Being Grateful - Nov 30th

 

This November, I have taken on the challenge of pondering blessings that I commonly overlook. Things I would certainly miss if they were gone, yet scarcely give much thought. My goal is to share daily one typically-ignored blessing for which I am truly thankful.



Nov. 30th:

This past month I have made daily posts about things for which I am thankful, particularly blessings I seldom contemplate. This self-appointed assignment to document my gratitude has been a positive experience. That’s the thing about gratitude, it has great natural benefits.

Gratitude actually improves psychological and physical health. Not all that surprising if you think about it. Feeling thankful is a happy emotion that in turn reduces toxic emotions such as envy, regret, and disappointment. This healthier mental well-being has a positive effect on the body’s physical well-being since happy people are more likely to exercise, treat themselves well, and get medical check-ups. 

Studies have shown that gratitude reduces social comparisons, resulting in improved self-esteem. Counting your blessings before bedtime has been shown to improve the quality and length of sleep. According to some university studies, people who regularly show appreciation are also more likely to be kind and empathetic towards others. Being thankful and appreciative reduces the desire for retaliation, even when the hurt is significant.

There are additional benefits to being a person who is grateful in all things—improved quality in romantic relationships, added friendships, stronger family relationships, reduction in suicidal thoughts, greater satisfaction with life, increased optimism, more generous nature, improved patience, better decision-making, and more! So, this final day of November, I am truly thankful for the rich, abundant benefits of being thankful.

 

Being Grateful - Nov 29th

 

This November, I have taken on the challenge of pondering blessings that I commonly overlook. Things I would certainly miss if they were gone, yet scarcely give much thought. My goal is to share daily one typically-ignored blessing for which I am truly thankful.



Nov. 29th:

I am thankful for simple, thoughtful acts of kindness. Small gestures that make a huge difference to the recipient. Hugs and kisses. Friendly letters. Thank-you cards. Smiles. Empathy. Mercy. A helping hand. Wise advice. Genuine compliments. Words of encouragement. 

There are so many things a person can do to extend kindness to others. Acts of recognition, acts of gratitude, acts of love, acts of support—all can be communicated through small and uncomplicated means. I love that this is true. It honestly takes very little to make someone feel appreciated.

November 30th

Being Grateful - Nov 28th

 

This November, I have taken on the challenge of pondering blessings that I commonly overlook. Things I would certainly miss if they were gone, yet scarcely give much thought. My goal is to share daily one typically-ignored blessing for which I am truly thankful.



Nov. 28th:

I like titles and designations such as teacher, healer, mother, daughter, sister, philosopher, author, poet, manager, companion, wife… the list goes on. 

Some titles we earn. Others we are given. Either way, they play an important part in defining who we are, both to ourselves and to other people. They contribute to our developing self-image. A title outlines a role; it suggests what we do and what we know. 

It is a strange thing how a simple title or designation modifies the way we see ourselves. As we grow, our titles change and often multiply. With these changes in title come changes in our self-perception. I appreciate that they reflect our evolving maturity and progression over time.

November 29th

Being Grateful - Nov 27th

 

This November, I have taken on the challenge of pondering blessings that I commonly overlook. Things I would certainly miss if they were gone, yet scarcely give much thought. My goal is to share daily one typically-ignored blessing for which I am truly thankful.



Nov. 27th:

I have a voice. With my throat and mouth, I can form audible sounds—words, laughter, melodies, and other noises. I can speak to an audience, argue with a colleague, giggle with my girlfriends, sing in a choir, yodel, whistle, cheer, and roar. It is wonderful to have a voice. 

I love using my voice to talk over the phone. My closest friend lives many miles from my house, so we spend many hours on the phone, often reading books to each other. My friend is talented at character voices, both male and female, which makes the stories come to life. It is incredible how a single voice can be altered to create such a wide range of sounds! 

I am grateful to have a voice with which to communicate and entertain, and I am grateful to hear so many wonderful voices chatting, singing, and laughing all around me.

November 28th

Being Grateful - Nov 26th

 

This November, I have taken on the challenge of pondering blessings that I commonly overlook. Things I would certainly miss if they were gone, yet scarcely give much thought. My goal is to share daily one typically-ignored blessing for which I am truly thankful.



Nov. 26th:

My family just celebrated Thanksgiving, and my oh my did I use my hands a lot! I chopped a lot of vegetables, stirred thickened sauces, sliced a whole turkey, whisked and spooned and peeled and buttered and scrubbed... oh yes, my hands were very busy! 

