21DPC Day 2 – Who is One Friend You Appreciate Having? And Why?

This is Day 2 of the 21-Day Positivity Challenge held in March 2012, where we work on being positive for 21 days. The challenge is now over but you can do the tasks in your own time. Visit the overview page for all the challenge tasks.

Happy girl in the field

Hello everyone, and welcome to Day 2 of the 21-Day Positivity Challenge (21DPC)!! :D

We now have over *450* official participants registered for the challenge!! *dance*

Important: Sign Up First Before Reading Any Further

If you’re new to 21-Day Positivity Challenge, or you have not signed up yet (your name should be in the official participants list), please read the announcement post and sign up first before going any further: 21-Day Positivity Challenge. All details on the challenge, what to expect, and how to sign up can be found at the post.

If you have already duly completed the 3 sign up steps, your name will be added in the next 24 hours. ♥ Thank you!

I’ll be closing the sign ups in a couple of days’ time, so hurry and join us if you haven’t.

Update March 21: The challenge is now officially over, but you are more than welcome to do it in your personal space. Check out all posts made during the challenge: 21DPC Overview.

Participants: Complete the Daily Tasks, Not Just the Question(s)

Reading yesterday’s responses, I noticed many of you only read the title of the post (i.e. the questions), then jumped straight to the comments section to post your response. In doing so, you have missed the other half of the task for Day 1, and shortchanged yourself of the 21DPC experience!

For example, Day 1’s task wasn’t just to answer the questions of whether you’re happy and why. Those who read the full Day 1 post would have seen a third part to the question, which was: “Why did you not give yourself a 10/10 score?“. This was intended for you to dig deep and understand the missing “gaps” to helping you achieve your full 10/10 happiness.

Have you ever seen a surgery whereby the doctor just cuts open the patient and stops operating on him/her? No? It’s the same here. Doing only part of the task for 21DPC is akin to doing a mental operation on yourself and stopping halfway, while all the pus and blood are gushing into the air (gross image!). To get the most out of your participation here, it’s essential that you (a) (deeply) reflect on and answer all the questions (b) complete the full task for the day.

Please read the full post before posting your responses. As of today, expect 3 segments for each 21DPC daily task:

  1. One positivity question, or a series of positivity questions (related to each other). Please address all of them in your response, and not just the first question!
  2. One positivity task. Starting from today, there will be a small positivity task for each day – which is linked to the positivity question. It will be a very simple task which can be completed within the day itself.
  3. One positive thing you got out of the day. To identify at least 1 positive thing that you got out of the day, for every day of 21DPC. If you can identify more than 1, that’s even better!

Please share your results for all 3 segments in your daily response. As I mentioned in yesterday’s post, feel free to post your comments in parts you get to the task in different times of the day. You can answer the positivity questions in the beginning of the day, then return later in the day to post your results for the positivity task, then return at the end of the day to share the one positive thing you got out of the day.

Just be sure to click “reply” to your comment, not via posting a new reply, so others can follow your progress easily.

21DPC Day 2 Question

Today’s positivity question is:

Who is One Friend You Appreciate Having? And Why?

Best friends cuddling

Share as much as you want in your answers, from a few words to a few pages long. Be honest as you can. Answer both questions, and not just the first question.

Your Task for Today:

  1. Reflect and answer today’s question(s). Write as few or as many words as needed to fully express your thoughts. There is no word limit.
  2. Let that friend in on your appreciation for him/her.
    • The stuff you just wrote about your friend – Does he/she even know that? No, really. Have YOU ever directly TOLD him/her that you appreciate him/her, and why?
    • Your 2nd task is to let him/her know that – be it in person, via email, text message, Facebook, phone, or whatever medium you prefer – today. Even if you’ve mentioned this to him/her before, do it again today (there’s no limit to how many times you can share appreciation). Share the full thing, not just: “Hey, I appreciate you ’cause you’re cool”. Dude, that’s weak. Go deep in expressing your appreciation. Sure it may be mushy, but whatever. You’ll be surprised at how much it may mean to him/her.
    • After you are done, let us in on your friend’s response, if you wish.
    • While we’re on the topic of having friends we appreciate, you may want to check out this related article on how to be a better friend to others: How to Have More Best Friends: My Heartfelt Guide
  3. Identify at least one positive thing about your day. It may be something small or something big – as long as you deem it as something positive, it counts. If you have more than 1 thing to share, then by all means, go for it!

Share Your Answers!

After you are done, share your answers in the comments area!

If you’re doing this at the start of the day, you can post your answer for today’s question first, then work on your positivity task throughout the day, then return at the end of the day to share your results for your positivity task and your end-of-day positive reflection.

Check out other participants’ answers. Pick 1-2 participants’ answers and make a meaningful reply to them. Engage in the discussions. This is a group course, so let’s support each other in these 21 days!

Look forward to reading your responses!

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268 comments
  1. I am so grateful for my friend Joyce! She is the sister I never had as I am an only child. I met her 6 1/2 years ago thru work. We have gotten to know each other over this time and built a strong relationship of mutual trust and respect. She has helped me grow in so many ways and I have reciprocated. I just love her and I will share this with her tomorrow during our daily talk:)

    My positive for the day is getting my paperwork organized both at the office and home–feels good to be so productive and organized.

