the challenge!

    Reply
  6. Kaarina Dillabough says

    November 14, 2013 at 1:21 pm

    I am taking you up on the challenge. Stay tuned 🙂 Cheers! Kaarina

    Reply
    • Judy Lee Dunn says

      November 14, 2013 at 3:01 pm

      That’s great to hear! Please keep me posted on that. Am heading over to your blog next to read your new post.

      Reply
  7. Valerie Rind says

    November 16, 2013 at 7:32 am

    I DISLIKE many things on this list (I particularly hate Scottish bagpipes) and yet we are friends. It just shows you don’t need to have everything in common to have a connection with someone.

    Reply
  8. Judy Lee Dunn says

    November 16, 2013 at 12:49 pm

    Valerie,

    Exactly. And it would be boring if we all loved the same things, wouldn’t it? Some of the things I love do break out more on the sad side (bagpipes, foghorns, etc.). I wonder why that is?

    Reply
  9. Sandi Amorim says

    November 26, 2013 at 12:28 pm

    Love this idea! Making a note to set timer later today, so stay tuned 😉

    Reply
    • Judy Lee Dunn says

      November 27, 2013 at 7:05 am

      Good to hear, Sandi. It is always interesting to compare different people’s lists. Have fun!

      Reply
  10. Julie Barrett says

    November 30, 2013 at 6:44 am

    I love this idea! Moreover, we have a ton in common. This list makes me remember many, many fine times. I will definitely take you up on the challenge, although I doubt very much I will dash it off in 10 minutes. Feels more like something to savor, revisiting the past and planning the future.

    Reply
  11. Judy Lee Dunn says

    December 1, 2013 at 12:53 pm

    That’s one of the best parts of this isn’t it? Finding common ground with other people. I like the slow, deliberate approach you are suggesting. Each thing on your list deserves some attention.

    Good luck with that list!

    Reply

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