Grateful for my loving animals and a family to wake up to. This required a quick mental reset this morning. via /r/gratitude

This morning, I wanted to sleep-in a bit. I was half-asleep when my daughter’s dog started barking in her room. She had already gone to work so now I was awake and had to take care of the dog before he woke everyone else. Argh. Then I got downstairs to turn on the coffeemaker and found while getting ready to go to work that same daughter has left dishes in the sink, cinnamon sugar all over the cutting board, packaging from a creamer and a k-cup on the counter and my head slumped and I felt annoyed. BUT then I thought of gratitude. I thought of all the love, comfort and companionship all of our dogs and cats give us. I thought of how when I’ve most needed love I could always count on it from them. Then I thought of how fortunate I am to have these messy kids and family members to wake up to. Many people wake up alone.

I stopped my self pity then and there, stood at the kitchen sink and looked outside. I turned my hands upward in a posture of gratitude and announced just how grateful I am for these elements of my life.