\u201cIf the only prayer you said was thank you, that would be enough.\u201d ~ Meister Eckhart<\/i><\/p>\nHappy Sunday!<\/h2>\n
This week included not only Thanksgiving Day but also my 51st birthday. I have been thinking about gratitude this week as I feel so fortunate for all I have and the blessings and insights each new day brings.
\nI am using today’s writing as an exercise to record at least 51 things I am grateful for from this past year, so here I go:
\nI am grateful for starting out the year with 5 birthday cakes on my 50th birthday and all the wonderful people I got to share them with.
\nI am thankful for Peter, his patience with me and his own journey of discovery of self. I am thankful for all our interactions that make me reflect on my own behavior which aids in my growth.
\nI am thankful for Alex, for Jenna coming into all our lives, and for his finding a career path that seems to suit him. I am also thankful that I spoke to him when I was concerned with his thoughts on what I felt was an unsuitable career path.
\nI am thankful Ian, for his Graduation! (I am talking about the completion of his schoolwork; the party was pretty good too!) I am thankful for who he is, just the way he is. I am thankful for the self reflection I must do as a Mom trying to raise a good man.
\nI am thankful for Max and Ginger.
\nThat’s fifteen so far.
\nI am thankful for Barbara, my sister and my friend. I am thankful for being able to help her this year with her move and family turbulence as she has helped me so often in my life. I am thankful to share time with her each week. I am thankful she has a new lovely home. I am thankful for a garage sale with Lauren. I am thankful for time spent with Georgia. I am thankful for a family wedding (congrads Rich and Robyn) bringing everyone together and most especially for the princess dance.
\nI am thankful for Sunday lunches with Mom, and that she has had good health this year. I am thankful for the hug I get when I see her.
\nI am thankful for each Sunday lunch, the ones when we are just a few and we speak of spirituality and when more family joins us and we get to catch up on everyones’ news.
\nI am grateful that George has had this time to share and re-connect with me once again, for his life that has moved through troubled times and seems to be better. And also for the lesson he gave me on acceptance.
\nI am thankful for Paul, his family, and how he makes me smile.
\nI am thankful for Mike, his family, and his caring for Mom and all of us.
\nI am thankful for Richard, his family, and reflections earlier this year about Dads and daughters.
\nI am thankful for a 60 year anniversary for Aunt Peg and Uncle Bob along with another great party with their wonderful family.
\nThirty-seven!
\nI am thankful for my job and new realizations that I shouldn’t do it all on my own, that I am part of a team, and for acceptance that I need to be a teacher. I am thankful for my bosses and my staff. I am thankful for acting boldly and for getting recognition for my courage and wisdom. I am thankful that I have been wise enough to turn the tough times over to the Holy Spirit for guidance.
\nI am thankful for my health and no sick days from work this year! Amazing!
\nFourty-six!
\nI am thankful for the spiritual journey I am on. I am thankful for the books that come in the right order to bring the lessons I must next work through.
\nI am so thankful for the inspiration that pushed at me for months to write this blog. I am thankful for so many lessons I worked through each week in the blog such as those on integrity, acceptance, brotherhood, courage, perception, and Love, to name the few that are significant in my memory.
\nI am thankful for an open heart.
\n51! (or perhaps more)
\nSo here I am. So blessed and grateful to begin another year, being able to wake each morning and say “Thank you!” to God, Mother Earth, the Universe, and to me.
\nOK one more …
\nThank you Lord for the awareness of the beauty of life.
\n\u201cPiglet noticed that even though he had a Very Small Heart, it could hold a rather large amount of Gratitude.\u201d ~ A.A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh<\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\u201cIf the only prayer you said was thank you, that would be enough.\u201d ~ Meister Eckhart Happy Sunday! This week included not only Thanksgiving Day but also my 51st birthday. I have been thinking about gratitude this week as I … Continue reading