Word.

A Grateful December – Day 6 – Civil Rights & Liberties

"In North America we have so many civil rights and liberties.  Consider the rights we sometimes take for granted."

Can you believe that it wasn't until 1960 that all women in Canada were allowed to vote? Can you believe that it has been much less than a century since women have been considered "persons?"

Those facts are quite staggering to me.  I'm thankful that I can't wrap my head around the fact that these were things that needed changing.

Do you know what else floors me each and every time I think of it?  I can't even conceive of a world where I would have to scrimp and borrow to take care of a medical condition.  I don't even know how to key it.  I can't imagine saving up money to afford to have a baby.

We are living in a charmed continent where hockey lock-outs, new furniture stores and Black Fridays consume our minds.

We're a lucky bunch, and I am thankful to realize it.

A Grateful December – Day 5 – A Tough Job

"Realizing that any job could be a tough job for you turns this theme on it's head. Maybe it's being a teacher or a doctor that you would find hard. Maybe it's working in a field or being a customer service rep for an airline.  Appreciating that it takes all kinds of talents to keep this world going and having gratitude for those who do the jobs we would find difficult brings us all a little closer."

I am constantly amazed at the many skills and passions people bring to the table.  As time goes, I have begun to believe that there is no job that is missing a passionate worker towards its fruition.  A number of years ago a co-worker and I had completely opposite tasks we looked forward to - and dreaded.  We decided to let each other know these tasks, and where we were the missing puzzle piece, we offered to take on the other's dread chores.  My goodness, the joy that came to work following that discovery!

Learning to speak to what we did and didn't love was half of the key to making our workplace better.  The other half of the key was learning to believe when someone said they loved something that didn't make sense to us was the other.

 Since working through that a decade ago, I've been able to identify similar co-workers in new work situations.  The really interesting thing is that it is a safe bet that once you've found 2 or 3 tasks to swap, there will be many more to follow.

 I'm thankful that we all have such varied interests.

 I'm thankful that I had such a great co-worker with whom to learn this.

 I'm thankful that my heart was open to learning.

A Grateful December – Day 3 – A Special Nature Spot

“Being connected to nature is one of the most healing and awe-inspiring endeavors of our days. Please take a minute to mentally revisit a special nature spot or park that gives you something to be grateful for and share it here.”

I remember specifically learning how amazing it could be to find a special nature spot within a city.  I was living in Brandon.  It was spring, and the river was just beginning to thaw.  My employer did the ‘come here’ hand wave and we piled into his vehicle, and took me to the shore of the Assiniboine River.  There were big cement locks (?) in the river, and the ice was breaking up and crashing over the locks, spraying onto the banks.  There was one cement pad/block where you could stand and feel the mist on your face.  That cement block became my journaling spot.  During the rest of the spring / summer / fall, you could hear the river rushing by, feel the heat of the sun and smell the green of the park behind.

I hope that spot continues to bring that little bit of outdoor peace to many people.  I am thankful that I had the opportunity to enjoy it.

A Grateful December – Day 2 – Storms

‘Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass.  It’s about learning to dance in the rain.’ ~ Vivian Greene.

My step grandma is 97.  Amazingly she has been living in her own home up until a week or two ago. She had some surgery, a week and a half ago.  She’s surely been on my mind.  (And, to assuage any concerns, she is back in our home town, recovering nicely in the local hospital.)

I’m thankful for the newfound abilities to shift my thoughts into how lucky I am to have had this woman as my grandma.  For the first 15 years of my life, I had a really neat grandma.  I would suspect that had I known her further into my life, I would have learned where the bulk of my creativity originated.  She made crafts with my brothers and I, she knew how to make us feel like co-conspirators, she once gave me a smile that rocks my world when others give me the same smile.  After she passed away, my current step-grandma and my grandpa married.  Because she’s always known my grandparents, she’s been able to fill in some of the missing stories that our natural grandma may have shared.

