Habitual Gratitude

Today I am grateful for the lamps that light the early mornings in our house. I am also grateful for the many ways my family and friends enrich my life. A special happy birthday wish to my friend Dorothy. Many more my friend! I am thinking especially of my sister Leonice today as she wraps up her sixth and final round of chemotherapy. I recall my last chemo treatment and the mixed emotions it brought. A cancer diagnosis and all that comes with it takes time to fully feel and comprehend. Lots of time. Today's word is peachy . Wonderful. Fine. Excellent. It's a fun word to use, and I will sometimes make it my response when people ask how I am doing. Chemo treatments don't tend to leave a person feeling peachy. Life's challenges may elicit a sarcastic "peachy" from me and others. Life can't always be wonderful. I am convinced that would be as dangerous for me as life always being dreadful would be. But peachy is a nice word to use when light of he...

Today I am grateful for the people with positive energy who are in my life and share that energy. I am also grateful for early morning time to sit. It's not that I am currently feeling obstinate , but it certainly has applied to me before and will again. Stubborn, unyielding, inflexible. Not much positive energy in that. When I am obstinate, my ego is flaring up, rational thoughts tend to get crowded out, and the Great Spirit is ignored. The most obstinate time in my life was during my active drinking days, when I progressed in my alcoholism but continued to think I was controlling it and didn't need help. That stubbornness could have killed me. My goal in recovery, and in daily living, is to be less and less obstinate and more and more willing. Progress is possible. Practice is needed. Obstinance narrows the mind and heart. Grateful living brings me to a more open mind, heart, and soul, better able to keep nurturing this precious life we get to live and share with one ...

Today I am grateful for the technology that makes my job easier, but also always the face to face communication and connections that matter so much--at home, at work, among friends. As I return back to the "A-Z" feelings list I am blogging about, I feel nurtured today. I had sustenance last evening that took the form of food, hanging out with others in recovery, and some sleep. I woke up to this writing time, and writing nurtures me in so many ways. To nurture is to care for, to encourage growth and development. Our little grandson Aaron is being nurtured by his parents Arthur and Alyssa. New baby and new parents all need encouragement, and I appreciate that they have each other as well as Alyssa's mom Donna in these early days and weeks. Nurturing takes on so many more meanings too. Am I nurturing the relationships I have with the people I live with? Are my husband, son, and dog feeling my warmth and encouragement? Am I nurturing the many connections and relation...

Today I am grateful for safe travels to and from a visit with our new grandson Aaron and his parents. I am also grateful for each conversation I have with my friend Sheila, and especially the one we shared yesterday.  In my most recent post, I wrote about feeling mesmerized. I was sure mesmerized by my time with Aaron. I took this picture yesterday as my husband Darcy held him. Babies are so precious, so fragile. So peaceful in their slumber. I enjoyed holding him, listening to the little sounds he made and the variety of facial expressions he had. I never tire of holding a sleeping baby. It's good that there were others to get their turn holding him. It was nice to see our son Sam take his turn and sit there gently cradling his new nephew.  Babies bring us to the here and now. Babies remind us of the wonder of life, and if we have our own children, of the time when they too were this tiny. To find life mesmerizing is a good source of gratitude today. Th...

Today I am grateful for a good start to the new year at the school where I work, and all the positive energy there among staff and students. I am also grateful for rest in a warm bed. As I pondered feeling words that start with "m", the word mesmerized came to mind. To be mesmerized is to be enthralled, captivated, transfixed. I talk about paying attention a lot in terms of what gratitude practice is about. Mesmerized is a deep level of attention. I am mesmerized by nature. I am often on a run or walk when outside, so I am not fixed in one place, but I can still be fixed on the awe-inspiring sights, sounds, and smells of nature. I look forward to fall coming. It is my favorite season. Sitting for a time outside is a treat on busy days. I will strive to make time. I am mesmerized by running. Stride by stride. Footfall by footfall. I definitely feel I am in flow when I am running, especially after I have been underway for a few minutes and have a rhythm down. This is why ...

Today I am grateful for the safe arrival of our grandson Aaron and the health of his parents Alyssa and Arthur. I welcome this day and all of you I will cross paths with in it. From kindhearted the other day to lighthearted today. There are many fun words to define light-hearted. Some I like are cheerful, carefree, playful, lively, and bouyant. I like those words, but I have often found them hard to attain, especially in the first three decades of my life. Certainly, I had many fun times as a child, playing with my siblings and classmates. I felt carefree as I ran out to my spot in the outfield on the softball field. But I was also weighted down with self-hatred and self-pity, fed by alcohol and alcoholism. Today, feeling light of heart means I am not weighted down with worry, regret, fear, obligation. I can only achieve that state in the present moment, and with faith in a power beyond myself. Grateful living is uplifting. Mindful gratitude brings a peace and ease that...

Today I am grateful for good news and a new day. The biggest WELCOME today is for our new grandson Aaron! He arrived earlier this morning and he is doing well along with his mom Alyssa and his dad Arthur. A big congratulations to the new parents and a big breath of relief. Alyssa and Aaron had to be monitored closely and we so appreciate the medical help available to help keep them both safe through it all. Thank God baby and mom are doing well! We look forward to meeting the newest member of our family. What a joy and a gift to have a growing family! Welcome is a good word to ponder as I think about yesterday's A-Z word of "kindhearted." Welcome the new day. Welcome a newborn. Welcome new students. Welcome kind thoughts and actions. Here is a post from Dr. Rick Hanson's website that fits nicely with kindheartedness as well: be-benevolent I welcome this day with thanksgiving and for the opportunities it presents to show kindness and benevolence.