I've said it before ... and it's still true: there is so much to be grateful for in my life that it almost seems UNgrateful to single out this and that. But in an effort to just keep myself mindful of the big and small wonders I am consistently blessed with ... I'll keep on.

Today, John and I took comforters to a laundromat near work, so I'm grateful such places exist, with machines large enough to take care of our needs in only an hour and a half.




I'm truly enjoying the nuggets of sunshine encapsulated in Clementine oranges and sugar snap peas -- especially in the middle of winter!



Work has been very busy -- and I'm grateful for feeling as if what I do makes a difference.

I so very grateful for the way that John takes care of our finances. It's an ongoing project that is a constant challenge, which he handles with enthusiasm and (I'm ashamed to admit) with little or no assistance from moi.



This is only one of the many reasons I am also most grateful for John in my life.

Taking note

I accomplished a LOT today at work, and was honest and forthright about what I needed to get it accomplished, despite a persistent headache and stuffy head.



It's cold enough outside again (we lost 20 degrees or so in the last few days) that I am reminded how fortunate I am to live in an age of central heating, synthetic fleece, and means of transportation that are warm, quick, and comfortable.

Tomorrow I get to work from home, and the best part of that is not having to share restroom facilities with 10,000 college students. Well, that, and the fact that I get to dress in fleece from top to toe, and be cozy in my own home. And get paid for it. Yes. Life is good.

Yesterday, the Chancellor's message was encouraging: not likely to lose our jobs, expect to pay more for retirement and health insurance, and we won't get any raises for the 2009-2011 biennium. But, with any luck, we'll still be employed and that's definitely more than many others can expect.

I'm very happy, together with John. :-)

Catching up on Gratitudes

Last week, Shannon told us about a series of things that have happened to her. I'm grateful that all of them left her just a little shaken, just a little irritated, and with just a little less in her savings account set aside specifically for car maintenance. The car accident that happened right in front of her, the trials and tribulations of teaching college students, and the flat tire that resulted in purchase of 4 new tires -- all manageable. This is good.

Come to think of it, I have some deep gratitude for things in Amy's life, as well: a boyfriend that appreciated the hand-made deeply-thoughtful gift she gave him; whatever made her look up from her phone in time to run from the SUV that was flying through the air toward her and landed where she could reach out and touch it, but left her without even a piece of broken glass touching her; continued safety on each trip to Kenosha and Racine and Brookfield and everywhere she goes; a friendly home to take care of her dog while she finishes school. These, too, are good.



And the fact that they both love me. And John loves me.



Life is good.

Everything

The challenge of this practice, for me, is not finding 5 things a day to be grateful for. It is focusing on only 5 things, because I am overflowing with gratitude about nearly everything in my life. (I'm honest ... see? "nearly everything" ... realistic, too!)

So, in random order, and with awareness that too many things are not on the list, today I am grateful for ...

- mild winter weather that has melted most of the snow, allows me to wear a jacket instead of a coat, and lets me believe winter will not last forever



- lengthening days -- I wonder what it would be like to live near the equator, where the dramatic shifts do not occur, season to season; sometimes, I think I could go for that; sometimes, I think I am more grateful for abundance when I have had the contrast of scarcity, as well

- companionship and love -- I am so grateful for John in my life, I cannot adequately express it in words

Oh, where can I go from there? Best to leave off basking in the glow of that last one. Aaahhhhh.

I love you!

I love you!
Originally uploaded by shrnmc

For which I am constantly grateful!

Christmas is sorted and packed, and if I remember what I did today, should be much more inviting to UNpack next year ... instead of a job filled with trepidation and near-dread. I'm looking forward to setting up the tree we bought and actually trimming it with the ornaments we decided today to keep because they were beautiful, or meaningful, or both.

Jobs - back to it tomorrow, with the mindful, active, conscious thought that we are fortunate to have them to return to.

Wonderful holiday memories - good times with those I love most in all the world, and warm greetings exchanged with others I love who are farther away.

Movement - staying home is restful, but restful isn't what the body needs 24/7/365. Time to move!

Clean sheets - when the mind goes blank because contentedness sets in, I fall back on the pleasures that are simple and that I otherwise tend to take for granted.

Sunday, December 28, 2008

Today, I am abundantly grateful for:

1. A warm, dry, pleasant home to live in.

2. Enough of everything I need and most of what I want in life.

3. A good-hearted, warm, loving, caring, wonderful husband.

4. Two fabulous daughters, a perfect son-in-law, two great stepsons and their families -- all of whom I love dearly.

5. A full heart and a body that works pretty darned well, all things considered.


And I'm aware these are not in order of priority, either.

A Mensch

Parenting is the most important and most challenging thing I've done in my life. I'm not done. It never ends. My children are grown, over 21, out of their parents' house ... and it's like a huge chunk of my heart is out there in the world, with each of them -- a piece of my heart that is vulnerable and out of my control.

Shannon's best friend, Misia, got married last Monday. It was the most amazing celebration I've been to, perhaps in my life. There was so much meaning behind every phase of this traditional Jewish wedding and reception ... I was grateful for the explanations Shannon was able to provide as we moved through the evening's festivities. And I was (no surprise) also overwhelmed by emotion at the open-hearted love and acceptance of my little girl (who is really a remarkable young woman, and not a little girl, at all) in this circle of people who knew she is not Jewish -- but also know that she has learned as much as she possibly can about the laws and traditions her childhood friend has embraced in her adult life.

