Day 52 - Gratitude for Awareness and Friends in Chengdu

I am grateful for my friends here in Cdu.  I've managed to quickly form the foundations of some great friendships here, and that is only at my school, not to mention from other places in and out of Chengdu!  School can be a stressful environment due to cross-cultural priorities and communication styles.  But I also recognize my reaction creates more stress than the actual situation.  There is a lot of "talk" amongst foreign teachers, which is the metaphorical fuel for fire; our jabber serves to heighten the emotions and intensify the dissatisfaction around an issue.   I wish to be a guiding force, not a creator of tensions.  In my desire to help create positive change, sometimes I get sidetracked by my need to express my thoughts and feelings.  I wish I could keep my mouth shut!  But this has been a challenge---all my life!?!  Aargh!   I'm grateful for the awareness, and that my "new" friends here put up with my spewing mouth.  I need to breathe instead of react.  And above all, remember to "not make assumptions" and " not take things personally". 
For the awareness, I am grateful.  For the friendships, I am grateful.  For this school and the benefits it provides, I am grateful.  I have a really good life here: my overall quality of life has improved to the nth degree!  Life is better in so many areas for me: housing, financial, travel, health, surroundings, social, feeling secure, freedom, creativity, Hygge, professional... the list goes on! 
I am grateful!!  
I will focus on awareness, not taking anything personally, not making assumptions, and being a leader instead of nuclear reactor!  
I am grateful!!

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