A Moment of Gratitude

I hope this finds you having a peaceful Thanksgiving, filled with food, family, and thoughtfulness.  November is flying by, disappearing as quickly as the dry leaves tumbling from my poplar trees.  I am busy juggling part-time jobs, learning opportunities, and all that being the Mom-in-charge entails.  All of this activity, has shunted blogging to the back burner. As Thanksgiving approached,  the internet was flooded with touching outpourings of gratitude. I’ve been struggling to cultivate a daily practice of thankfulness, as well.  To jump-start the process, a dear friend demanded suggested that I start a list of ten things I am thankful for.  So here they are, in no particular order.

1. Touchstone Friendships-Those friends with whom no matter how frequently you talk or often you see one another, you can pick up right where you left off, those are what I think of as touchstone friendships.  I am grateful for the people in my life, for whom friendship is effortless.  These people form the foundation on which our nomadic lifestyle is built.

2. My brothers-All four of my younger brother’s have made me a better person.  I admire their humor, their exuberance for life, their intelligence, and I appreciate the love and humility they bring to my life.

3. My Kids-Being a parent has deepened my appreciation for my own parents, we should all pursue something that reminds us so heartily that selflessness has value.  What is more selfless than creating a meaningful, safe world for another human being?  I am grateful for this important responsibility and the wonderful moments it has brought me.

4. My Husband- I’ve shared ten years with this man, he is so familiar it feels like a lifetime and so surprising that ten years is not nearly long enough.  We’ve shared great sadness, happiness, and the adventure of the unknown.  This man is the glue that holds me together.  How lucky am I to witness his humanity, share his children, and watch him pursue his passion?  To top it all off, he’s pretty darn cute.

5. Wonder-I am blessed with innate curiosity and a sense of wonder carefully cultivated by my mother.  I hope that my parenting leaves my children with the same sense of awe for the world around us, for as Emerson said, “Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us or we find it not.”  Be it the drama of changing light on faraway hills or the simplicity of a crisp, sweet apple, there is always something to admire in this world.

6. Books-I’m an erratic and obsessive reader, sometimes juggling as many as five books at a time and other times none at all.  Books, narrative, are unique in that they allow us to travel and experience the lives of others without stepping out of the untidiness of our own. I’m grateful for the windows to the world hidden between their covers.

7. Good Horses- A good horse challenges you to think, to be aware of your body, and calm your mind.  I am grateful for the desire to dig deep and better myself that being horseback inspires.

8. Kindness-I struggle on a daily basis with being my best self, I believe it begins with treating all people with respect and kindness.  Regardless of whether we share the same beliefs or opinions, I try to treat everyone I encounter with courtesy.  I hope to be an example for my children and I am filled with gratitude for those individuals who have modeled this behavior for me.

9. Grandmas-I am blessed, in that I’ve had the opportunity to enjoy my grandmother’s well into adulthood.  I am so thankful for their wisdom and support throughout the years.

10.  Courageous Women- Speaking of my grandmothers, I am thankful for the courageous women of the world who choose to be the heroine of their own stories, rather than damsels-in-distress.  I am inspired by them on a daily basis.