Sunday Snippet: The Gratitude Edition (Because I Need This)

And maybe you do, too?

I’m trying very hard to take each day as it comes. To stay in the here-and-now, as my mom used to preach. It’s hard. I’m worrying about everything–the state of our country, Social Security, Medicare, what will happen to the folks who depend on Medicaid, our relationships with Canada, Mexico, and the rest of the world, how we ended up in this dreadful mess. How can we ever fix it? The gut-wrenching worry and fear is pointless, really, because none of it is anything I can control.

It’s better to focus on the many things I have in my life that I can be thankful for–all that blesses me. I am always grateful for my warm house, my safe neighborhood, cars that run and grocery store shelves that are fully stocked with good healthy options. My kids, Husband, dear friends,  my writing and my publisher, my job and the lake. Those are givens. But maybe there are some simple, specific things to remember too…

So…onward to gratitude because that’s how we make it through the days of feeling completely untethered, right? Here’s a dirty dozen  for this week:

• Warm days in March that bring the hope of spring
• Coffee
• Two trips planned–yay!
• My sister
• Friends who listen and for whom I can listen
• Got my book sent in
• Work–the one thing that can truly distract me
• Free firewood from trimming the trees at the clubhouse & the chainsaw started
• Husband lights a candle at every meal
• Brother is healing from his heart surgery
• Time with Grandboy
• Sun tea–it’s color is so rich and clear and it smells like summer

So there we are. I will focus on the gratitude and find where I can help in this mired mess we’re in right now. That is all I can do. It’s all any of us can do. Think of a dozen reasons to be grateful today, okay? Maybe write them down so you can refer back to them on days when you so are overwhelmed with fear and worry that you can barely breathe. It helps. Honest.

Stay well, mes amis, go out into the sunshine, laugh, love well, and most of all, stay grateful!