Habitual Gratitude

Today I am grateful for a weekend at home after several busy travel weekends in succession. I am also grateful for a friendly hello and a holding of a door from a fellow human. I was out doing errands yesterday and stopped at the post office. As I was about to go in the door, a woman I didn't know came out, held the door for me with a smile. I said "thank you" and she replied with a "have a nice day."  I appreciated that brief interaction and it was something I likely would have done too if I had been the one coming out with someone else going in. In today's society, we are busy, frazzled, connected to our technology. It would seem we would be well-connected to one another; considering that we can communicate instantly in a variety of ways. It would seem, but it doesn't feel like the reality. The reality, to me, feels like we are getting more disconnected and isolated because we aren't looking one another in the eye, we aren't sharing a smile...

Today I am grateful for unexpectedly fast progress at work on a couple of things. I am also grateful for the chances I get to be quiet and closed-mouth each day. The word "indelible" was in my head after writing yesterday's post and it was just a matter of time before "ink" was added. Indelible ink is often referred to as permanent ink these days. Call it what you wish. It means the same thing-ink that cannot be washed out or erased away. And that led to thoughts of the large amount of ink I have used over the years. My first poem and my first diary were both around age twelve. I have gone through many, many pens since then. I have filled dozens of journals with everything from gratitude, life's happenings, poems, to words to my son. My first years of teaching I filled many legal pads full of notes as I worked to better learn the material myself that I would soon be teaching to my students. Computers were not around when I was growing up and they weren...

Today I am grateful for life. My own life and the wide variety of life surrounding me-human and other. I am also grateful for time with our grandson Leo. There may come a year when I don't feel the urge and motivation to write about the anniversary of my cancer diagnosis. This isn't that year. Some use the term "cancerversary."  Some choose to celebrate it. Others choose to try to put it behind them. There is no right or wrong way. There is only each individual's own way. I choose to write about it because cancer has left an indelible mark on my life in many ways. Since this marks the 7th anniversary of "D-Day," here are seven ways cancer is a permanent part of who I am: 1. The obvious: two mastectomy scars on the flat terrain of my chest. 2. The less obvious: the four smaller scars below the mastectomy scars, from the drain tubes that helped me recover and heal after surgery. **But I have to tell you that even though I see my scars each day, the...

Today I am grateful for my hearing and my other senses that allow me to interact and communicate with others and the world around me. I am also grateful I made it to the dermatologist recently. As I reflect on where I was at seven years ago today-awaiting the results of my breast biopsy-I am thinking about a carcinoma of a different kind. My breast biopsy showed that I had infiltrating ductal carcinoma (IDC) and ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). A recent biopsy of an area on my right shoulder showed that I have basal cell carcinoma. It was probably a couple years ago when this area first appeared, looking like a small patch of dry skin. As it underwent some changes, I had my doctor take a look. She wasn't overly concerned, but suggested I go to the dermatologist. I put it off for a while because I was waiting for our flex dollars for health care to kick back in after using up what we had the previous year. But I knew I wanted it looked at. I wanted the reassurance. Either it...

Today I am grateful for rest and comfortable places to get it. I am also grateful for good books and magazines to read. There are days and dates you don't forget. Seven years ago today I had an MR-guided biopsy of my right breast. The biopsy would determine a diagnosis of breast cancer. I am here today, doing well and living life fully. Tens of thousands have died of breast and other cancers in these last seven years. There are many ways we can help move science closer to unlocking cancer's many mysteries and finding a cure. I am proud to be part of Dr. Susan Love's Army of Women and also the newer Health of Women Study. The former helps researchers fill studies with subjects much faster and keep the pace of research moving more quickly. More quickly to useful information. The latter, found at this link-  https://www.healthofwomenstudy.org  -is a database of women worldwide who complete health questionnaires to help researchers look for connections and clues that may ...

Today I am grateful for health insurance, antibiotics, safe travels, and a quiet house. I wish my mind were quiet. I am feeling out of sorts, and so is my mind. Darcy has been sicker than I have ever seen him in the years we have been together. A virus that then led to some sort of infection is the likely culprit. We have had a very busy and draining last few weeks, so his defenses were probably down. It leaves me feeling out of sorts because it is not the usual routine. Plans had to be adjusted and actions needed to be taken. We missed time with my family and our niece's graduation party. I would like to think I adjust to change and unmanageables better than I used to, but it's still an adjustment. I am trying to keep it all in perspective. Darcy is feeling better and this appears to be running its course. Some others deal with chronic and terminal health issues. It makes me appreciate health and each day we get. I don't want to take either for granted. It makes me a...

Today I am grateful for my job and the variety of people I come into contact with there. I am also grateful for my husband Darcy and the love we share. One of the daily meditation books I have is titled Keep It Simple .  I don't even always read each day's reading. Some days just seeing that title is all I need. It is always a good reminder to me. Keep it simple Lisa. I am an intense and driven individual in many ways. Thank God I am not driven to drink anymore. But I can still go down unhealthy roads with my expectations of myself and others. I can push myself too much and forget to practice what I preach about pausing, taking time to relax, resting, being grateful. It has been a full week, a full month. Darcy is still sick with a nasty virus and that has made our week a different one. I have had to take care of things that he sometimes does, and also take care of him in ways too.  I am grateful for the love I have for him, and the sympathy I have for him because he fee...