Friday, December 12, 2008

Reflections

I adore hearing from friends. One friend I've not e-chatted with in a while sent an e-mail last night. Her brief prose acknowledged the struggles each of us are facing within our little group of pals, and then she proceeded to compile a list of everything in her life there is to be happy about right now, this minute. I'm borrowing her idea and posting my list here in hopes that writing it and reading it will remind me just how fortunate I am.

1. This hot cup of coffee in my hand
2. Music
3. Great, wonderful, loving, supportive friends
4. Amazing family - here and all over
5. Food in the fridge and pantry
6. Nature
7. Camera and accompanying gear
8. Hot showers
9. Sunrises and sunsets
10. Migrating birds
11. Ample clothing to wear
12. Roof over my head
13. A good heat pump
14. My cookware
15. All my senses intact
16. Good health, my own and my immediate family's and friend's

Feel free to compile your own lists of blessings and gratitude's.

8 comments:

Jan said...

This post is just right for the days before Christmas:) With the craziness and fast pace that a lot of people keep, there is often a tendency to forget to take a minute and think about things like this. I 'want' to do the same, although it's often easy to overlook things we take forgranted, and your post is yet another terrific reminder:))
Thank you! Jan/ThanksFor2Day

Anonymous said...

Debi, you're an angel.

I'm grateful to be able to celebrate another Christmas with all four of our parents; with children who are healthy and making their way in the world admirably; for my grandson, my hero, and the youngest little man I ever fell in love with; for my Charlie who loves me, no matter what...even though, some days, there's a whole lot of WHAT!; for the kindness and generosity of friends near and far; for having the necessities for TODAY; for this morning's sunrise, and this evening's twilight. And for the joy that is you, my dear. :)

Anonymous said...

I'm thankful that all my kids will be home for Christmas and thankful that hubby has a good job so that we can afford to feed that many hungry boys!

I am thankful that I caught the elk before they ate the bluberry bushes...I love blueberries!

I am thankful that I have a little bit of land to garden and play on...and in!

I could go on and on...

Thanks for the wonderful thought provoking post! Kim

Anonymous said...

I just feel like I am so blessed. I have a wonderful husband, two great children, and four wonderful grandchildren. I also have my healthy and great friends. Life is good!

Anonymous said...

It is a really wise practice to write out "gratitudes". I am especially noticing "all my senses intact" - something we so take for granted. I also add the ability to read and to write and to communicate. I have a very close relative (she had a stroke at 36) who cannot speak, read, write, and whenever I spend time with her, I return home with a full heart, thankful for the basics that I take for granted.

Thank you for the reminder to be grateful for each and every day.

The Giraffe Head Tree said...

It's wonderful returning to my blog and reading such heartfelt responses.

Jan, you are so right that this season always gets so frantic that the meaning usually gets buried beneath shiny ribbons, colorful paper, blinking lights and crass commercialization. It's good to simply stop.

Nancy, yes! I'm thankful for my blogger friends as well and the opportunity to post my random thoughts. Back atcha, babe.

Kim, I'm also grateful to know someone who owns a camel! That continues to thrill me, and I enjoy your blog so much!

Geri, sounds like you have a wonderful, warm family and are so blessed!

Bo, bless your friend. I'm especially grateful for my senses as well for I, too, had a stroke in my early 40's but most effects went away. My heart goes out to your friend whose situation is a not-so-gentle reminder for us all that there are no guarantees.

Thank you all for your thoughtful responses. These days I am making a concerted effort to count my blessings each and every day, stop my whining and get on with living life to the fullest. Happy holidays to everyone.

Anonymous said...

Hi Deb, this is just so cheering. I love the things you have chosen to be happy about, all good ones that we should be so very thankful for too. I will think those thankful thoughts too, and be thankful for you inspiring them.
Frances

Anonymous said...

I'm grateful for having such a wonderful, giving, caring, kind mother; for a husband who loves me through thick and thin; for a son who has turned out to be such a kind, sensitive, and caring father; for ample health; ample food and shelter; for the senses of sight, smell, and taste; for the golden light that returns every day; and for enlightened blogging friends like you.

Diane

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