8. Gratitude eight: courage

Today I am grateful that I had the courage to finally follow what I truly wanted to do -- albeit late. Being a late bloomer is not the end of the world, but I do wish I had had the conviction of my aspirations the the strength of character to pursue these earlier than now. Alas. But better than never.

7. Gratitude Seven: believing in myself

Today I will be grateful for being able to believe in myself. I don't believe I am awesome or amazing and there is no sense in lying about it.

But I do believe I have every right to take up space on this planet and breathe the air.

I do believe I have the ability to work hard and keep my promises.

I do believe I can set goals and achieve them.

I believe I can be successful, and that I can accomplish my goals.

6. Gratitude six: Fear

Today instead of deriding my fear, I will accept it and love it and be grateful for it. I will let it teach me. I am afraid of failing. I'm afraid of succeeding because I am afraid of being a failure. I want so badly to achieve my goals that I am almost paralyzed by the moments between efforts when nothing is happening. How can I exist in this limbo state when I have goals to achieve?

Instead of panicking, today I will look at my fears with kindness and say to them "Yes, you have been heard. And now I am going to get back to the business of working towards my goals."

Terror of being a failure doesn't have to be a bad thing.

So today, my fears, I am grateful and loving towards you because you are the vulnerable part of me that most needs this kindness, gentleness, and love. Thank you for reminding me that I want to succeed. Thank you for keeping me humble and vulnerable and sensitive.

5. Gratitude five: being sick

After the busyness of the past couple of weeks, I am full on sick now, with a chest cough and a very sore throat. I am grateful for being sick right now, because I feel like I can give myself permission to take it easy and rest ... and I am so very tired.

4. Gratitude Four: I get to try again today

Today I get to try my ultimate best. Again. Today I will not compare myself to anyone else. Today I will just let go and be in the moment. Today I will breathe, and I will be.

3. Gratitude three: good health

Today I am grateful for good health. I have a cold, and my throat and lungs hurt. I have tendonitis in my elbow. My knee is recovering from an injury. I am tired. My thyroid doesn't work.

I am incredibly grateful that for me, this is feeling poorly. I am no diseased, I do not have fibromyalgia, I can take a thyroid hormone replacement everyday, my throat will feel better soon, my knee is on the mend,  and my elbow reminds me that I did yoga this morning.

I know plenty of people who live with chronic pain. I know people who have cancer. I know people who suffer ill health, have diabetes, can't run even if they wanted to, don't feel good ever.

I have been healthy my whole life. My husband is healthy. My child is healthy. For this, I am truly grateful.

2. Gratitude 2: I am grateful for the people in my life

I am grateful for the people in my life. I have people that I love -- such as my son and my husband. I have people who I like. Sometimes the line between the two is blurred, which is kind of an amazing thing. I have people that I interact with professionally. That is also a wonderful thing. All the people in my life I am connected to by all our interactions, all our words, thoughts, meets, etc. And they anchor me to this planet so I don't float off into space. I appreciate them.

Most of all, without my dear Colin, I don't think I would get to be as happy as I am. It's a wonderful gift to have someone to share your life with. He is a great friend. I am grateful for my son, too.

1. Gratitude One: I am grateful that I get to try my ultimate best.

Today I am grateful for the opportunity to do what I love. I have the means and the capacity to try very hard to reach my goals. That means leaving no stone unturned. That means keep trying until I die trying. This week: two auditions, a call-back, a shoot day on set, and a three day workshop in which I get my butt kicked by a casting director. Try my ultimate best. I am grateful that I get to keep trying my ultimate best. And become more, eventually, than the sum of my parts.