“Say ‘Thank You’ to Someone”
Thank you for staying, protecting, providing, forgiving, helping, laughing. I can’t imagine going to anyone else at the end of the day to talk about my questions, observations, insecurities, joys.
Gratitude: Day 24
gratitude
“Normal Day, Let Me Be Aware …”
Normal day, let me be aware of the treasure you are. Let me learn from you, love you, bless you before you depart. Let me not pass you by in the quest of some rare and perfect tomorrow.
Mary Jean Irion
Gratitude: Day 22
Prompt: “Something That Made You Laugh”
Harvey Korman
Christopher Guest movies
My grandkids’ takes on things
My husband on the riding lawn mower
The Awkward Family Photos website and memes like these photos
My adult kids
And this particular meme, which never fails to crack me up:
Gratitude: Day 21
Prompt: “Technology”
It allows me to talk to people on the other side of the world in real time, “face to face.” Having been born mid 20th Century when I had to write letters to my cousins in CA or pay for an expensive long-distance phone call, this advancement in technology is thrilling to me.
Gratitude: Day 20
Prompt: “A Holiday You Love”
I’m patriotic. The food is easy. The mood is light. Decorations can be gaudy. The weather is nice. The music is classic rock or symphonies. Water games. The vibe is celebration. I love Independence Day.
Gratitude: Day 18
Prompt: “An Item You Use Every Day”
Not the phone, not appliances, makeup, nail files, etc. ….
So how can I answer?
I use a devotional to start my day,
I use some kind of mug which expresses something each day.
Why am I even trying this prompt … my whole life is pretty routine, everything I say, do, etc. But I’m ok with this because I have built this life. I’ve made enough choices to have settled on ones that bring me peace, comfort, joy and satisfy my curiosity and need for creative output.
I am living no one’s dream but my own. It looks smallish from the outside, but I love my life, even the routine time, however brief, in the outdoor swing.
So … in the spirit of this daily gratitude meme, I’ll say that I’m grateful for the everyday use of a swing. I read that “vestibular stimulation occurs when we experience movement through time and space in combination with the earth’s gravitational forces.” There. That explains it all.
It looks a lot like this one. 🙂
Gratitude: Day 17
Prompt: “A Personality Trait of Yours”
Empathy
My students tell me I should have been a therapist.
When someone gets hurt physically, even characters in movies/TV, I get an electric shock type of feeling in my body that is very unpleasant.
I soak up the mood of people surrounding me and feel it conforming me instead of just observing it.
Gratitude: Day 16
Prompt: “A Person You Look Up To”
Respect?
The late Tim Keller for theology
CS Lewis for theology and creativity
Veterans for sacrifice
Charles Dickens for creativity and social awareness
My husband for intelligence
Erma Bombeck for wit and trailblazing
My best friend for loyalty
The boy in “The Emperor’s New Clothes” who told the truth when everyone else was too cowardly. This is my childhood book. It made a big impression on me. Thanks, Hans Christian Andersen.
Gratitude: Day 15
Prompt: “A Life Lesson”
“When you’re nervous about stepping outside of your comfort zone, remind yourself:
‘It feels scary because it’s unfamiliar, not because I’m incapable.'”
Mitchell C. Clark
Gratitude: Day 13
Prompt: “A Person”
My personal influencers?
So this person must be outside of family, which was previously prompted on Day 10. But which kind of influence?
Big influence, such as CS Lewis whose “The Great Divorce” is the most impacting work I’ve read outside the Bible?
Small influence, such as Marilynne Robinson, whose “Gilead” brings me to heart thumping, resonant responses?
Or my kindergarten Sunday school teacher, Mrs. Goldie Duke, who received my fistful of dandelions on a Sunday morning with enthusiasm?
Significant influence, such as my high school English teacher, who introduced me to Shakespeare and Dickens–who brought in her already old 3D model of the Globe Theatre?
My first love, who broke my heart for the first time?
My forever best friend, about whom I’ve already written here?
All of these influencers and unnamed others taught me either by actual lessons or by tweaking my heart. I carry them with me daily in my memories, interactions and introspection. They shaped my preferences, my responses to life, my goals and my deep memories. And for that, I am grateful.
One Hoosier Life 