  2. There are many people in my life that I appreciate and love dearly. I am fortunate enough to have many great friends that are supportive and inspirational.

    One that stands out, is Amy, she is one of my closest friends that has stood beside me during my highest and lowest points and never judged me. I’m lucky to have a friend that is so caring, thoughtful and patient.

    Over the years, she has never let me down. No matter the challenge or size of project I take on, she is beside me patiently pushing me to succeed without one complaint. Some of the projects have included 40 meter murals painted in the heat of summer that have taken weeks on end, even though I could clearly see that she was bored out of her mind and exhausted from the heat, she still stayed just to give me moral support.

    We are great friends, our families have doubled in size and we have wonderful adventures together. When I am too busy to help my grandmother, I can be sure that she will help her out. Friends that adore your family and are always there to help are few and far between, both my family and myself are so very fortunate to have her in our lives.

    There are so many things I have to thank her for and should tell her more often. She is a very warm hearted person and has a heart of gold, to put up with the extremes that I have tested our friendship with and still want to be my friend, she deserves a medal and a life time of blessings.

    From a very lucky and appreciative friend

  3. My friend Kathy because we have been friends for many years & we always laugh every time we get together! We always find a reason to be happy about something no matter what! I love her!

    Today I had a wonderful day at work! All of our patients did well & I worked with super people! Also someone at work did a very special thing for me & when she called to tell me about it, I could tell by her voice that she was grinning from ear to ear & it really made me smile, even before I knew about the wonderful thing she did for me!

  4. I shared the feedback with me three friends and they were all very appreciative and emotional.

    • That’s wonderful Ginger! I just finished my post for today and then sent it to my friend I wrote it about. She hasn’t had time to read it but hopefully it will bring some joy into her evening!

  5. One friend I appreciate and really don’t know what I would do without her is my best friend, Sissy. Our relationship goes all the way back to diapers long before we actually remember but the pictures show us the memories. I love that about pictures.
    My aunt was married to her uncle (both deceased now) and my cousin is married to her aunt. So since diapers we have been together because of family and grew up as family, so more or less she is the only sister I have.
    There is so much I appreciate about her and respect about her as a person. She is the one person that knows all of my bad sides and qualities as well as she knows my good sides and good qualities, and she loves me unconditionally regardless of what paths I have chosen in life.
    I appreciate the fact that I can ask her any question from whether my outfit looks good to whether I should invest money into a business deal and regardless of how important the question may be, she will always give me her honest opinion. I appreciate the fact that we have the type of bond to where we can be serious with each other, play with each other, laughing, cry together, or even sit in silence when it’s the right time and it is a comfortable feeling no matter what. We don’t have to put on an act for one another nor engage in silly chit chat if the mood calls for silence. There is a comfortable bond with her that I will never have with anyone else.
    I know that me and her disagree on many aspects of each other’s lives but even an overheated disagreement doesn’t break our friendship apart. We may go weeks or months and not speak but I know if I need her or my children need her, she is there for us. She knows the same about me as well. There are many people in the world that get mad at someone and gossip about them out of anger or hurt. I know that she and I don’t do this. If we are having problems, we will discuss them with each other when the time is right for both of us but we won’t go to other people talking down about each other. Our friendship is based on deep respect for one another.
    She has so many qualities I admire and after reading today’s task, I don’t know if she knows how much I look up to her or not. She will after today! There is no jealousy involved in the things that I love about her. At times I may wish I had some of her qualities but I am me not her, so I admire them in her but am not jealous of her wonderful qualities. I am grateful to have her as a friend to me, jealousy has no room in our relationship.
    I admire the way she can remain calm in horrible situations and be strong for other people. We both have suffered a great deal of death and loss in our family. I don’t want to deal with it and even worse, I at times break down and won’t deal with it, at least not the way I need to. She has had a great amount of hurt also, yet she stands strong for her children, father, brother, nieces, (including my children) and for me too. She does what needs to be done in the situation without losing control of her emotions. In a way she is a rock for everyone to lean upon. It’s easy to take advantage of that, and I would never want to do that to her. If I have, I haven’t been aware of it, and she has apparently forgiven me for my weaker moments.
    She is a gorgeous person inside and out. She cares about other’s and their feelings and needs. She is beautifully built with beautiful blue eyes that can change to the most gorgeous shade of blue I have ever seen. She has a calm, confident way about her that I admire so much. She can turn heads and yet she is too modest to ever notice how attractive and sexy she is. I love her for that. She can be the center of attention without trying to be and still finds time to make me feel beautiful and special.
    A friend like Sissy is very rare and I am blessed to have her in my life. I know my life would be very sad without her in it. I tend to get wrapped up in my everyday struggles and I know I should tell her more often how amazing she truly is in my eyes. She is amazing in every way. I love her and my daughters more than words could ever express. :heart:
    My positive for today is that even though I had to go to the doctor, she took me there and I got to spend half the day with her and it was gorgeous outside. There is nobody in the world I would have rather been with today than her. I am very lucky to have her in my life and call her my best friend and my sister. :hug: :heart:

  6. Tina Davis 13 years ago

    1. Maria. She is so nice, loving, and giving. She’ll help you out no matter what. But she’s introverted like me so it’s hard for us to hang out a lot.

