Day 6 - Sat 25 Feb 2012

The highlight of my day was meeting some of the people who will be on my cruise.

I am grateful for the advice I got about renting cold weather clothing from the clothing store.

I would like to be acknowledged for:
1) Working out how to transfer extra money onto my Travelex Mastercard.
2) Looking after my health by taking a nap this afternoon when I really needed one.
3) Getting in touch with the shop owner by phone when the clothing hire shop closed early.

Day 5 - Fri 24 Feb 2012

The highlight of my day was the evening I spent in the Dublin pub in Ushuaia.

I am grateful for the weather being not as cold as I thought it would be.

I would like to be acknowledged for:
1) Walking up to strangers in the pub and starting a conversation that lasted several hours.
2) Not making it mean anything that the vegetarian food I ordered on both flights didn't appear.
3) Waking up early to Skype the boys before 6 am for the last couple of days.

Day 4 - Thu 23 Feb 2012

The highlight of my day was taking in the view from the Brazilian side of the falls. Spectacular!

I am grateful to Argentinian guy for translating the bus driver's talk for me on the drive past the dam.

I would like to acknowledge myself for:
1) Making friends with and helping the two Australian girls on my tour.
2) Exploring the dodgy back streets of Ciudad del Este alone and without fear.
3) Giving the Paraguayan guy some money for showing me around.

Day 3 - Wed 22 Feb 2012

The highlight of my day was the quad bike riding through the jungle. It was amazing!

I am grateful to be staying in a secure and friendly backpackers.

I would like to acknowledge myself for:
1) Making conversation in Spanish with the Argentinian guy and his girlfriend in the jeep.
2) Getting up early and going for a swim before breakfast.
3) Going into town for a meal and a drink with Boyd when I was really tired.

Day 2 - Tue 21 Feb 2012

The highlight of my day was the tour of the Boca Juniors Stadium.

I am grateful to be staying in a secure and friendly backpackers.

I would like to acknowledge myself for:
1) Getting organised and arriving at the ferry early - not at the last minute.
2) Taking a local bus into the rough area of La Boca.
3) Getting to the airport for my flight north early - with more than an hour to spare.

Day 1 - Mon 20 Feb 2012

After 38 days of doing the gratitude exercise, it is no longer a struggle, so a new pathway should be present through my brain! Now that I have just arrived in South America, I am going to set myself a new task:

One highlight of my day, plus one gratitude, and then three things I wish to acknowledge myself for.

The highlight of my day was the lunch hour I spent in a little back-street cafe off the beaten track in Buenos Aires.

I am grateful for that I was able to find a hotel in Colonia, Uruguay when all seemed to be fully booked due to the long weekend here.

I would like to acknowledge myself for:
1) Keeping going when it seemed that I would never find a hotel with a vacancy.
2) Not eating lunch at one of the tourist places, but looking until I found something more authentic.
3) Organising myself to get across the river to Uruguay when it seemed impossible at first.

Day 38 - Sun 19 Feb 2012

The highlight of my day was my breakfast meeting with Rick this morning.

1) I am grateful to Bernd for buying my motorbike - one less thing to worry about.
2) I am grateful to Bernd for lending me his car this evening as it poured with rain.
3) I am grateful to Alan for allowing me to room captain for him this evening.

Day 37 - Sat 18 Feb 2012

The highlight of my day was my telling a bedtime story to Bernd's girls.

1) I am grateful for the wonderful listening that I get from my coach.
2) I am grateful for the opportunity of having an early night.
3) I am grateful to Marie for cooking a wonderful dinner for me.

Day 36 - Fri 17 Feb 2012

The highlight of my day was the kayaking trip that I took around the lake followed by a wet exit.

1) I am grateful to my solicitor for working to my deadlines.
2) I am grateful that the rain wasn't too heavy on my trip to Sydney.
3) I am grateful to Mick for allowing me to sleep at his house.

Day 35 - Thu 16 Feb 2012

The highlight of today was undoubtedly the last class of my SELP course and the talk I gave at the end.

1) I am grateful for the ability to be grateful!
2) I am grateful to the course leader Terese for all she has helped me with through my course.
3) I am grateful to all my classmates for their acknowledgements of my transformation.

Day 34 - Wed 15 Feb 2012

The highlight of my day was collecting my passport and visa from the Cuban Embassy without any hiccups.

1) I am grateful for the free access I have to doctors at my university.
2) I am grateful to Jessie for looking after Charlie all day today, as he was coughing and sneezing.
3) I am grateful for the state of my mental health and for my positive attitude to life.

Day 33 - Tue 14 Feb 2012

The highlight of my day was going for a motorbike ride with both the boys. It has been ages since I have done that!

1) I am grateful to Leanne for being so co-operative in negotiations.
2) I am grateful to my solicitor for getting everything done on time.
3) I am grateful to Jessie for looking after the boys whenever I go out.

