Gratitude Practice 2021 Nov 25: Ten Years of Gratitude
Tonight marks ten years of this silly yearly gratitude practice. Ten years. So many words and lists and photos and memories. I've recently gathered all of these words and posts and bumbling musings into one location and it's been fun to look back and see how much has changed in a decade and also discover that just as many things remain the same. Ten years. So so so many words.
Lots of compelling research and credible psychology is associated to the benefits of a daily gratitude practice and this reflective documentation strategy is a powerful tonic for both my heart and soul. Ten years...whew.
Tonight, my gratitude is simple and expected and nothing really spectacular or profound and I'm totally good with that.
Nature walks and naps. Bready flavorful stuffing, buttery mashed potatoes and ham...because turkey every year is blech and a trap of a successful Butterball marketing campaign...one that I will not fall for any longer. Long weekends. Podcasts, playlists and Ted Lasso for president! Googly eyes and glue sticks. National Parks and road trip vacations. Vaccines. The unwanted yet ever powerful tempering, sifting and prioritizing that only a global pandemic can provide….two years and counting...yeah, baby! The faith and friendship of neighbors. The patience and persistence of co-workers. The gift that is adoption which continues to expand and heal my heart on the regular. My new end of day ritual of watching a Marvel movie with Burke...we are watching all of them in sequential order based on story line not release date and on average it's taking about three nights to finish one film because once I finish the day and crawl into bed I last approximately 37 mins before I start snoring.... Burke M Rich is a very patient man and it's good to have aspirational goals. Therapy….lots and lots of therapy for me and plenty available for all. Brisk cold winter wind. Billy Luber's thirty. My morning meditation practice and walk....it's essential and a game changer. The ability to change and flex and choose and decide. Vincent Van Gogh's painting of red poppies. Gloves. Clawing my way towards clarity and charity and compassion. Graham cracker chocolate frosting sandwich cookies...always better the second day and always serve chilled. The power of a new pair of Nikes. And most of all my life with Burke and Sarah Kate. Grateful for these two humans who keep me grounded and focused and honest and inspired and challenged and reminded and focused...daily. Grateful to feel secure and safe and supported inside our little family. Grateful for each day and the hope for lots of happy days ahead.
Grateful for this written record of personal growth and learning through gratitude. Ten years is a lot of years and that makes me grateful. So here's to 2021 and ten wordy reflective wonderful years of practicing gratitude.