    2. Yes, I’ve told her all of this before. It’s always fun having a lunch where you come back to work after crying about happy things! I texted her but she never got back to me. :cry: (Her new job is really busy.)

    My Daily Positivity:

    Having that one co-worker you can always go to; who will always help you find an answer if he doesn’t know; who emails you an answer to a question you asked weeks ago; who doesn’t make you feel stupid for asking.

    The ability to take deep cleansing breaths everyday. Such a peaceful feeling. :angel:

    Being appreciated when you least expect it. Makes the day better somehow. :mrgreen:

  7. Heloo,

    this is a very hard question for me and not a positive one at the moment but positive in a long therm. I was a little selfish person in the past and i had friends in “phases” which i neglect when i go to a different phase…so i have lost many great people and friends along the way. So i would have to say that i appreciate a friend which i have from very first years of my life and we still see each other like ones a month and once every 2 months. I especially appreciate this person because she really gets me and my phases did n;t affect our friendship. She is also a very valuable person good, nice,smart and very fun i love to talk to her and listen to her stories and advices. I think she knows how much i appreciate her and vice versa.

    And positive things about this day are : I finally started a work out program i wanted so there is no more tomorrow, i know i will succeed especially with help from my personal trainer. And i had a nice family dinner as celebration of my cousins success. So all in all great day ! xD

    • I can relate to you. I lost some great friends just because our lives took different paths. We were very young and I think we didn´t appreciate friendship enough to make the effort to keep in touch no matter what.
      But I´ve learned from my mistakes and I won´t let that happen to me again.

      Good luck with your workout program!! :hug:

  8. My best friend is Dean. He is always there with quick advice that guides over hurdles. He makes the advice comical to lighten the situation. I do the same for him. He is always there.

  9. Gosh, I have to say I’ve never been a person with a ton of friends. However, I’m lucky enough to have a few great ones. My best friend’s name is Ashlee, and I do appreciate her! Why? Number one is because I can share anything with her an I never feel a judging eye… We also relate on many levels, yet are so different at the same time. Isn’t it wonderful? Ok, I’m going to go tell her I appreciate her now…
    :hug:

    One positive thing today is that I paid my brother off some of the debt I owe him from last year! He sounded so excited! Now, my brother is another friend I truly appreciate!
    :dance:

  10. This is a very easy question for me.
    I have the best friend in the whole entire world. She lives in Mexico, and even though we´ve only seen each other a total of 7 weeks in the past four years, it doesn´t matter. We met in a summer camp in the US, and from the very first moment we knew we were made for each other. After three years she came to my house and stayed with me a whole month. We had a great time.
    We write each other every week, we tell each other everything. I can count on her when everybody else seems to disappear, she´s always there for me no matter what. She always makes time for me, she doesn´t judge me and always tells me what she thinks is best for me.
    I love her more than anything. This summer she is coming to Spain for only four days, but we´re already making plans. I can´t wait. I don´t know what I would do without her. :heart:

    It´s funny because last week I sent her a message telling her how good of a friend she is to me and how much I appreciate her friendship. She answered me saying that she felt the same way and that she wished our friendship would last forever. I don´t doubt that. We´ve been able to keep in touch for four years now even though we live in opposite sides of the world.

    As for the positive thing about today… I stayed in the library with a friend to do my statistics homework. I´m not very good at statistics and he helped me understand all the exercises. We had a lot of fun too! I had a great time. Also, I was able to talk to my parents and my brother on skype, which made me very happy and at night I went running. It was a beautiful night.

    • That is wonderful! It is a great bond when friends can go long periods of time without seeing each other and live far apart but still find time to maintain the friendship. One of my best friends lives in Washington State now and I’m here on the east coast in Virginia. We were together all the time growing up but she enlisted into the Airforce in 1998 and it’s taken her to many long distance places, as well as meeting her husband who is from Washington State. They have a gorgeous daughter. Even with the distance, at times when I need a true friend just to listen and be there for me, she has always found the time. That is such a special thing. I hope you have a wonderful time when you get together next!! Thank you for sharing. This is inspiring and proves that true friendship can survive anything. Have a wonderful day tomorrow! :)

      • Yes it is. The last time I saw my best friend was 2002. I had one chance to see her in 2008, and she still doesn’t believe me, but the time she came out to my home town, I had really had to leave on a business trip. Had I known back in 2008 the problems that were going on in her life, I would have risked getting in trouble with work and cancelled my trip to see her. If there was one thing I could do if I could go back in time is to tell her I will support her during these difficult times she was going to face. (i’m tearing up a little right now because I wasn’t there for her).

        But I get to talk to her online every day and that in itself is a privilege and an honor.

