Habitual Gratitude

Today I am grateful for laughter and for time with our grandson Leo. I am also grateful for the way songs inspire me. Yesterday on my way to pick Sam up from football practice, I heard "Count on Me" by Jefferson Starship. Released in 1978, it is a song I have always liked. Really a love song, it's more the refrain of "count on me" that touches me.  As I listened yesterday, I felt a tide of gratitude rising. Appreciation for people in my life that I can count on to offer support and encouragement, as well as loving honesty when I need it. My husband, my sisters, long-time friends, and fellow recovering alcoholics and addicts are some that come to mind, as do other family members and work connections. I have faith in a Higher Power/Great Spirit that I can count on to always be there too. I didn't always feel that way. There is such a sense of peace in faith.  I am never lonely, even when I am alone. I strive to be the person others count on ...

Today I am grateful for a closet full of clothes and for the people who support me in recovery from alcoholism. Circumstances with family, friends, and at work in recent days have reminded me of the precious and fragile nature of life. And of human frailty and the many forms it can take; from my mom's aging body, eyes, and mind, to the power of addiction, to those afflicted with mental illness, and more. Some of us survive to see another day, some of us do not. That is what makes each day a gift. We can all probably name close calls and near misses in our own lives, or health scares and other significant hurdles in life that could have gone very badly for us, yet we made it through. We have all suffered losses, some minor, others major. There is plenty of grief to go around, and none of us remains immune to loss. In remembering the losses, in considering our human frailties, in contemplating our fragile existence, therein lies the key to today. To wake up is to be given a ...

Today I am grateful for enjoyable family time and safe travels this weekend. I am also grateful for perspective that comes with pausing and keeping expectations reasonable. A quick shout out to those who joined me in an impromptu little dance number to Johnny Cash's "Ring of Fire" at the wedding dance. My sisters Zita and Ruth and sister-in-law Terri had some fun with it. A special congratulations and best wishes to our niece Marissa and her new husband Keegan! Wishing you all the best as together you begin this journey of married life.  Journeys in life. We share some and we pave our own way on some. One of the dances done during the wedding celebration yielded the couple married the longest--61 years. We all gave them a deserving round of applause. Newlyweds on day 1. Darcy and I at 18 years. The couple with over 6 decades.  Healthy relationships, whether marriages, other family, friends, or co-workers, take work and attention. But the rewards are well wo...

Today I am grateful for songs that move and headphones that heighten the listening. I am also grateful for the school our son Sam will be attending soon. Yesterday we had a breeze with a touch of fall in it. I loved it. I am looking forward to fall-my favorite season. It was refreshing in a week where I have felt anything but refreshed much of the time.  I added to the natural breeze with windows down and music up as I drove home from work. And with a brief but pleasant bike ride on my favorite stretch of trail. It all helped bring some perspective back for me, as did a visit from our grandson Leo. A busy work week had been taking precedence. In ways, it needed to. In other ways though, I got sucked in by my propensity to overthink and overdo. Life breezes by. Days and moments breeze by.  Am I spending them the way I wish? Are my choices healthy?  Do I know balance and peace?  All important and relevant questions to keep asking. Have a nice weekend! I w...

Today I am grateful for my body's capabilities and strengths. I am also grateful that energy can come from many sources. I was thinking about energy last evening as I witnessed a high level of it and excitement among new students and parents at the school I work at. We hosted an orientation event for them. I enjoy such times because I feel helpful. I can answer questions, be reassuring, and show my own excitement for a new school year. What are my trusted energy sources?  Exercise and the endorphins it releases. Sleep, though I have been lacking in that the last days. Recovery and faith in a Higher Power. The people in my life who nourish and nurture me in so many ways--family, friends, co-workers. And yes, even coffee. Another consistent source is this blog and the other ways I actively practice gratitude. It takes time and some effort, but what I receive back is a healthier perspective and a deeper peace. Peace preserves my energy and stretches it. Frenzy and overthinking d...

Today I am grateful for my recovery friends and the honest sharing they do. I am also grateful for the energy in a school staff when they regroup for a new year. Chobani yogurt recently came through with another message for me: Here. Now. That is really the most stable place when considering mental health. Being balanced means spending more time in the present and less in the past and future. "Balance Starts Here" also tells me it is up to me, not the universe, if I am balanced or not. The universe plays a role of course, but one that is beyond my control. My attitude and actions are within my control.  The balancing act of life starts here, with me. 

Today I am grateful for the sunrise I am witnessing as I write this. I am also grateful for my profession. Although I have put in numerous hours over the summer, the next school year gets underway officially today with staff workshops. There are orientations for students and families too, and by the end of the week all students are back. And there is always part of me that is ready to go back, ready for the routine, ready for fall. It is my 29th year in the education field. The speed with which those years transpired is hard to comprehend. I started as a high school Social Studies teacher for 10 years. Then, I was an elementary counselor for two years and am just beginning my 17th year in my current position: Middle School Counselor and Student Assistance Coordinator. Over these years I have met wonderful people, worked side by side with amazing educators, gotten to know a wide array of students and parents.  Experience has given me some wisdom, but more grace. I look...

