Week 4 Reflection

I feel that the 20: One Grateful project has helped me learn to be creative. As I went to take pictures of things I was grateful for, I had to look beyond myself and into things that really made me happy. Then when I would find what I wanted to take a picture of I tried each day to take the picture at an angle that would be interesting to the viewer. For example my plant picture on day 19 could have ended up being a very boring photo but I approached it from a growing view, from the roots up. For me the most difficult part of this project was finding something each day that was unique and different from what everyone else was grateful for. I found this project valuable because there were days that I was having a bad day and then having to find a small thing to be grateful for changed my mood for day. I would recommend this project to other students because I feel that you can learn a lot about yourself and realize how blessed you really are by doing this project. If I had to change this project I would probably change it to what makes you smile. 

Day 20

After a long hard day yesterday and four years of hard work in high school, I thankful for the light at the end of the tunnel. That light represents graduation and almost being done with high school. I'm thankful that this is just the beginning of a wonderful adventure. I can't wait to see where the light leads me next.

Day 19

In looking at this little plant, I realized how amazing the earth is as a whole. Every flower, piece of grass, every rain drop is beautiful. I'm blessed to live here on earth.

Day 18

Although this is no the cleanest water, I'm thankful that all I have to do to get a drink of water is turn on the faucet in the kitchen.

Day 17

 Having a three day weekend was much needed. I couldn't stop smiling when I visited one of my favorite places in California, San Francisco.

Week 3 Reflection

I find that everything around me whether great or small is something that I'm grateful for. Instead of just finding things I'm grateful for I going to start trying to be grateful for experiences and everyday life. I have decided that each day is a gift and there is always something you can be grateful for no matter how sad or mad you may be.

Day 16

I have been raised my whole life to believe in God and to live my life to glorify him. This is a picture of my scriptures that I reed everyday. I'm thankful for God and all he has done for me.

Day 15

It is silly but my heart is joyful when I open the fridge and find food. Food is important to me and I'm thankful that in America and in my home I have food to keep my body functioning.    

Day 14

 Although there is already a picture of my family on my grateful blog; I wanted to show that I'm also thankful for my ancestors who have come before. Who have created a path for me to follow.

Day 13

I will be attending BYU Provo to start college on June 24th. I did not expect to get into this college so when I received my acceptance letter I could not hold back my excitement. BYU here I come:)

Day 12

"Communication relieves frustration" is a common saying in my home. Communication would be a lot harder if we did not have phones and computers. I cannot imagine writing a letter instead of texting or calling.

Day 11

Without the advancements of the world today I would not be able to view the world the way I do now. I have negative 4 vision and without my glass or contacts everything is  a blur. It brings me joy every morning to be able to see the world around me :)

Week 2 Reflection

My thankful photo challenge became harder as I started the second week.   I  had to think about things that I'm grateful for that were outside the norm. It has changed my view of things because this project has made me grateful for things that I normally take for granted. I guess this is the half way point of our project and although I said it has been hard I know that I have a lot to be grateful for. It has been fun to find little things each day that bring me joy and happiness.  

Day 10

 Anyone who knows me knows that I love music, I listen to music almost 24/7. I love turning up the volume when I'm driving alone in my car.I love that no matter how I'm feeling there is always a song I can relate to.

Day 9

A loyal friend for almost 8 years is something that I'm so grateful for. My dog has gone missing, eaten strange things, and has had many hospital visits but I'm thankful for each day I have with him.

Day 8

Although strawberries are delicious I meant to bring a deeper meaning to this photo. I wanted to show growth and beauty, even when things around us may be trying to tear  us down. Although it may seem silly strawberries made me grateful for the growth and roots of my childhood.  

Day 7

America is the land I call home, I feel blessed for the freedoms that I have. Words can't express the gratitude I have for the men and women who have fought to make freedom possible.

Week 1 Reflection

I will admit that when we started this project I was stressed and overwhelmed with trying to find and take a picture of something that I was grateful for every day. That may seem silly, but in my everyday life I don't just walk around and look for things I'm grateful for. Ever since I started this project it has caused me to slow down a little bit and look around. Every day I come home from track practice exhausted  and tired, but that is when I would take the opportunity to look around with my camera in hand  and  find things I'm grateful for. This project has made me feel gratitude for even the small things in my life. Today I woke up super late for school and I was mad and upset and feeling stressed, but then I realized how blessed I was, and I just relaxed. Other things happened this morning that were out of the ordinary and they could have made me in a worse mood,but instead I decided to be happy and in that time of rushing around and being stressed I was able to find little things that made me smile. This project is little by little changing my life.   

Day 6

Family is the most important thing in the world to me. I would be lost without my family and I'm so thankful that we will be together forever:)

Day 5

The opportunity to be creative and to take pictures of the world from my view is so exciting. This picture is of my camera because I'm grateful for photography and how it helps me view the world around me.

Day 4

Although I may not always be excited to go to school, I could not be more thankful for my education. Learning is extremely important to me and I'm blessed to be able to come to school everyday. I just want to thank my teachers but most importantly my mom who home-schooled me for eight years and taught me so much!

Day 3

This may seem strange, the answer is no I'm not thankful for random doors, but I am thankful for my home. We have lived in this home for 18 years and it has been  wonderful. I wanted to show the door open in this picture to give more of a welcoming and loving feeling!

Day 2

I can't go a day without thinking about RUNNING. I'm so thankful for the moments when running feels like flying and I can't help but smile. In my photo the shoes and grass are blurred and at first this bothered me but then it made me realize that when running my feet do not remain still but are always moving.

Day 1

27 days ago, on April 6th my new nephew was born. The joy on that day was indescribable but that same joy continues as he grows each day. I could not be more thankful for the blessing of my nephew :)