The ME/CFS Society of NSW Inc.

Right.

You are sick, you are tired, you are achey and the last stinking thing you want to do is be grateful, right?

I know it sounds like something silly, but it has its benefits.

Sometimes its very easy to get so focussed on one thing that we forget all the other little things along the way. For most of us our goal is 'get better' and thats a ripper of a goal, love it, but its a hard one to reach in a timely fashion and every day you don't reach it can feel like a kick in the guts.

And this is where recognising the good things comes into play.

Think of it as that one person that you know that, in the middle of the world ending (you know, fire and brimstone and flying pigs etc) would still be able to go "well, i'm glad you are here with me, and I'm glad I'm wearing co-ordinated undergarments because that helps me feel ready for anything." There is always that one person that is able to look on the bright side, even in the most absurdly dire situations.

The aim of this is to train yourself to think like that. Make the journey to the goal a bit of fun

So a sample one would be something like:

Good things today:
Swallowed tablets with no water while half asleep and none got stuck in my throat
Remembered to change channels in time to catch Queer Eye, Oprah, Blue Heelers AND Rafferty's Rules
Washed up, everything is shiny
Sat in the sun (didn't sleep and get burnt or eaten by ants) and watched the bees on lavendar
Cuddled the cat who sought MY attention instead of me having to catnap her.

See? Nothing major and all things that either make me smile or give a good memory.

I don't do this every day, but I think its good to do sometimes, as a way to make you seek out the good things in even the most lousy stinking rotten day.

I remember one I did when I had to visit a doctor and it was something like 'saw doctor and refrained from telling him his hair looked like a dead pocket pet'. It was the best thing I could think of for the day, it was that rotten.

Give it a try.

If you need a nudge, maybe use this:
http://www.simpleabundance.com/gratitude.html
Its a little less er... black? than my version