Today I am grateful for the cool AND less humid air we have been waiting for and for the teamwork my husband Darcy and I have concerning family. I am also grateful for this blog and the opportunities it gives me as a writer and a person seeking more gratefulness and mindfulness. I have reached another century mark with "Habitual Gratitude." This is post #1400. In honor of it, I am scaling back from 1400 to just 14 random thoughts. Some came to me on Saturday's training run. Others came through in a quiet moment. Here they are: 1. Writing saves my sanity. 2. People name their boats some pretty clever things. 3. Our son Sam starts high school soon. He is excited and so are we.            But I would be lying if I said I didn't have some fear too.  4. There are worse things to be hooked on than coffee. 5. Watching the changing seasons along the Mississippi River is a real treat. 6. Some days the clouds are just what I need. 7...

Today I am grateful for a much-needed nap yesterday afternoon and for music that touches my heart and brings me peace. On my way home from work the other day, the song "Eternal Flame" by the Bangles came on the radio. It's a song I have always liked. The windows were down and the radio was up. It energized me when I had little energy left. That is what songs we like do for us. They uplift and open us. "Eternal Flame" is a love song, but that is not where I find meaning in it. The song came out in 1989, the year I got sober. Symbolically, alcohol nearly extinguished my fire and my life. Recovery has given me a chance to keep going, to keep heart and soul afire so to speak.  An eternal flame also reminds me that I am just one small spark in a fire that has been burning long before I got here and will hopefully continue long after I am gone. Faith in God or a Higher Power tells me that the flame is safe, that it will not burn out. Sparks are vita...

Today I am grateful for exciting Olympic viewing and for a good first cup of coffee for the day. Birthday wishes to my friend Beth! I am grateful for our lasting friendship and we both appreciate our summer birthdays more now than we did in our younger days :-) Playful is a good word, a fun word. Playful describes our grandson Leo in this picture: Notice the array of books and toys. He is playing with Grampy as we like to call my husband Darcy. Leo warms my heart in many ways. And he reminds me to be present, right here and right now. Last evening, he also reminded me to have some fun, be playful, not take life too seriously. Thanks Leo! 

Today I am grateful for pleasant time with my good friend Betsy last evening.  I miss seeing her regularly. I am also grateful for the messages I receive when I am paying attention. This is the message I saw on my yogurt lid the other day: Thank you to Chobani yogurt for this little tidbit. And thank you for the ease of a healthy snack provided. This is a sentiment I have tried to live out in my own life each day. Some days are easier than others. Some days are better than others. Some days I dwell on yesterday. Some days I fear tomorrow. Yet, any day I practice gratefulness allows me to spend more time in the right day. This one. Daily recovery and wellness require daily work. There is joy in the work and effort. And there is definitely joy in the results of the effort.  Starting fresh today. Onward!

Today I am grateful for people with whom I can share recovery from alcoholism and for opportunities to problem-solve with a clear head (or at least a fairly clear one). Yesterday's take on scatter was a problematic scattered mind that needed to be reigned in. Today's take on scatter sounds like this: "It is not what you gather, but what you scatter, that tells what kind of life you have lived."  (Anonymous) At our core, humans hope to leave a mark and make a difference. That is done more by giving than receiving. Today, I will strive to give kindness and support, smiles and encouragement. To others, but also to myself. Receiving has a part too, an important one. We can scatter humility and gratitude by receiving graciously and/or courageously whatever is being doled out. And also by gratefully receiving the goodness others are scattering. Scatter gratitude and kindness. Scatter pauses and moments to reflect.

Today I am grateful for laughter, sleep, and clean water to drink. I am also grateful to be learning more about the importance of tuning in to my own breathing as a way to practice presence. This quote seems very fitting then: "Breath is the bridge which connects life to consciousness, which unites your body to your thoughts. Whenever your mind becomes scattered, use your breath as the means to  take hold  of your mind again."   (Thich Nhat Hanh) I have fallen victim to a scattered mind in recent days, and many times throughout my life. Most of my life really. Continued effort and daily practice are helping me make some progress on this mind unifying work, but I still have plenty of room for improvement. Too often I forget that part about breath as bridge. Breathe in. Breathe out. Slow down. I can try to prevent the scattering in the first place, but also be more aware of when it has already happened.  It reminds me of that line--"Stop ...

Today I am grateful for a nice, cool morning on our back patio, shared with my husband Darcy and some playful squirrels. I am also grateful for ice cream. I am a big fan of ice cream. Actually, I'm hooked on it. I'll blame my family. We seem to be genetically predisposed to be quite fond of it. Several of us are afflicted with this problem.   I'll eat ice cream any day of the week, but over the years Saturday has been an especially frequent day to indulge. In my single days, many Saturday nights went like this: frozen pizza, movie rentals, ice cream. In more recent years, married and marathoning, Saturday is often the day we do a long training run. That makes it a perfect time to treat myself to some ice cream. I enjoyed some Ben and Jerry's "Phish Food" last night while watching the Olympics. I admit to overindulging at times, but I also justify my ice cream consumption easily. I don't drink. I don't smoke. I exercise. Ice cream is my tr...

