Give thanks, always.

You all do the Facebook daily post of what you're thankful for in November. If you don't physically, you do it in your mind, and it's too late to deny it now. My challenge is to be thankful every day. We're on social media enough posting about what we ate, what our baby got into or posting duck faced selfies in important (or unimportant) places.
Back track...
I went to church with my family on Thanksgiving (no, need to step aside for lightning, you heard correctly.) I actually paid attention because the sermon wasn't too preachy. It was a challenge, and I'm always down for a good challenge. The pastor mentioned the same thing I just said about the 30-day thankful posts on social media, but went on to say we should be thankful at all times. And he was right. Of course, he was referring to being thankful that Christ gave his son, died, rose, saved lives, etc. However, you don't need to be religious, receive salvation or attend a sermon to realize there is something you have to be thankful for each and every day.
I probably hadn't stepped foot in my church in a year until that day. And maybe I didn't pick up on the exact message the pastor was trying to relay, but I don't think he'd be upset with this idea either.
2013, was hands down the single most wonderful year of my life and it shows right there in my Facebook feed, tweets, Instagram and blog posts. Sometimes I said I was thankful and I'm sure there is a "Today, I'm thankful for..." post from November 28, 2013. But hell, I could've posted something every day, probably multiple times a day that I was thankful for. It doesn't have to be relevant or make sense to anyone else other than you.
Be thankful for everything, even the bad shit. I am.
I can't count the number of days I've cried out of sadness, anger or frustration this year, but you know what, I read a few motivational quotes on Pinterest and saddled back up. (Yeah, that's how I cope.) The only way to get over the hard stuff is to challenge it.
This week I was sent home twice from the same training shift because I couldn't pass it. I'm training to be a server, folks. I waited table for the last four years, and in my opinion, quite well. Never have I felt so incompetent in my life and the manager and I came to an agreement to find another position for me. So what? Less money? Less hours? Who cares? Last night, I held back my tears and I reminded myself that I'm living in New York City, and this city never sleeps. Therefore, nor do I. So, I dusted it off and reminded myself I didn't move to New York to be a waitress anyway. I moved here to be awesome and that's what I'm doing. So, when I got home I turned on Motown Pandora and started looking at jobs.
So, the first post, although it is still 2013, is that I'm thankful for failure.
We all should be. Think back on all of the things you failed at or that didn't go your way. When you cried uncontrollably, when you threw things at walls, when you took it out on the people around you. Yeah, those moments... Now look at you! Failure can set you up for success, it's all about perception! Happy New Year, y'all! :)