        • Hi Netta and Ken! Thanks for your comments. :hug:
          I really believe that true friendship can survive anything, and I believe that more strongly now that I´m reading similar stories. Sometimes just knowing that there is a person out there somewhere, no matter the distance, who loves you more than anything is enough to make you feel happy on the most horrible day. Isn´t it wonderful that we get to have such amazing friends? This is the beauty of life. Love is just pouring out my computer screen thanks to all the beautiful stories everybody´s sharing. :heart:
          Ken, I´m sure your friend knows you will do anything for her (even risk your job!). It is so great that you get to talk to her everyday. It really shows by your comments that you love her more than anything.

          :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart:

  11. This is so easy for me. I won’t put her name on here. But she knows, she is my best friend.

    It’s sad that I can’t say that about my spouse. But that’s why I’m getting a divorce.

    But my best friend is honest, she supports me, opens my eyes to another view of the situation, she does not judge me, and she trusts me. But when she needs to adjust my attitude, watch out. (Majority of the time she is right too).

    She is kind, she is so smart, she has the heart and soul of an angel, the will power of 50 men, and she’s cute too.

    Even though we have a few thousand miles of land between us, we communicate every day. When we just need to hear that voice to say everything is going to be OK, we are both there for each other.

    It’s sad because her husband doesn’t appreciate what a wonderful wife he has. She tells me what a wonderful husband i am to my wife… (although i use to think I was never good enough of a husband or myself for that matter).

    But thanks to her attitude adjustments, I feel better about myself, and I know I did as much as I can as a husband. And what happened between my wife and I, is not my fault. It’s not the wife’s fault either. We just grew apart. What we want in life is not in line anymore and it can’t be fixed. There is no fault or pointing the blame with that.

    I called my Best Friend today. To tell her Thank you. I IM’ed her later this afternoon as well and told her, She is such a wonderful friend. And I appreciate everything she does for me!

    The positive thing for today: I feel good about my doctor’s appointment this afternoon. This will be the third blood test results for my liver. And I’m feeling good. Two weeks ago I was a nervous wreck in the waiting room. But she was right there on my phone. But today I’m ready to face the music. Whether it’s good or bad. All this exercise i have done, the weight loss, eating right was not a waste of time or energy.

    • Aww, I loved your comment so much. It reminded me of those sweet, beautiful, romantic movies that make you cry.

      And I hope your blood tests are ok! If you keep thinking and acting positively everything will be ok. :hug:

    • My Blood tests are 100% normal!!!! One of the test big test from a few weeks ago was a false positive!!!!

      My best friend was there with me in spirit this afternoon. She so wanted to be there on the phone with me, but she couldn’t. And I kept telling her I’m OK. This is why I am so lucky to have her in my life as a friend. I know she was thinking about the whole time, and that is all I needed to know.

      She has a heart of an angel i’m telling you. I’m am lucky to know her, and this world is a better place because of her.

      Thank you! :hug:

      I know you are reading this!

  12. 1. Friend – Beverly. She works with me and can always make me laugh. She’s helped me with some advice and just listening lately and it’s been a big help.
    2. I actually emailed her telling her this yesterday. She was very thankful and wrote a similar email back to me.
    3. I took my mom to lunch. My mom and I have never really had heart to hearts up until now as I raise 2 teenage daughters. I have exceptional daughters but seeing their hearts break and going through the drama of mean girls and high school, it’s taking it’s toll on me. She’s helping me just by listening.

  13. Positive things that happened today: had a fantastic coaching lunch with a co-worker and shared my personal productivity tips with another co-worker. I relish the opportunity to help others. :mrgreen:

  14. Probably my closest friend is Margaret. She is always ready to go on adventures with me, quick to laugh, very supportive but, also speaks the truth in love. She is generous to a fault with her time, and her love.
    She has been a wonderful, stable force in my life.
    My positive thing for today, I went to an art class that another friend teaches and met two very nice ladies there. Also, and this is a big one….it’s sunny, there’s a warm wind blowing and I do believe spring is on the way here in the mountains of KY. :dance:

    • This was wonderful. My best friend that I wrote about, her name is Margaret. We call her Sissy though. lol. An art class and meeting new people sounds absolutely wonderful. It was also a very warm, gorgeous day here in southwest Virginia too with a warm wind blowing. I’m hoping spring comes early! I’m glad you have a supportive friend in your life. I always have thought it is better to have one true friend rather than 100 fake ones.
      Hope tomorrow is another great day for you! Thank you for sharing.

  15. Fencingprincess 13 years ago

    Who is one friend you appreciate having?
    I really appreciate several of my friends so this makes it hard to choose. When I was younger I would always tell people I did not have a best friend because I liked all of my friends for different reasons. One friend who I really appreciate is Jad. We have been friends for twelve years and counting which is made even more impressive because I am only sixteen.

    And Why?
    He has been a big part of my life for longer than I can remember. We have done so much together and share many happy memories. He is my little big brother (little because he is shorter than me and big because he is older) and I love him a lot. He is funny, driven, outgoing, honest, and just a great person. I have always been a little shy and he always pushed me to be my best. He has gone away to college now but we still see each other whenever he comes home for break.

    Let that friend know you appreciate him/her.
    I sent him this message over Facebook since he is really busy and hard to get a hold of at college right now. I know the challenge did not require you to share what you sent or said but it felt right.