Today I am grateful for little moments of true presence yesterday and the peace that came with them. I am also grateful for the pre-run combination of peanut butter and jelly on toast. Yesterday, I especially pondered the deep blessings in my life that have come to me in recovery from alcoholism. August 12 marks the anniversary of my last drunk. Here are two earlier posts that tell more about that day and time in my life: Last Drunk  (posted on 8/12/12) Don't Ever Forget  (posted on 8/12/14) I work hard at recovery and try to put forth effort each and every day. Practicing gratitude is part of that effort, and quite effective. It has literally helped change my thinking from destructive to constructive. I have the support and encouragement of family and friends, and a wonderful network of others in recovery. We see each other in person, we email, we text, we pray for one another and others still out there using. We try not to forget what we were and where we are today...

Today I am grateful for easy television viewing of the Olympics, the incredible athletes competing there, and the history they are making. There has been some controversy and concerns regarding the Rio Olympics, but when it comes down to it, many athletes have dedicated countless hours over several years to get to the Olympics. We average athletes can be amazed by their skills and strengths, and respect that it took more than just natural talent to succeed. We were traveling when the Rio Games started and I wasn't all that interested. Slowly, I started tuning in and now each evening I have been enjoying swimming and gymnastics, among other things. I look forward to the start of the track and field events in the coming days. These are some of my favorites. Hearing the Olympic theme always grabs me in a good way. It takes me back to my youth when we would watch them on our black and white TV and I would be inspired to dream my own Olympic dreams. I never did make it to the Ol...

Today I am grateful for an enjoyable evening at our county fair, including the food of course, and for my job. Yesterday I did a little procrastinating regarding that job and the result was a clean car. I got around to some work before the morning was over, but only after a little avoidance. I first dropped my son off for driver's ed class and filled my car up with gas. I decided to use a free car wash we had.  Some tar on the windshield needed extra effort to remove. Then, I figured I might as well wipe out the inside since I hadn't done that for awhile. When I was wiping the car out it became obvious that a vacuuming would be helpful.  I did go through a week's worth of work email between the wiping out and vacuuming, so my procrastinating was only half-hearted. It was part procrastination, part easing back into. And for me, easing back into goes better than rushing headlong like I have been known to do. It allows me a sane pace and more mindful presence. ...

Today I am grateful for time with extended family, a beautiful wedding for our niece and her husband, and safe travels as we covered over 1900 road miles in the last week. Congratulations to our niece Rena and her new husband Andrew! Wishing you all the best. It was nice to meet Keegan, who will also be officially joining our family when he marries our niece Marissa in a few weeks. On recent travels to the wedding in Colorado, several family members rented a house for a few days. Eleven of us, including four siblings and our spouses, shared the space. It gave us each enough privacy, along with some nice common areas.  We enjoyed meals together, numerous conversations, and time on the back patio. Our family that lives in the area and others visiting could join us there as well. Our house on the trip was a pleasant and affordable touch. Thanks to our sister-in-law Annie for finding it! There were 8 siblings together, seven of the sisters and our eldest brother to keep...

Today I am grateful for an early morning run with Darcy and for my primary care doctor. In the past year or so , my oncologist left my cancer clinic and my hair stylist of 15 years moved to another state. Now, we can add my primary care physician to that list. I know, in the whole scheme of things, these are definitely first-world problems. Yet, I pause in gratitude for the wonderful service they provided me, and feel some selfish sadness that they are no longer available. Yesterday I had my yearly physical. It was also the final appointment with my doctor of 16 years. She and her family are relocating to another state. She will be missed, as will the comfort level I had with her. Prior to moving here, the longest I had lived anywhere in my adult life was 6 years. I had a variety of doctors as I moved from place to place. When we arrived in our current community, my goal was to find a female doctor I liked. Mission accomplished on first attempt. Not only did she delive...

Today I am grateful for a little bye-bye kiss from our grandson and for good prayers to bring me peace and strength. Fellow blogger Diane Lynn at  The Gratitude Letters  has an approach and style in her blog that I appreciate and which resonates with my own ideas on gratitude practice. In this post from July 4, titled   "Kindness Campaign Chain" , Diane wrote about an idea she had picked up from a friend. It included doing her own 30 days of kindness campaign, and sharing some of the kindnesses and insights gained. I decided to give it a try, and though I am a few days short of 30 days, I wanted to write about the difference this made to me. Like Diane, many of my gestures were to family members and were of a mundane nature. They ranged from bringing morning coffee to my husband and turning my son's socks right side out as I folded clean laundry. They also included sending supportive text messages to friends in recovery and a couple of handwritten thank yous. I also...