I’ve found myself considering how thankful that I have had TWO amazing grandmothers when most people have... two amazing grandmothers.  ?  And then it also struck me that even though I’ve only had one set of grandparents, my heart is still considering me lucky for having had such great ones – absolutely no consideration to the fact that I never knew my mother’s parents.

And so, today I find myself grateful for this sweet and kind woman – a woman who is an amazing model of how to live a kind and loving life.  And I am thankful for the storm to give me time to consider how fortunate I am.

A Grateful December – Day 1 – Wild Card

Post potluck preparation, and elbow deep in ground beef, I considered how I was going to complete the Day Challenge of my December.  (Using www.30daysofgratitude.org.)  I’d already decided that if the day didn’t fit, I was just going to post something else.  My thoughts moved away from the original Day 1 plan – to honour the month past.  They moved into the honest grateful mode that has been groomed by my previous 30 day challenge.

Today I am grateful for the wild card of chance that brings people together.  Today, you see, along with two handsfull of others, I was invited to a big birthday party.  It is through chance that we twenty or so know one another.  In reflection of the first round of classes, I have encouraged others to this session – secretly holding back the fact I would like everyone to sit in this woman’s class.  Sure, we’ve all learned to play ukulele.  The secret, though, that I hold back is the way that you will feel after being in this woman’s class.  I am grateful for whatever it is that she has... and whatever it is that she shares, that builds the souls of those around her. 

I am also grateful for the new friendships that we are investigating, getting to know one another bit by bit.  No one in a hurry, probably no one with a whole lot of extra time.  Slowly but surely we are becoming a really neat group.

If I were building a timeline of life experiences for others, this would be the type of wild card I would deal – and I would watch the joy in their hearts grow as they let go to enjoy all that life can bring.

"30 Days of Gratitude" ~ Day 30 ~ Self Gratitude

“Please share a bit of awesomeness about yourself that you appreciate.”

Whew.  That seems wrong, doesn’t it? None the less, I’m going to participate fully.  Because there are a few things, about me, for which I am grateful.  And it’s more about being excited about the gifts that I’ve been given, not about pride that I’ve made these qualities all by myself.  I’m grateful that I can step outside of my regular box and ‘trust the process’... (such as this one where I end up making what might seem like a prideful post), I’m grateful that gratitude is an easy mind-set for me to access, I’m grateful that I’m open to developing other mind-sets, I’m grateful for curiosity, compassion, an obnoxious laugh.  I’m grateful for being broken, and I’m grateful for being fix-able.

I always wished I could have a nickname like Captain Awesome from Chuck.  Any suggestions on the feminine equivalent? J

"30 Days of Gratitude" ~ Day 29 ~ Doing Gratitude

My goodness. This 30 Days has been an exercise in self-exposure. :)  Today's challenge is:  "Please consider sharing an act of kindness, giving, service or gratitude that you have or plan to perform as a way of staying connected to your appreciation."  There have been so many positive efects to participating in this project. I am better to others, to myself, to the world.  I am going to cross my fingers and hope that this one also 'does good.'

I'm grateful for a lot of people in my life.  It is rare that I say it out loud to them.  I've been grateful for many people, out loud, over these past 30 days.  For the most part, they don't know.  My intention, after Day 30, is to send my file of gratitudes to those who have made such a difference, and to ensure that they know that their smiling soul is somewhere in these 30 days.  And that they have made a difference to at least one person.

And also - more on the silly front - I've already had a request for Day 31's Gratitude.  If I receive 'gratitude requests', I will add bonus days.  Just because I like silly. :)

"30 Days of Gratitude" ~ Day 28 ~ Gratitude and Loss

"Expressing gratitude for a loved one lost is one way to keep that person's spirit alive."

Oh the memories. :)

My grandparents, Charlie and Louise, my father (tie) and uncle.