    “Hi Jad,

    I am working on a 21 day positivity challenge and it asks the participants to identify a friend that they really appreciate and tell them. This is something I have wanted to do anyway and this just seems like the perfect opportunity. Well here we go

    I have known you longer than I can remember, you have been a constant throughout my life. Even though sometimes we went our separate ways I always knew you were there for me. You are smart, driven. funny, outgoing, adventurous, honest, handsome, focused, and kind. All traits that I admire in you. I always looked up to you as a brother. Sometimes I wish you were my brother for real. We have made so many memories together from paint ball to 4-H. Our friendship has always been very dear to me and I hope that it continues to grow in the future.

    Since you have been away to college and I have started helping your mom at her preschool it has been really hard going to your house every week and not having you there. Worse is I am always adding your name on my Facebook events that I set up like beach days then remember you will not be able to come. I miss you a lot. Come home soon!

    Thank you for being the wonderful person and friend you are

    Your friend always,

    -Miranda”

    Since my day just started I will have to let you know what positive things happened later!

    • I would really love to hear how he responds to that. If I received a message like that, I would be really touched and happy. :hug:

      • Fencingprincess 13 years ago

        So my friend has not responded yet, like I said he is really busy at college right now.

        Positive things that happened today:

        I got to reconnect with some friends I have not seen in weeks at Girl Scouts which was really nice.

        I was able to talk to one of my friends and fellow coaches for an extended period of time.

        I seem to have shaken the cold I started coming down with yesterday.

        Those were just a few of the great things that happened today :)

  16. Oh goodness, it’s difficult to choose. I was writing about my parents in my Best Life journal over at the forums only yesterday – they’ve been so inspiration to me, really helping me to pursue my goals and helping to ground me when I’ve got stressed out about work and suchlike in the past. They’re so easy to talk to, such good listeners and they never judge or try and push their own opinions on me unless I ask for them (which I do, because they’re very wise people :)) They really did give me the sort of upbringing that I want my own children to have one day.

    Then there’s B and C – two girls I lived with for a couple of years during our undergraduate courses. We’re still in touch and see each other regularly. I don’t know how I would have got through the last year without their support – they’re so open, honest, non-judgmental and just great people to be around :hug: :love: .

    My partner – again, his support during the last year has been so, so valuable. I appreciate him because we’re building a life together, having loads of fun in the process. I can have really deep and meaningful discussions with him (we share values, but not always how we got to those values or how we put them into practice, and we have quite different ways of seeing the world sometimes, but it all works out), and then the next minute we can be laughing ourselves silly. When we disagree or fight, we know how to work it out healthily and actually, some of the conversations we’ve had after arguments have been really valuable in strengthening our relationship. So yeah – I definitely appreciate having him in my life, but he knows that anyway because I tell him quite a lot :shy:

    Actually, I think the people I really need to tell are my parents. I don’t think I’ve ever actually told them exactly how grateful I am for my upbringing, and now I’m an adult woman I can look back on my growing up fairly objectively and see how good I had it. It’s Mother’s Day in a couple of weeks, but I think I might send a thank you card to both of my parents instead, expressing all that. I speak to my parents every Sunday afternoon, but I think it would be easier to put it all on paper instead :) I’ll buy a card tomorrow and write it over the weekend.

    One positive thing that happened to me today? When I got home, my boyfriend came and knocked on my door as soon as I got in, really happy to see me, and gave me a big hug. He often does this, but today it was just really lovely to come home to. And it was SUNNY again today, and warm, which makes me feel happy :dance: Oh, and this week I’ve been really good at getting down to work every morning, and not procrastinating. Just on a general note, every time I exercise (I went swimming today, then practiced some yoga and did some sit-ups when I got back), I feel happy and healthy and since doing the 21DHL challenge in January I’ve been feeling so happy with my health and my body. Things are good :D

  17. Beth: I appreciate the warmth of her smile, the acceptance of her ways, the non-judgmental ways she listens. I enjoy how she lights up my life with her presence, how she shares her rambles, her quotes, her dreams, her joys her hurts, the love of her children, her love of life even though she demands so much of herself her time schedule is often very very full.

    I love how we share a passion for the Phantom storyline, how we enjoy classy movies with a storyline of life and meaning.

    I love how we chat about wines, creating our own lives, letting go and holding on. She is deeper than deep and I love that she shares the journey from abyss to surface with me.

    I trust her smile, her actions, her reasoning’s. I feel safe in her presence and I do not feel as if I have to pretend to be anything or anyone other than who I feel I am when I spend time with her.

    She doesn’t criticize me, not even small things; she has never said anything to hurt me or done anything to give me reason to feel hurt. She makes me feel like I matter to her life, she makes me feel like I am a good person, a positive person, a nice person to be around. It is great to feel that someone cares about you as a friend the way that she does and I care for her as a friend, equally…

    I will send this to her, she deserves to read it….