A long time ago, struggling with things like sibling rivalry, discipline, and helping my daughters develop into people who had integrity, a sense of their own power and worthiness, and a sense of respect for others ... in one of the many books I poured over, I stumbled across a word that summarized all I hoped to accomplish as a parent: I wanted to raise a mensch.

I can't tell you how proud I was on Monday, when Shannon, recounting that someone in Misia's large gathering of family and friends for the wedding celebration -- many of whom thought she, too, was Jewish, because she knew so much and showed so much respect for the traditions and laws -- had told her she was ... she struggled to remember the word. It started with an "m," she said.... "A mensch?" I asked, tentatively. Her face lit up in recognition. "Yes! That was it! It means ... " It means you are a GOOD PERSON.

My daughters are GOOD PEOPLE. Mission accomplished.

For accomplishments, challenges, travel, and gifts

It's been a long time since I've posted to my gratitude journal. Sometimes, the "speed of life" prohibits stopping long enough to share ... even though I am mindful of my gratitudes, most of the time, I don't always get a chance to point them out to others.

So, here ... from the last month:

I'm grateful for another year ... a birthday for me, and one for John, and another year of being married to this man I love so much. Another year with our loving, beautiful, talented, and dearly-cherished daughters, as well.








I'm grateful for my kitty (Mack) cooperating with my psychic messages begging him to continue eating, despite our extended absence on vacation and my subsequent travel for a work-related conference. He's doing just fine, although he does tend to insist on his special food treats, and has enjoyed sleeping for the last three nights smack-dab on my chest!



I'm grateful for a successful Summer Assembly, and for the presence of mind, for whatever reason, of not accepting more responsibility for next year than I already had. And for time to spend with people I care about, but see only once a year. For time to "just be me," and relax, if only for moments at a time.












I'm grateful for the opportunity to travel to a new place with an adventurous companion who led me to meet Lake Superior again, after almost 30 years; and with a delightful coworker I only get to see a few times a year.









I'm grateful for the artistic talents of people I don't even know, but have the good fortune to meet occasionally at street fairs and art fairs, and those I will never meet whose works have brightened my waiting hours at the Duluth airport.







I'm grateful for the magic (science that I don't understand) that allows planes to fly, and therefore allows me to see the earth as the living organism she really is, and us as an infinitesimal part of her enormous awe-inspiring "being."





I'm grateful for the opportunity to practice loving detachment as my youngest angel tries her wings, and I hope we have established strong enough "roots" for her to feel confident that we are here for her, whatever her path.





And I am grateful for family time, enjoying silly things and laughter together. Making memories is much more important, I believe, than being practical.

Reality Check

I've been trying to lose weight. But not trying very hard.

I've had a sore throat and some congestion in my chest, so I've been indulging in self-pity along with self-care.

I woke up at 5:30 this morning, thinking about how peeved I've been with committee work for our summer camp, how half-hearted have been my attempts to eat right, how much energy I've poured into nursing hurts and complaints.

The other reason I woke up at 5:30 is that I am haunted by yesterday's Oprah show. (http://www2.oprah.com/tows/pastshows/200706/tows_past_20070601.jhtml)

The woman who sat by the side of the road holding her decapitated daughter's head in her lap said that she didn't want to be this way, but what on earth can her friends or anyone say to her about a rough spot in their marriage or a hard day at work, or even parenting challenges. "Are they kidding me?" she said. She hears everyone saying it's been two years since the drunk driver crashed head-on into the limo she and her family were in, on their way home from her sister's wedding ... but for them, it doesn't seem like two years. The sentencing hearing for the drunk driver was just last month -- for them, time is different. This is fresh, and may never ever ever ever heal.

I thank every known and unknown power in the universe that my life is simple, uncomplicated, and untouched by the depth of grief and tragedy I witnessed in that family yesterday.

I resolve to stop whining, stop feeling sorry for myself, and step up to making my wonderful life even more wonderful by getting healthy and keeping things in perspective.

My life is good, and I am so thankful for it and every blessing in it ... especially the people.

Peace

1. I'm grateful for another sunny day, and the time and space to enjoy it just the way I like -- quietly, in my own home, with kitties. And loudly, on a playground, with a 3-year-old who calls me Grandma.

2. I'm grateful for a few minutes when Amy is taking the 3-year-old back to the playground, so I have a moment to be online, and John has a few moments to nap. 3-year-olds and playgrounds can be tiring for Grampas, too.

3. Peace. The world may be at war, by my little corner is filled with sunshine and love today, and I am immensely grateful for the grace that allows this miracle.

Sunny Day

1. The 3.5" of snow that fell earlier in the week is almost totally gone, and the grass is so green!

2. The overly-blue fountain at UWM was already running today. The water is the color of a swimming pool, but it sounded so cheerful and was beautiful in the sun.

3. John and I went to lunch at Sala de Pranzo ... good minestrone, good pasta, good company.

4. I'm so relieved that Mack is better, and eating, and drinking ... I can't stop smiling.

5. Productive days at work!

6. Lots of good things in abundance in my life! Food, cuddly kitties, loving friends and family, wonderful spouse, comfort, and gratitude.