Of that apartment building on MacDiarmid Drive in Brandon.  Where my brothers and I would play (read: fight) and we were *so* afraid that the police would come and arrest us.  (They were close enough to hear them from next door.)  And playing pick-up-sticks when my bros and I would go to visit my auntie in that same apartment. How fun it was to blow up that air-mattress together.  And meeting up with the same auntie at different stores while shopping with my mom.

Also of being at the shop with my grandpa.  Hearing that I was his favorite grand-daughter. (Read:  only grand-daughter.) And of that silly dog, Toolie, who we'd torment by kissing grandpa.  And playing with those fun battery operated toys at Christmas.

Also of taking walks with my grandma down to the railroad tracks.  Picking up shale so that we could glue them to pieces of board for our 'amazing' works of art.  And making those cardboard Santas that would jump and dance with the pull of the string.

What lovely relatives we have had. I am grateful.

"30 Days of Gratitude" ~ Day 27 ~ Being Heard

"You can literally listen a person's soul into existence."

Whew.  Being "heard."  Having someone intentionally hear who you are, flowers/warts/bumps and all, and still find room to accept and love you anyways - I can see why they say "you can literally listen a person's soul into existence."  That is truly an experience for which to feel grateful.  I'm grateful to have had to consider and post on this one.  I am truly a fortunate girl.

"30 Days of Gratitude" ~ Day 26 ~ Thanksgiving

"A whole day dedicated to giving thanks and remembering our blessings. What gratitudes or traditions do you have to share?"

For as long as I can remember, Thanksgiving has been my favorite.  I love the family dinners.  I love greeting everyone at my parent's door with "Happy Thanksgiving!" (And I love the smiles that come from those greetings.)  I love hearing people talk about their plans for the holiday weekend, where they will travel, what they will have, how much they are looking forward to it.  I love the 3+ hour trip home in which I will consider the things I am grateful for.  The food is pretty good, too. All in all, it's a pretty stellar holiday.  I'm thankful for it. :)

"30 Days of Gratitude" ~ Day 25 ~ Food

"Food is tied to moments and memories that we cherish."  True dat! I'm thinking that it is less than surprising that "food" landed on the American Thanksgiving in 2009. (When this gratitude list was created.)

And really... that is a lot of why I am grateful for food.  For the family feasts that we have together.  For the less than feasts we share with friends.  For potluck meals with share with others.  Sharing a meal brings people together differently. The fact that it is something we all need, and something we all can share to bring us together is something to be truly thankful for.

We had this on our wall growing up - I'm sure I can't count the amount of times my bros and I tried to get away with saying this instead of grace:

"Good bread, good meat,

Good gosh, let's eat!"

"30 Days of Gratitude" ~ Day 24 ~ Forgiveness

Ok.  I'm avoiding this one.  Forgiveness is a skill I'm trying to make more natural in my life.  I am grateful that I am forgiven.  I am grateful to see others forgive.  I am grateful to have so many great examples of forgiveness, so that when it comes right down to it, I can use what I have seen to forgive others.  And possibly myself.  I am grateful for Day 24 where I actually have to think it through, and be grateful for the opportunity to let go of the things that really don't matter to make room for things from which we can take joy.

Whew. :)

"30 Days of Gratitude" ~ Day 23 ~ Children

Recently, I had the opportunity to spend some time with a friend's son. I didn't expect the hang-time, and it started when I said:  "Oh, by the way I was thinking about you when I made this over Thanksgiving...."  This boy looked at my project with TOTAL interest. 

We talked ideas for embellishments.  Ideas for improving it next time.  Ideas for how we might make something together in the future. 

Then he told me about some of his interests.  We went and looked at videos of his interests.  We had a great interchange over interesting things on how he might make projects out of his interests. 

 We had that 'a-ha' moment when we realized we had some pretty similar interests and that we might have the basis for a friendship.  Sometimes children can show you how easy it is to build a new friendship out of an acquaintance.  I am grateful for that young fella. :)

"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.