    Today: One positive thing I did : I gave blood this morning and sadly it is a new thing for me. I promised myself for 2012 I would give blood as often as they allow me to do. I have given twice this year and it feels good. I am sure somewhere down the road I am helping someone please god! I am just glad I kept my promise to myself, to do something for someone else, something significant. Giving blood feels like that for me.
    Today: Another positive thing I will do! I am truly thankful that my son will play racquetball with me after work. It is difficult to find a denominator with your 31 year old son and find something that you can both share esp in public! He absolutely loves the game, we are so competitive with one another and I love how he tries everything he has to beat me and vice versa. I do truly truly love that connection with my son 
    Today: One positive thing I did was put three funny u tube birthday videos on facebook for my 79 year old Mom. Her Birthday is today! She loved them, they cracked her up! I also went back thru my photos and created an entire folder of pics of her and I posted it to facebook and called it Happy 79th Birthday Mom. All the comments on the pics and attention to her birthday, she is loving it! She lives a nine hour drive away from me so popping to see her is not an option but we do okay with visits….. She is a beautiful lady and it was fun to make her feel so very special today!

    • Beth sounds like an amazing person :) And so do you – I hope you and your son just grow closer and closer through spending time together, and Happy Birthday to your mum as well!

      • That is so thoughtful of you to reply to my post! Thank you for that! It made me smile huge which is a wonderful way to start anyday!

        I hope you tell your parents how you are feeling. As a parent I melt when my kids say , love you mom, as I stated when my son even gives the time to play RB with me. Any parent would love to hear positive feedback from their kids –

        Good luck with the swimming and exercising – It’s so fun – Stick with it

        Again, thanks for dropping in and leaving a note – I enjoyed the read –

        Smiles

  18. One friend that I appreciate having?

    That’s a hard one as I have three girlfriends who I have known forever, but the one I appreciate having the most is my husband, Bill. We have been married for 40 years – I met him when I was 16 and he was 18 and I feel like we “grew up” together. He’s my rock, sounding board, companion, and lover. I just couldn’t imagine my life without him. I will send him a special email today reminding him just how very special he is to me. :love:

    Postive thing today – beautiful weather! Sunshine and warm – in the 50’s when it is normally in the low 40’s – many flowers are already peeking through the soil to soak up the sun’s rays and warmth.

    Good luck to everyone – this is such a great challenge and I’m looking forward to day three!

    • Celes
      Celes 13 years ago

      Oh my, you have been married to your husband for 40 years? That’s so beautiful, Cheryl. :love: Did you eventually get to send him the special email? Has he responded yet?

      • Yes, I did send him an email right after I posted my comment. He was very surprised and said that it made his day – and in turn it made mine :heart:

    • Aw, that’s lovely :)

      My parents started dating at such an early age too, I think when they were 15, and they’re still happily married 37 years later :)

      It’s so nice to hear of such lasting love and it’s great that you’re such wonderful friends :)

      Wishing you all the best together :heart:

      • Thank you so much for your sweet comment and yes, I am a very lucky woman! :heart:

  19. One true friend, that has become my best friend over the years, that earned my trust steadily, gradually and in a very amazing way, is my fiance :) he amazes me so much! with the way he is, he acts, he sees things but mostly, how great he is at understanding others’ feelings, at mediating them, and ultimately, understanding mine! :) he is a very sensitive and emotional generous person! Something I have not stumbled upon very often in my life, not from males anyway.
    It is very interesting how we have become best friends…it definitely happened, for me at least, over the years and I realize now that I had a lot of resistances at first. It took me quite a long time to truly open up and share with him my deepest thoughts, wishes and scares but I am glad I took and we took our time…it made our relationship grow in strength and respect for one another. There was nothing forced, nothing asked, no urgency. So when you we got to that point, we were a bit more mature, more wise, and more ready for a committed relationship.
    And yes, I did tell him this, this morning actually. Not quite in so many words but he knows that I love and cherish him very much.
    The thing I am most grateful for today are the kids at the Impact Art Club :) I am a youth leader and in an Impact club we teach the youngsters to identify a social need and then to address it through a social project that we make from scratch. And we do it while using non formal and informal teaching methods: a lot of games, play, songs, strong set of values, positivity and love! I am amazed at their potential and honestly, I feel they teach me more than I do them! :)
    I am also grateful for having this opportunity to meditate and concentrate on the positive aspects of my life! so much needed! thank you, Celes!

  20. My Most Wonderful Niece, Gaylene!

    Not only are we family, but we’ve been buddies and best friends forever, in spite of the 11 years age difference and the physical distance between us at one time, as she lived in a different province for years. We spent many, many hours on the phone (especially in the early morning), solving all the world’s problems!

    Gaylene had her children earlier than I did, and was my parenting mentor, as well as being my daughter’s godmother. Every year, she’s bought my daughter an angel decoration for her very own Christmas tree.

    We have many other interests that we enjoy together, and we try to see each other weekly. Its a wonderful, comfortable friendship with lots of laughter and kindness. We have no secrets from each other … it simply doesn’t get any better!

    Although we say “I love you” to each other all the time, I’ll be sending these thoughts to her today to let her know just how special she is to me!

  21. My best friend is my boyfriend. He’s the person who was there for me when I was going through the living hell of my first relationship. He asked me how I felt when I was breaking apart and no one else did, he listened without giving advice but giving kind words instead, letting me figure out for myself what I wanted or didn’t want.

