"30 Days of Gratitude" ~ Day 22 ~ Parents

Funny how some of my biggest childhood frustrations became some of my favorite things about my parents.  I really do have creative parents.  They challenged me to do without. They challenged me to find substitutions.  They challenged me to enjoy different childhood pursuits.  They provided real fun games.  They helped me to understand how important it is to try one's best.  At 8, these lessons were a bit trying. ;-)  At 40-something, these lessons are invaluable.  I am thankful.

"30 Days of Gratitude" ~ Day 21 ~ Hobbies and Recreation

As I think about recreation, I am transported to the water, floating or swimming in cool water, with the full sunshine of summer.  I close my eyes and I feel the heat of the sun.  I smell the sunscreen.  I hear the chatter of children playing.  I taste the clean water in my funky water bottle. And I am thankful that I get to enjoy this.  In real time, and in my memory.

"30 Days of Gratitude" ~ Day 20 ~ A Random Kindness

The 'random kindness' seemed a bit more tricky - given the Day 4 - 'Acts of Kindness.'  Until, I began to write.  On a particularly rough day, I ended up in conversation with a stranger in a restaurant.  Oddly, we each took a moment to comment on what we observed about the other.  Her comments were the exact encouragement, the exact tone, exact kindness that I needed on that day. She'll never know the impact she made.  And I am grateful for her impact.

"30 Days of Gratitude" ~ Day 19 ~ Literature or Film

Oddly, I am truly thankful for the World According to Garp.  The way that John Irving captures the beauty in his character's faults is moving.  He takes the most farcical, most devastating situations and finds a way for his deeply flawed characters to find meaning and hope in life.  This seems a pretty thankful way to live.

"30 Days of Gratitude" ~ Day 18 ~ Work

Recently I was considering all of the great skills I've had an opportunity to learn through my work over the last few years.  A lot of them were pure fun - trying to fit as many puzzle pieces into as small of a space as possible (figuratively speaking), and a lot of them were so challenging that I wondered how I could possibly learn them.  In no specific order, here are a few skills/things to be grateful for:

- better able to gain big-picture perspective

- better able to develop business relationships

- better able to think from the perspective of others

- better able to field curve-balls

"Every adversity, every failure, every heartache carries with it the seed on an equal or greater benefit." ~ Napoleon Hill

"30 Days of Gratitude" ~ Day 17 ~ Your 5 Senses

(Take a minute now to consider one of these senses and why you appreciate it.)

It's impossible to think about one of the senses and why you appreciate it, without thinking of the other 4!

None the less, I've settled on the sense of hearing.  It touches so many aspects of life.  With my hearing, I've woke (gently) to the sound of birds in the summer, less gently to the sound of my alarm(s) every day.  I've listened to the fall of the rain, the laughter of children in a playground. I ring in the holiday season listening to choirs singing Christmas carols.  I hear the joy of a friend - conveyed through their voice.  I've heard the pain of friends and helped them to talk through it with my voice.

So much to be thankful for the gift of hearing.

"30 Days of Gratitude" ~ Day 16 ~ Local Neighbours

There are a couple of neighbours in my neighbourhood who are really prone to acts of kindness.  Here are a few of them:

• one neighbour offered supportive comments during myfirst few months of dog ownership.
• another neighbour pulled up with his riding lawnmower with no provocation, and started mowing my boulevards
• another had his son knock on my door to offer to shovel
• another kept an eye out on a weird neighbourhood night when things were a little 'off' safety-wise
• another gave some iris advice
• another offered some starter tomato plants.

Nothing over the top, but they are a nice crew.  It's a comfortable neighbourhood.  We have smiles for one another.  I'm thankful.

"30 Days of Gratitude" ~ Day 15 ~ Sense of Humour

So, my step grandma has been in my life since 'forever' to me.  (Becoming my step grandma in my late teens.)  Her first husband passed away early enough that I have memories of them being together, but no memories of what he looked like.  During one of our visits, I asked her what he was like.  She said:  "Oh, he was a lot like your father.  Always ready with a laugh."

I couldn't have picked that out, because it was what I'd always known. So, at that point, I started watching for it.  It was true!  Even before the punchline, you can see that he knows it is coming and that he has a laugh ready to go right behind his eyes.

