Gratitude

Lately, the feeling of gratiude has come up quite often. I have felt gratitude  in so many ways; and feel blessed. Foremost, my gratitude is to our Creator. Without the presence of the Eternal, there is nothing else.

Then, there is the blessing of life itself. I have had a full and beautiful life thus far (and intend to keep myself healthy to the best of my ability to guard this beautiful life). I have  many blessings and profound losses. “I mourn, and pick up the pieces”, (from one of my poems).

I am involved in a Gratitude Study at Skidmore, a wonderful opportunity to look at gratitude and how it affects us on a daily basis.- Say thank you to your loved ones, to the person who serves you a coffee or  a donut. A simple smile can make someone’s day. And, I often try to step back to think about what it may be like to walk in someone’s shoes before making a harsh judgement or saying something stupid. I don’t always succeed in this, but  I try.

Life is short, but the journey is so worth it.

“May your blessings outnumber the shamrocks that grow, and may trouble avoid you wherever you go.” Irish blessing