Day 32 - Mon 13 Feb 2012

The highlight of my day was drinking beer at the pub with my soccer buddies. It was only the second time that I had drunk beer since the start of the year and the start of my diet.

1) I am grateful to my ANU counsellor for his advice over the last five years.
2) I am grateful to my SELP coach for her amazing coaching and her stand for me.
3) I am grateful to Bernd and Marie for allowing me to stay at their place so many times.

Day 31 - Sun 12 Feb 2012

The highlight of today was organising the games for Oscar at his birthday party at the oval.

1) I am grateful for the chance I have to go and see the penguins, whales and seals at Antarctica.
2) I am grateful to Leanne for doing such a great job with Oscar's party today.
3) I am grateful to Jessie for looking after Charlie while he was sick today.

Day 30 - Sat 11 Feb 2012

The highlight of my day was taking Oscar kayaking out to the island on Lake Burley-Griffith.

1) I am grateful for having this great office space at ANU to work on my thesis.
2) I am grateful for for being able to borrow the Learn Spanish CDs from the local library.
3) I am grateful for being able to borrow the amazing Antarctica book from the library.

Day 29 - Fri 10 Feb 2012

The highlights of my day were playing lunchtime soccer and receiving a Chinese massage after work.

1) I am grateful that my car is so reliable and comfortable to drive.
2) I am grateful that my wife and I are able to negotiate well together.
3) I am grateful for having such a comfortable bed.

Day 28 - Thu 9 Feb 2012

The highlight of my day was of course the car ride up to Sydney on my way to SELP.

1) I am grateful for to Therese for her commitment to running the SELP course.
2) I am grateful to Vanessa for running through the seven steps with me tonight.
3) I am grateful to Leanne for being reasonable in her negotiations with me.

Day 27 - Wed 8 Feb 2012

The highlight of my day today was doing the seven steps with Leanne, and our discussion that followed.

1) I am grateful for the courage that I gained to keep going with Leanne after our dinner.
2) I am grateful to the lady at the embassy for accepting my visa application even though I did not have my travel insurance docs.
3) I am grateful to John for helping Leanne and I with our decision making processes.

Day 26 - Tue 7 Feb 2012

The highlight of my day was spending a couple of hours with an old friend of mine, who I hadn't seen since she moved to Melbourne.

1) I am grateful that I am getting back in touch with old friends.
2) I am grateful that I am able to fit everything into my life and have it all!
3) I am grateful to Jahne and Tim for helping me to see possibility, where others could only see no possibility.

Day 25 - Mon 6 Feb 2012

The highlight of my day was the constructive chat that Leanne and I had in the evening.

1) Grateful to Michael for recommending John the counsellor to me.
2) I am grateful to Andy for inviting me over to house to watch the English soccer games.
3) I am grateful to me for listening to my body and having an early night last night.

Day 24 - Sun 5 Feb 2012

The highlight of my day was watching the boys swimming this morning. Charlie swam two widths of the pool and Oscar swam two lengths, both twice as far as they managed the previous day. And also the great bike ride that we had this morning from Kioloa to Bawley Shops and back.

1) I am really grateful to Jessie for looking after the boys this afternoon, so that I could go to Uni.
2) I am grateful to Leanne for her support and improved communication recently.
3) I am grateful that my car didn't run out of fuel before I got to a petrol station yesterday!

Day 23 - Sat 4 Feb 2012

The highlight of my day was the couple of hours spent on the beach with my boys at Kioloa.

1) I am grateful for the great weather that we had while camping this weekend.
2) I am grateful to Oscar for all of the help he gave me with the tent, etc.
3) I am grateful Kaz for the inspiring chat we had on the phone last night.

Day 22 - Fri 3 Feb 2012

The highlight of my day was buying some new moleskin trousers to take on my travels.

1) I am grateful that my chiropractor could see me and treat my injured hip at short notice.
2) I am grateful that I have the energy to stay up late and work on my thesis.
3) I am grateful that the weather will be sunny on Saturday so I can take the boys camping.

Day 21 - Thu 2 Feb 2012

The highlight of my day was the amazing car trip back from Sydney, when I helped both of my friends to clarify exactly what their 'act' is.

1) I am grateful to Michael for driving me up to Sydney for each class.
2) I am grateful to everyone in my class for sharing, which allows me to learn from them.
3) I am grateful to the Universe for allowing me the financial freedom that I have.

Day 20 - Wed 1 Feb 2012

Today's highlight was kayaking out on the Lake Burley-Griffith with Charlie.

1) I am grateful to John for organising the lunchtime soccer three times a week.

2) I am grateful to Charlie for being such a good boy when watching me play soccer today.

3) I am grateful for the weather holding up today for our kayaking adventure.

Day 19 - Tue 31 Jan 2012

The highlight of my day was playing soccer this evening on the astroturf.

1) I am grateful to the doctor and nurse for giving me the inoculations today.
2) I am grateful to my teammates for being such good teammates!
3) I am grateful to Simon for listening to me when I needed to share something.