Then I started watching for this in my own community of peeps.  It is less common than one might think - and it is really nice to be around.

I guess that makes me grateful to have been around such a great sense of humour since day one. :)

"30 Days of Gratitude" ~ Day 14 ~ Musical Moments

I am so thankful for music.  It can enhance great moments, it can sooth difficlt moments.  I am thankful for being able ot participate in music, by making it, by listening to it, by supporting it.  I am thankful for listening channels, radio stations, youtube and sharesies by friends. 

I can't imagine what life would be like without it.

"30 Days of Gratitude" ~ Day 13 ~ Inner Mantra

(NB - I am grateful that today's challenge is to share the internal mantras that I say that to help me remember the good, the fun, the lightness of the day.)

- It will all work out in the end. If it hasn't all worked out, then it isn't the end. 

- That's not mine to worry about. I'll worry about my own responsibilities, and it will be more helpful in the end than if I were to take over their responsibilities.

- If we all did what we 'should' do, I'd be a size 8.

- Doing the right thing isn't a guarantee that it will feel good.

- Etc.

"30 Days of Gratitude" ~ Day 12 ~ Day Brightener

"Hopefully there are people in your daily life that make it better. But besides them, who is someone, while you don't connect often, always brightens your day when you do?"

There are people for whom I am deeply thankful.  Some of them are day brightners.  Some are life brighteners.  And many of them have already been mentioned in days 1-10. (Of course, I don't want to refer to any of them as weird.;-)  Or at least, I want them to *think* I don't think of them as weird.)

Here's a surprising thing - a mix of this project and Facebook.  The comments on these posts have been super uplifting!  It is a weird project to take part in... from my perspective, it feels like I'm opening myself up to something best left un-opened.  (Yet when I read over the previous posts, it all seems mostly innocuous.  Most likely that is the way that it is from the outside.)  I'm not posting *for* the comments.  None the less, the people behind the comments have become their own thing to be grateful for. Facebook keeps us connected to *way* more people than we could otherwise.  I've known I like you all - but I didn't realize how *kind* you are.  Thank you for showing who you are.  It is lovely to see, and it helps others to look forward to just assume that most people have similar kindnesses. :)

"30 Days of Gratitude" ~ Day 11 ~ W for Whimsy

(Today's Challenge:  "Life is always more fun with a little whimsy. What is something that starts with the letter 'W' that you are grateful for? Feel free to be witty and wise!")

In jest, 'weird' seemed like the perfect thing for which to be thankful.  But in reality, I really am thankful that we're all a little bit weird!  And that we all have to make room for each other's weirdness.  All in all a nice way to keep us all grounded and compassionate to our fellow weirdos. :)

It's entirely possible that the weirder you are, the more thankful I am to know you. :)

"30 Days of Gratitude" ~ Day 10 ~ A Tough Challenge

Easy.  Quitting smoking was a tough challenge.  One that I didn't enjoy.  At all.  Sure, I'm thankful for smelling nicer, being healthier, and now being granted access to the actual 'cool kids.'  But that really is a thankfulness in passing. Kinda like being thankful for a chocolate bar - the thankfulness is gone all too quickly.

What I *am* grateful about, from out of that challenge, was all of the strength I needed to develop to continue as someone who wasn't smoking.  But really... by that time, it wouldn't have mattered if I began again or not, the quit uncovered so many growth areas for me.  I'm able to field uncomfortable situations now.  I'm able to draw upon the confidence that I can stick to a plan for long enough for it to get easy.  I'm able to be okay with not being okay. So many things to be grateful for, that has absolutely nothing to do with the challenge-proper.

And before I miss mentioning it... I'm really grateful for the new friendships made through that process. Nice to know ya, friends. :)

"30 Days of Gratitude" ~ Day 9 ~ A Nice Gift

I have a rock with the word "Princess" on it.  I hide it for myself to find months later.  I'm pretty thankful for that rock. I've had it... probably for close to a decade. Thank you, friend. :)

"30 Days of Gratitude" ~ Day 8 ~ Raising the World

"People who inspire us to think beyond the expected, to think bigger. They lead by example and they deserve our thanks."

A little trickier, maybe.  Until you put your thinking cap on.  Like the teachers taught us. :)  I think that there is a common theme to the people who have inspired me to think bigger.  They've all been teachers in one respect or another.  Mostly *actual* teachers who make thier living from teaching. Schools. Music. Dancing. Some have been employers, or leaders in groups I've been involved in.  But all have had a desire to teach others a 'better way.' 