    No one in my life has ever done as much for me emotionally as this special person. He is a pillar of strength for me in very uncertain times, he’s always there for me when I need him, he’s kind, encouraging, caring, gentle, loving, compassionate and he has an indescribably beautiful attitude towards life. There’s a lesson or two I could learn from him about happiness. :)

    No person has ever made me feel the way he does, he gives me an emotional safety like nothing else in my life, I love him with all my heart, and he loves me with all of his, and never ceases to show it for a single moment, through every kiss, touch, carress, look or word, whether spoken or written.

    No one else has ever given me such a deep sense of happiness, safety, peace and belonging as he has.

    I love him more than words can describe and I was grateful for his friendship then and I am grateful for his friendship now. And whatever happens I hope we stay friends forever.

    He is the only person in my life who has seen both my body and my soul naked and accepted me utterly and completely as the person I am. And he encourages me to be that person with all my heart. He’s the only person I trust enough to show myself so vulnerable… without fear of being hurt. And so far he has never betrayed that trust or given me any reason to doubt his love for me… or mine for him.

    For that I am eternally grateful.

    I love you. I will always love you. And you will always be my friend.

    Technically I’ve already told him how much he means to me today, but I think I’ll give him a call later. I show and tell him how much he means to me whenever I can… words cannot describe how grateful I am to have this person…

    Positive Things Today:

    Woke up next in the arms of the most wonderful man on earth
    Spent part of the trip to my school/his work with him on the bus and train
    My Dad’s Birthday
    Reading all the lovely comments at PE.
    Seeing my friends again at school.
    Got some leftover food from one of those friends :)
    Was given a biscuit by another friend
    Managed some work for my final project
    Listening to music
    Had a moment of overwhelming and confusing mixed emotions on my way home, part dread, part helplessness, sadness and loss, but also immense gratitude for being alive, for being able to feel these feelings and knowing they will pass… Also and incredible sense of strength within that weakness… it was really weird. oO

    • This post made me smile so, so much. Thank you :)

    • Gave him a call the same evening and told him I was calling because I needed to (once again) tell him what a fantastic person is and how much he and his friendship has done for me. He was really happy to hear from me, becuase it was a evening I didn’t spend at his place because we’re both really busy and it was my Dad’s birthday, so I wanted to be home for him.

      Also got to phone my boyfriend again later with the fantastic news that my family is going to Italy in the summer for a holiday and everyone is allowed to bring someone :) So I’ve asked him to come and he was really happy.

      Another cool thing that happened is that I gave my Dad a Neocube for his birthday, which is a little cube made up out of 216 really really strong magnets. My Dad sat there for ages playing with the little magnets, it was really funny. I love how that thing turns everyone into kids again… xD It was so nice to watch him.

  22. I appreciate having my best friend, Brisa, in my life. We met our freshman year of college as roommates and we have been best friends ever since. She is the most free spirited, supportive, loving, caring, etc., friend I have ever had. She always put others before herself, (even though I tell her sometimes that she needs to focus on herself). I could really go on and on about her amazing qualities. She’s the best :)

  23. Who is One Friend You Appreciate Having? And Why?

    Poem to very literary friend CC

    Loud with Laughter,
    Silly yet serious,
    and Whimsical like NO other,
    CC es chica sin parangón.

    Sitting beside her,
    I UnDuLate on a different waveLength
    One beautiful and so very Pure
    That I can’t bear but laugh and smile

    Though sometimes like a dip in a wave
    It’s as serious as a cold boulder
    But I wouldn’t have it any other way!

    I am who I am
    Siting beside her,
    Utterly and COMPLETELY.
    With no filter to weaken
    That which flows from the mind
    We talk about TODO y nada
    We lasciviously joke and hold serious debates
    But hard feelings, They do not stay

    For I respect her,
    And She respects me

    Crème de la crème?
    Our Imaginations know no bound
    Junto,
    The ideas that we found
    Coalesce into MIGHTY Behemoths,
    or Conejitos
    We never drown

    Creativity and Imagination
    Hacer brillar mi vida.
    Can I thus say I am sad
    When I am not sitting beside her?

    Unfettered and Free,
    With Creativity and RESPECT,
    CC and I,
    We’re a TEAM
    of Amazing Friendship.

    * I would also like to acknowledge TJ and BT. You’re both amazing!

    A positive thing of today is that I have sent in another job application, after copious but fun work on the resume, cover letter, and other design collateral.

    I love what I read once on Marc and Angel’s website, that the one person to compete with is yourself— with that in mind, I will grow continuously, never be stunted, and make the most of this amazing gift of life I have been given.

    I’m excited to share my poem with my friend! I hope you have a great day! C=

  24. I have the chance to be blessed with many good friends but one of them is a friend I have now for the past 15 years.
    Strangely enough when I moved to Ireland, her and I became close to each other, ways I would have never imagined. I tell her often she is great and that I love her because it matters.
    We have been there for each others in the best and most difficult times of our life, she is my marriage witness and the one I can turn to anytime I feel blue. She never says it will be better tomorrow she listens to me and her silence and love comforts me.

