While I was reveling how much I love this girl I remembered how just last night I shared in a hushed voice to my girlfriend’s husband (who was debating what my pit bull mix’s lineage might be) that “Joe is my favorite.”  (I said it while the other dogs were out back so they didn’t hear!)

And yet, the truth is, we all know … Koda is the best dog ever.  That’s why his photo is on my debit card!  (“Is this your dog?” every cashier can’t help but ask … “Yes, he is” I reply through the biggest smile ever as I feel like the luckiest girl to walk the earth.) 

So I wondered … Am I fickle?  Confused?  Or just predisposed to exaggeration?

I thought about my best (human) friends as a test: Pam, for sure.  And Lisa.  Well, and Ann, Sharon, Shauna … sheesh, they’re all my favorite!

I’m realizing this perception of everything being “the very best” is not limited to just my dogs. 

How about favorite foods … ?  Easy.  Just proclaimed this over lunch with dad yesterday: Saag Paneer (yes, it deserves capitalization) with garlic naan at India House is my absolutely favorite meal of all time!  (I literally danced in my chair through the entire meal, and tried not to sing.)

And so is the warm spinach salad (with garlic and goat cheese!) from Macaroni Grill.  And the veggie burrito with sweet corn and onions from Bajio’s I had last night with my ex.  And the fire roasted tomato soup at Paradise Cafe.  And those fries from Five Guys.  To die for!  ColdStone’s Hunka Chunka Burnin Fudge sundae is the ultimate treat.  Except for mom’s homemade cheesecake. 

Hmm. 

It’s the same thing with flowers, boyfriends, songs, movies, clients, neighbors, stores …

Now that I think about it, my appreciation feels like it’s on steroids.  Like, someone dropped something in my water and I’m permanently dialed in on Love.

Which made me wonder more .. is it that life got so much better that everything seems so lovable and perfect?  (Some people say, “Sure, Jeannette, it’s easy for you to say ‘just feel good’ when your life is so easy to do that in.”)

Or is it the other way around … I got turned onto Love and then life got even better?  (I think that’s where smart money’s going.)

Or maybe it’s the same life, I just see it through a stronger Love filter now. 

I don’t know guys, but I’m inviting you on this trip!  Abraham says miracles can unfold as soon as tomorrow when we just start focusing on what’s going right in our world. 

And when we develop a habit of appreciation for 30 days it can seem like we stepped into a whole new fabulous life.

This wasn’t necessarily a 30 day journey for me, but it can be if you would like to live in a world of “favorites.” 

Here’s some 30 day inspiration from Abraham just to get you revved up for the possibilities:

We can tell you if you will put these questions to yourself, “How can I be happy when ..?” and then make your statement of what you think’s gone awry.  And then do your best to be a little more happy even though that has happened, what’s going to happen is you are going to shore up your vibration until those things just fall by the wayside.

Do you know if you could answer the question and fulfill the answer, “How can I be happy when my house hasn’t sold?”  If you could ask that question for about 30 days, to the point that within that 30 days you are not unhappy because the house hasn’t sold, it will sell!

If you ask the question, “How can I be happy when I haven’t found my life partner?” if you could ask that question for about 30 days until you’re happy even though you haven’t found what you consider to be your life partner, that partner would walk through the door and you would recognize them.  It has to be that way!  – March 2006, Phoenix

And this one is a good reminder, too:

“It doesn’t take more than 30 days to talk yourself into being a perfect match to your dream.” – August 2005, Albuquerque

I like this one, too:

Almost all of you were taught that you are inappropriate beings, here to prove worthiness. So, we could put it very simply: The only thing that has been getting in your way is one thing: you have not been appreciating you.  (Hey, that’s what I said!)

So here is a process. Your goal is to find an object of attention that makes you feel good while you find it. Look for objects of attention to which you can flow an Energy of appreciation. By choosing an object of attention that causes pure positive Energy to flow through you, guess what happens to the vessel through which the pure positive Energy is flowing? You thrive. So what we would encourage you to do, for about 30 days, is get yourself on a blitz of appreciation. Make a decision that you are going to do as much appreciating in any day as you have physical time and Energy to do. – February 1994

Trust me, I know how trite and corny it sounds when someone talks about how fabulous it is just to be alive. 

But it is a journey worth taking.  Not because all problems and challenges disappear forever, but because they become well worth it.  And pretty soon they actually become part of the good parts, too.  (I’ve had glimpses of that!)

So consider this invitation to regularly notice what’s right in your world, and to revel in your answers to that.  Soon you’ll find you’re also living in a world of “favorites,” too.