Grateful…

Last week a radio station posted that it was the National Day of Gratitude. My first reaction was, for goodness sake why do we need a national day for that?? In fact, I would challenge that we’ve created national days for almost everything under the sun and I just shake my head with wonder. But the idea that we need to have a day for gratitude? Even worse, in my opinion. Why? Well, we have Thanksgiving for a day with family and friends to celebrate all the gifts we have been given and because I think we should find ways to be grateful each day. So, this blog is about how I am grateful.

First of all, I have the most supportive family and friends anyone could ask for. As I’ve said a few times this year, I’ve had a rough time. It’s been difficult to believe that there is a proverbial light at the end of this tunnel some days. In fact, it’s been one of my worse years ever and yet, there have been some wonderful times as well. If I focus on the bad, how can I feel grateful? I try to remember that I have so much in my life. As I said, my family and friends are top of the list. Honestly, the number of times I’ve cried (literally and figuratively) on their shoulders is ridiculous. And they keep putting up with me. They do more than just put up; they support and encourage and lament alongside. They have not kicked me to the curb or stopped talking with me. I cannot express often enough or strongly enough how much that has meant. Not just that I have people like that in my life but that they have lifted me from the puddles of life more times than I can count. My appreciation of their lights in my life is boundless.

In no particular order, another thing I’m grateful for is some amazing neighbours. When I moved here, I knew no one. My neighbours were building a house on the property beside mine and moved in five months after me. They have become friends and supports and it goes both ways. Today for instance, their dryer broke down, so they came here to use mine. That’s not about “pay-back”; that’s about being supports for each other and I’m so glad. If I need help, I just have to ask and the same goes for them. Where I used to live, it took me three years to really feel comfortable enough to chat with my neighbours. I’m okay being on my own but I have to say, it’s a whole lot easier when you have a friend nearby.

I’m very grateful for my dog, although I know his time is limited! He started out as my son’s dog and was certainly well loved. However, when son went off to school, dog stayed with me. He’s become a comforting companion. I’m never really alone with him in the house. A year ago I was told one of my options to deal with the tumour on his paw, was to put him down. After a teary conversation with a friend (for whom I am always grateful), she pointed out that as long as he’s full of life and doing what he should be, it isn’t time. The groomer supported that opinion and has already told me that she’ll let me know when it is his time. I’m so grateful for people who understand how difficult this decision will be and are willing to help out.

Live events returning to our stadiums, arenas, outdoor markets, and opportunities to get out and see people also earn my gratitude. We made it through the darkest days of COVID and although it isn’t over, the majority of people have contributed to the overall safety of our communities. I am so grateful for the people who cared enough for others that they got vaccinated, wore masks, and isolated when necessary. I don’t think I’ve made that very clear over the last two years so here it is: thank you for thinking beyond yourselves and working toward a safer future. Although the virus will probably be with us forever (maybe?), I appreciate that we have reached a time that we can go to concerts, see live shows, go to artisan festivals, and support our smaller businesses. I am grateful that those bigger stores were able to see us through some of the craziness of toilet paper stocking and relieved at the smaller places that have been able to stay open. I am grateful for being able to high-five with my seat neighbours at a sporting event, sit in a century old theatre to hear live music, and am looking forward to wandering at an upcoming outdoor market.

I am filled with gratitude for those first responders who continue to put themselves on the line for us each day. I live near our village fire department and always send up a prayer for a safe outcome when I hear the trucks go out. I guess that is how I express that particular gratitude.

There are so many things in this country for which I am grateful. I live in a country where a woman isn’t beaten to death by morality police, where I can drive a car, where I am no less a person because I’m female, and where I can live on my own without fear. We are blessed to have all that we have available to us. That does not mean that there is not inequality and that we should not continue to fight for everyone’s rights and freedoms. It means that I recognize how much we do have and remember to be thankful.

My home area has four distinct seasons, and I am so grateful. I am not one who wants to live on the beach full-time, although I understand the appeal, especially in the middle of February! Fall is full of brilliant reds and oranges and has a crispness to the air that brings me alive. Winter is not far away and with it comes the darkness. It begs for us to bundle up and play in the snow and skate on the ice. It gives us time to snuggle by the fire and celebrate the Christmas season. Spring comes and brings light back to the earth. It’s those hints of growth peeking out of melting snow that gives us hope for the return of warmth. Summer has the heaviness of heat and humidity, allowing us to slow down and enjoy the bounty of the earth. Without that heat, I wouldn’t be able to have a pool for months of pleasure. And then we come back to autumn and the return of school and schedules. In my case, it also means the return of indoor house improvements. For all of this, I give thanks and I show it through my décor in and out of the house. I celebrate each of our seasons.

For some, technology can be an example of what we’re missing in life. Instead of talking and visiting, we text. Instead of reading a book, we watch a screen. Instead of playing outside, our kids are drawn to video games. Of course there are elements of truth in all of that. To me in consideration of gratitude, I see something else. I see that technology has allowed me to work from home, during the pandemic and beyond. I see a television screen as a gift to watch an “away” football game or to enjoy a great movie in the comfort of my home. That cell phone that annoys some people? It’s a connection to my son who lives on the other side of the country. It’s a gift to be able to call with video and see him. I am very thankful for the great minds that have given us this technology and will do my best to use it appropriately.

Although I mentioned family and friends above, I’m going to come back to them because it’s essential to me to express how grateful I am for their presence in my life. My mom is always there for me, no matter what the reason. I am thankful that I now live close-by after years of being time zones away. I am so grateful for all that she shares with me: her thoughts and perspective on different ideas, her time reviewing my blogs and finding my typos and grammatical gaffes, how she remembers her childhood, and how she feels about things. Not everyone is able to share their feelings and I’m so grateful she does. My sister and I are incredibly different. We rarely seem to think alike, and I am very thankful for that. We are not clones; we do not agree a lot of the time, but we respect each other. I know that if I ever need someone to listen to me, I can reach out to her. And my friends. I have been blessed to have friends everywhere I’ve lived. I’m even more blessed to hang onto most of those friends. They are so precious to me. Even if we don’t speak every day or week or month, I know they are there for me and vice versa. I cannot begin to imagine life without them.

I’m going to close with a few other things that fill me with gratitude and I challenge you to take a few minutes to think of a few of your own.

- My yoga instructor’s voice as she is talking us through a body scan during savasana (so calming and peace-bringing)

- The sound of rain falling softly when I’m sitting on my porch

- My niece’s laughter when she jumps in my pool

- The look of my solar lights at this time of year as evening descends

- A brilliant maple tree as its leaves are turning colours