Gratitude
Last year when I read The Happiness Project, one of the suggestions the author made was to read stories of people with challenges that help you appreciate how good you have it. Though I didn't mean to, I ended up doing that this week. I just finished Lilac Girls, which is a wonderful story and I highly recommend reading it, and it got me thinking about all that I am grateful for in my life. I know it isn't November but here is some of what I appreciate.
1. The United States of America. I know our country isn't perfect and we struggle with our democratic system and racial, moral and religious issues, but I can go for a walk in my neighborhood without having to be afraid of being arrested. I can send my children off to school without wondering if they will come back or if they got picked up by a government officer to be sent away for no reason. My husband can work, we can attend the church of our choice, we can have opinions and go on vacations and live in peace. I am grateful for my country.
2. A warm, clean bed. It is snuggly, clean, free of bugs, comfortable and I more or less choose how much time I spend there.
3. Health. One of the horrors of the book is that some of the characters are operated on without consent and used for experimentation. I am grateful to be healthy, not tortured or starved or drugged and that no doctor will ever lay hands on me without my consent. I am also grateful for my body and that I can walk and work and take care of my family and do all that I want to be able to do with it.
4. Good and clean food to eat and plenty of it.
5. My family. I am thankful to be married to a wonderful man and to have a family to love and take care of with a free and open heart. There is no trauma holding me back or making it difficult for me to be myself with them.
6. My church. I just started taking a personal finance course and I'm grateful to belong to a church that teaches that the temporal and spiritual are all one. I know that as I work hard to be more financially responsible, I can include God in that process because He cares about me and will help me overcome my weaknesses. Something else to be grateful for is the organization of the church and inspired leaders and this wonderful program that is helping me to become more self-reliant.
7. I'm thankful for my church family and their support and kindness. In the last few weeks alone, there have been at least five women who offered to help me in one way or another; I didn't even have to ask, they just offered. They watch my children, build me up, help me learn and grow, teach me and set great examples for me to follow. Life would be much more difficult to manage without them.
8. Books. You know I love to read good books but I really am so thankful for stories that teach me and awaken understanding and gratitude. I love the joy of sharing that with my children too. My older two kids can often be found reading around the house and it can be challenging to keep them stocked with new books to read. We're about done reading the entire Harry Potter series and it has been a wonderful experience reading it to them as they get to know the story and characters for the first time. Wonder, dreams, the ability to look outside of your world, creative thinking, problem solving and joy are just some of the benefits of reading good books and it truly enriches my life.
I can hardly write my heart is so full of gratitude for peace, happiness, safety, family, love, warmth, choice, freedom, music, beauty, comfort, health, knowledge, learning, kindness, virtue, and joy. Life is so good and I'm thankful each day to live it.
1. The United States of America. I know our country isn't perfect and we struggle with our democratic system and racial, moral and religious issues, but I can go for a walk in my neighborhood without having to be afraid of being arrested. I can send my children off to school without wondering if they will come back or if they got picked up by a government officer to be sent away for no reason. My husband can work, we can attend the church of our choice, we can have opinions and go on vacations and live in peace. I am grateful for my country.
2. A warm, clean bed. It is snuggly, clean, free of bugs, comfortable and I more or less choose how much time I spend there.
3. Health. One of the horrors of the book is that some of the characters are operated on without consent and used for experimentation. I am grateful to be healthy, not tortured or starved or drugged and that no doctor will ever lay hands on me without my consent. I am also grateful for my body and that I can walk and work and take care of my family and do all that I want to be able to do with it.
4. Good and clean food to eat and plenty of it.
5. My family. I am thankful to be married to a wonderful man and to have a family to love and take care of with a free and open heart. There is no trauma holding me back or making it difficult for me to be myself with them.
6. My church. I just started taking a personal finance course and I'm grateful to belong to a church that teaches that the temporal and spiritual are all one. I know that as I work hard to be more financially responsible, I can include God in that process because He cares about me and will help me overcome my weaknesses. Something else to be grateful for is the organization of the church and inspired leaders and this wonderful program that is helping me to become more self-reliant.
7. I'm thankful for my church family and their support and kindness. In the last few weeks alone, there have been at least five women who offered to help me in one way or another; I didn't even have to ask, they just offered. They watch my children, build me up, help me learn and grow, teach me and set great examples for me to follow. Life would be much more difficult to manage without them.
8. Books. You know I love to read good books but I really am so thankful for stories that teach me and awaken understanding and gratitude. I love the joy of sharing that with my children too. My older two kids can often be found reading around the house and it can be challenging to keep them stocked with new books to read. We're about done reading the entire Harry Potter series and it has been a wonderful experience reading it to them as they get to know the story and characters for the first time. Wonder, dreams, the ability to look outside of your world, creative thinking, problem solving and joy are just some of the benefits of reading good books and it truly enriches my life.
I can hardly write my heart is so full of gratitude for peace, happiness, safety, family, love, warmth, choice, freedom, music, beauty, comfort, health, knowledge, learning, kindness, virtue, and joy. Life is so good and I'm thankful each day to live it.
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