Have you ever actually sat down a tried to write the ten things you are thankful for? I read that to mean, "ten things you are MOST thankful for. That makes it seem easy. Easy, because, really, we all have so much to be thankful for. Hard, because you want to make the things you are thankful for important. But as I do this, I realize the things that seem unimportant are those that are truly most important. The little things add up. The big things pale in comparison...yet they too, are still important.
My list:
1. Me. I am thankful for this self that God has given me. Although there are times I think I am not all that much, I realize that I am happy being me. Who else would I be?
2. My health. Goes without saying. With all my aches and pains, mood swings and ruminations, I am truly blessed. I can walk, talk and even sing. I can think, sometimes in clear, coherent thoughts. I am blessed.
3. My little furry friends. They are never with me long enough, but I always have little ones, cats, dogs, birds, who make my life better. Currently it is Ching Ching, Tater Totte and Nina. And the memories of all the other critters who have come into my life and gone on over the "rainbow bridge", well, they still bring a smile to my soul.
4. My memories. Growing up in Detroit. A large extended family. A tightly knit nuclear family (not without its problems ;-) School. College. Moving to California. The people I have met. The ones still here and the ones who have gone on. Trips abroad and around the states. Loves cherished, loves lost, loves found again.
5. My persistent optimism. No matter what, no matter how down I get, I somehow always know it will get better. And it does. Even in my darkest hours, I have always maintained a level of optimism. "This too shall pass"...and it does.
6. The true security. I know I will be okay. God is there for me. Friends are there for me. I am fortunate to be somewhat financially secure and own a nice home, car, etc. But I do know that could all change at the drop of a hat. My true security comes from knowing no storm can wipe away the true security of being myself in my life and my world. And always remember, knock on wood.
7. My work. I am fortunate to be able to volunteer to do things I want to do. Sometimes that feels like a full time job. I also enjoy doing the "free lance" work I do on occasion, as I feel the urge.
8. Writing. I have a talent. I use it. I use it the way I want to. I know I could turn it into work, but that is not why I do it. I just love to write. And that is that and I am grateful for the means and the creativity to do it.
9. You. You. And you.
10. The weather and its seasons. Just because change is good and each season has its own charm.
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And ten more...
This is hard. I feel like I named them all above, yet I know there is so much more to be thankful for.
1. The TV remote...I can control the volume, the channel and the time I want to watch TV. Most importantly, I can turn it off whenever I want.
2. NPR. I feel so informed when I listen to just about anything on this radio station.
3. Taste. What would life be like if you couldn't taste the sweet and the sour, the bitter and salty?
4. The other senses. To see, to hear, to feel, to smell. Along with taste, what miracles they are that make life worth living.
5. TIme. There is always tomorrow...and when the time comes that there is no tomorrow, I know I will have arrived in that place of peace and comfort called eternity.
6. Dirt. Yep, without dirt, we couldn't grow things. Without dirt, we couldn't feel good about washing our clothes or cleaning our living spaces.
7. MY SENSE OF HUMOR. Yep, it can be dry, it can be sarcastic. It can be silly and nonsensical and depend on a very contrived pun. But it is always fun to laugh. Funny I didn't think of this until now, but I think my sense of humor, being able to see the absurdity or hilarity in most situations has been my saving grace.
8. Grace. No matter what, I know I am forgiven. Whether by God or Spirit or just the passage of time and forgetfulness, all is forgiven and I can always go home.
9. Imagination. Imagine that. I am so glad I can.
10. Beginnings, endings and the space in between. The river flows, the ocean swells, the water rises and falls again as rain to refresh the river as once again it flows....
And, yes, I am thankful you read this.
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