I could easily come up with two handsful of teachers in my life, right now, for whom I am thankful. 

Curious, dontcha think, that the woman who I saw doing this is also a teacher? :) I'm pretty thankful for knowing about this project and having had someone to set the example.

"30 Days of Gratitude" ~ Day 7 ~ Common Ground

So, I'm watching some pre-recorded TV last night - and saw a scene with a new couple on a date.  They discover that they love the same Hungarian composer who had a superiorly bizarre back-story.  They both knew the back-story. :)  It was sweet - and it made me think of those times, making new friendships / relationships... that a-ha moment when you realize that you both LOVE weird stuff.  It's heartwarming.

It's common ground.

It's something to be thankful for.

"30 Days of Gratitude" ~ Day 6 ~ Where You Live

And again, another one that is so easy, it's difficult.  Winnipeg is this amazing city - amazing.  It is big enough for choices, it is little enough for community.  It's big enough to unabashedly following passions, it's little enough to have people to care about you while you're following passions.

The Weakerthans have a song that really captures the feel of what it is like to live here (One Great City)- with the most odd lyrics.  It feels like camaraderie - another thing to be grateful about this city.  Those of us who love Winnipeg *really* love it.  And those of us who don't, really have to work hard at not loving it. 

I love Winnipeg.

"30 Days of Gratitude" ~ Day 5 ~ Community Heroes

I'm sure it goes back generations, I've heard stories about the grandfather.  My mom worked with him, and by all accounts he was a bit abrasive and abrupt. And he was also the best person to have volunteering on a committee.  And he wanted nothing but the best for his community.  If there was a need that he could fill, he was your man.

I understand that this was passed on to his son.  Just a few years ago, he won an award for lifetime volunteering in his community.  He was more like a second dad to me than a 'great community man.'  But I do know that he has been working on the local museum.  And because of him, and many other volunteers, their small community has a museum to be proud of.  They've found a way to display some really exiting items - on a kind of time share basis with the owners.

And now I see my childhood friend - taking on the volunteer 'community hero' mantle.  She started with volunteering with the "Legion Ladies" and helping to bring the next generation into keeping the legion alive in their community.  She's rounded up a volunteer board and helped to lead the building of a daycare. I think she thinks that I was the 'good one'... or some such silliness.  And maybe I followed convention a bit better in our youth.  But really, she's the one setting the 'community hero' example for me.  I'm hugely thankful that she's my friend... and more than anything, super proud of her.

"30 Days of Gratitude" ~ Day 4 ~ Acts of Kindness

This one is so easy, it is difficult! 

Would it be the comments a friend posts when they think you need a boost?  Would it be the pumpkin pie a friend brings because you're going to spend Thanksgiving away from family?  Would it be the stranger who gives you an extra big smile and welcomes you to a table of new people?  Would it be the person who lets you know they know *who* you are and like you anyways?  Would it be the friend who comes to see you do something difficult to support you?  Would it be when they help you move towards your goals by promoting you to others?  Would it be the friend who got you involved in writing cards with positive affirmations to others?  Would it be the friend who shows up with a bag of groceries when money is a bit more scarce than you might like? 

Or would it be the time that you reached into your pocket to give your change to the gentleman in front of you at the til?  Or the time that you paid for the coffees for the car ahead of you?  Or the time you took to walk someone less 'sure of foot' accross the street?

I love acts of kindness.  The acts of kindness I give, help me to feel joy, purpose and meaning. The acts of kindness I receive help me to feel that the world is looking out for me - that God is making sure I don't go without when life has less to offer than what he wants me to have.

"I like smiling; smiling is my favorite."  ~ Buddy the Elf.

"30 Days of Gratitude" ~ Day 3 ~ Comforts of Home

This one is easy.  I'm moving into the third year in this home. Each and every time I shut the door to the dishwasher, I smile a little smile and consider about how happy I am to live with that machine.  I even smile when I hear it running from the next room, and when I walk by and feel the heat when it is drying. 

(Sorry Scooby and nearby Happyland Pool.  The dishwasher trumps you. Hopefully this will be the only shallow selfishly thankful thing.)