    I told her today what she meant to me and she send me an answer right away, because she is this kind of girl, never wait till it’s too late, she knows too late can mess up things a lot.

    Positive things about my day:
    It feels like spring here and I enjoyed going for a walk at lunchtime
    I got some inspiration to write
    I witnessed another lovely sunrise.

    • That is amazing that you two kept touch! It’s a shame how distance can mar relationships at times. I’m so happy for you that you have/are such a great friend! (:

      And sunrises… I love them! The sky is breathtakingly magical when the rising sun paints the sky with swaths of reds, oranges, pinks, yellows, blues, and purples. So awesome you were up to see another!

  25. I’ll be answering today’s questions in parts because it’s still 0:31 AM in Indonesia and my day doesn’t even start yet. :mrgreen:

    Who is One Friend You Appreciate Having? And Why?

    The one friend that I really appreciate is my buddy, Iman. We shared the same dream which is to enrolled in a top MBA program, and has been actively pursuing it in the last 2 years. He had helped me when I felt demotivated and discourage, and had pushed me on when I procrastinated. He was always available for midnight chats, in the long hours it took to work on our application essays. He also helped me through my first admission interview. And he did it all because he believes in me, when even I sometimes doubted myself. For that I am forever grateful. Hopefully, I can be as good a friend as he is to me, if not better. ;)

    Let that friend in on your appreciation for him/her Will do. I’m sure he already know, but I plan to call him anyway later today. I’ll update my comment after. :dance:

    • An update, still couldn’t reach my friend, but I’m meeting him tonight. I’ll tell him later.

      The positive things about my day:
      1. Having a good laugh with my friends at work.. I love them. ;)
      2. Loving my job more and more.. still so grateful I moved to my current company.
      3. Able to maintain a positive mood through out the day..hopefully I can maintain this good spirit.

  26. My friend shaaista…coz she is least judgmental..listens to me patiently…whenever she give me advice is realistic..
    i just told her by sms
    i am usually eccentric but today i spent time with my mother, aunt n cousin and i enjoyed it..
    i was polite at work..

  27. yinkadepeju 13 years ago

    I am in

  28. My best friend that I appreciate having? I have some very amazing best friends but there was one name that i had right away in my mind in the very fist moment I sow this and I’t was Silva.
    It is fanny but I firs meet her when I was 6 and i didn’t really liked her and neither did she. But when we had to re-encounter at our 16 we had the best relationship ever and become best friend, relationship that continuous even today and become stronger every day.
    There a lot of things that I love about her starting with her family. They know me, appreciate me understand me and support me (even more than my family). Her parents call me niece :). It’s nice to be around people who treat you like such.
    But the most important thing is her, all about her, the way she is. I love that she is sweet, super smart, opened minded and courageous, courageous to tell what she things, courageous to do what she wants, courageous to live her dream life, courageous to be a extreme sport player. ;)
    And i love the relationship that I have with her, the deep connection and understanding that we share. There’s a lot to share with her, that’s how knowledgeable she is, that’s how understanding she is. I talk with her all night long,every night(even thought I am a big sleep lover) about a lot of thing, about everything starting from the ones who surround us to the deepest thing like life meaning and human soul.
    I like the way she is with me. She gives me courage, makes me understand what I really want and pushes me to do it. She pushes me to be a better person and grows my inspiration high. Same thing goes for me. I’m a big understanding and a big push in her life. The understanding is so big that we go as far as call each-other consciousness.
    You know, this is not because a blood connection she is not my sister and I don’t like to call her as such, she already has her sister and shares a great relationship with her. I’t is not a romantic love connection, it is a different type of connection, the type of connection that you rarely find. It’s a consciousness connection, the one of a kind.
    That a lot of writing, but already sad that she inspires me :). I love her very much, of course I tell her and I appreciate having her into my life. My life would have been a lot of different without her, and certainly not better.

    • Wow Jola, it really is something special to have a friend like that in your life. The best of friend that we can have is someone who accept us as we are and encourage us to be a better person, especially if that someone is also so positive about life. With that amount of positivity surrounding you, you won’t fail! ;)

      Wishing you and Silva an everlasting friendship that stands the test of time. Cheers! :D

      • Thank you Yuwana, I appreciate what you said. I hope that you have such friend in your life and if not I hope you’ll find it soon. Best wishes :).

  29. I have two very good friends that have stood by me all they way. I met both, ironically, around the same time in completely unrelated situations.

    I know that all I need to do is reach out to either one and they will step up and help no matter what. They also know that they need to just ask and I’ll be there as well. I’m able to have any kind of discussion from personal to philosophical and enjoy that I can do that.

  30. One friend I appreciate having the most is my mother. I count that because even though she’s family, not everyone can count their mum as a friend. I appreciate how patient she’s been with me all these years as I try to find my way through life, and I know I’m important to her too since it’s been just the two of us for so long now.

    As for showing appreciation, I try to do that everyday by being patient and not critical when she makes suggestions, and listening to her describe her problems knowing that she’s a person too, with insecurities, not an invincible parent-figure.

    One positive thing today: I finished up work and chores early today, so I have the rest of the day to relax!

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