Friday, December 07, 2012
Thursday, December 06, 2012
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.
Wednesday, December 05, 2012
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.
Monday, December 03, 2012
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.
Sunday, December 02, 2012
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.Saturday, December 01, 2012
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.
Friday, November 30, 2012
"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
Thursday, November 29, 2012
"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. :)
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
"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. |
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.
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
"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.
Monday, November 26, 2012
"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. :)
Sunday, November 25, 2012
"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!"
Saturday, November 24, 2012
"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. :)
Friday, November 23, 2012
"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. :)
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. :)
Thursday, November 22, 2012
"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.
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
"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.
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
"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.
Monday, November 19, 2012
"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.
Sunday, November 18, 2012
"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.
Friday, November 16, 2012
"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.
"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. :)
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
"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.
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
"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.
Saturday, November 10, 2012
"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. :)
Friday, November 09, 2012
"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. :)
Wednesday, November 07, 2012
"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. :)
Tuesday, November 06, 2012
"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.
Monday, November 05, 2012
"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.
Saturday, November 03, 2012
"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.
Friday, November 02, 2012
"30 Days of Gratitude" ~ Day 4 ~ Acts of Kindness
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.
Thursday, November 01, 2012
"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.)
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
"30 Days of Gratitude" ~ Day 2 ~ Coming of Age
It
can be an amazing thing when you can benefit from knowledge from someone else's
past. Today I will focus on being
grateful for an idea that someone else shared with me from their coming of
age. This person had a Big Brother - and
the piece of advice that his Big Brother shared was to consider one's choices -
as a yes now may mean a no in the future. (Or vice versa.) It seems like a small piece of advice, but it
was a life skill I hadn't learned at that point. I'm grateful for the man who stepped up and
decided to volunteer to be a big brother... and to the gentleman who heard and
shared the volunteer's advice.
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
"30 Days of Gratitude" ~ Day 1 ~ Where You Began
Today
I will focus on being grateful for having been raised in an environment where I
had many opportunities to investigate so many interests. Parents who fostered
my curiosity, brothers who knew how to encourage that, and a safe / great place
to seek them on my own. (i.e. - a rural setting where I could 'wander' safely.)
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