Now that Thanksgiving is over, my kids are spending time together playing card games (busy with their hands) and I am writing this blog about how grateful I am for the hands I take for granted. I write, I draw, I paint, I play piano (a little) I cook, I clean, I type (for hours at work.) It is amazing how useful and used my hands are, yet I seldom stop to appreciate the miracle they are. I am very grateful to have two, healthy, able hands.

November 27th

Being Grateful - Nov 25th

 

This November, I have taken on the challenge of pondering blessings that I commonly overlook. Things I would certainly miss if they were gone, yet scarcely give much thought. My goal is to share daily one typically-ignored blessing for which I am truly thankful.



Nov. 25th:

I was blessed to grow up in the same house, in the same city, same schools, with the same friends for most of my childhood life. I had parents who established healthy routines and habits that lasted throughout those years. The stability I experienced as a result was comforting. It gave me an anchor I often needed when other areas of life gave way to every shift in the wind, as the world is prone to do. Even at a young age, I recognized and appreciated the security that existed in a stable home. It was a sure thing on which I could rely.

When I grew to be a parent, stability for my own children became a priority. I wanted to raise my kids in one house, a place they could call home no matter how drastically things changed outside. I was granted that blessing, and my kids grew up in the same house, the same city, same schools, having many of the same friends for most of their childhood. 

Even if they don’t realize it, that constant in their lives created stability, which has real benefits. Some of them include better health, a reduction in stress, deeper friendships, better habits, feelings of control, feelings of security, and less uncertainty about life. I am grateful my kids grew up with roots in a house and a hometown. I am grateful for the stability I too experienced growing up.

November 26th

Being Grateful - Nov 24th

 

This November, I have taken on the challenge of pondering blessings that I commonly overlook. Things I would certainly miss if they were gone, yet scarcely give much thought. My goal is to share daily one typically-ignored blessing for which I am truly thankful.



Nov. 24th:

I own a complete set of Star Trek porcelain figures that fit together like a puzzle. The set consists of eight members of the Next Generation’s bridge crew that form a nice display of the main bridge when arranged in the right order. Unfortunately, my son accidentally bumped the display one evening, and two of the figurines hit the floor and broke apart. Not a happy moment. 

Yesterday, I spent an hour carefully lining up each busted piece and gluing them back together with superglue. To my delight, the glue held strong! The repairs look as good as new. 

It was a relief to have something strong and sticky enough to repair my  treasured collectibles. I am thankful for adhesives like superglue, wood glue, gorilla glue, glue sticks and the like. They make repairs, crafts, scrapbooking, woodworking, packaging, and even some healthcare possible.

November 25th

Being Grateful - Nov 23rd

 

This November, I have taken on the challenge of pondering blessings that I commonly overlook. Things I would certainly miss if they were gone, yet scarcely give much thought. My goal is to share daily one typically-ignored blessing for which I am truly thankful.



Nov. 23rd:

Black licorice is such a unique flavor, is it not? As is Peppermint. Cinnamon. Salmon. Lemon. Anchovy. Chocolate. Butterscotch. Garlic. Jalapeno. Maple. Banana. The list goes on. 

A plentiful assortment of flavors can be found in this world, which makes for enjoyable dining experiences. From sweet to savory to sour, there is enough of a range in flavors to please every taste bud on the tongue. Isn’t it wonderful? 

Flavor is probably the most enticing reason we love to eat. When a dish tastes bland, a typical reaction is to reach for salt and pepper or for butter and honey or for mixed herbs—something to add desired flavor. It makes eating pleasurable. (Sometimes too pleasurable… curse you chocolate!) 

It would be terribly disheartening to find that my taste buds no longer worked properly. My desire to eat would decline, that is certain. So today, I am grateful for flavors and for my ability to enjoy them. Even black licorice. Yum!

 

November 24th

Being Grateful - Nov 22nd

 

This November, I have taken on the challenge of pondering blessings that I commonly overlook. Things I would certainly miss if they were gone, yet scarcely give much thought. My goal is to share daily one typically-ignored blessing for which I am truly thankful.



Nov. 22nd:

I scarcely think about it until I am faced with a situation where I have little to none, but I am thankful for the fact that most circumstances in life allow for several options. It is something often taken for granted—the fact that options usually exist. 

When ordering lunch, picking out school courses, selecting a grocery store, choosing a haircut, deciding on an outfit, even electing new government officials, there are options. Imagine a life without them. One meal. One schedule. One store. One look. One uniform. One leader. It would be frustrating! 

So, when you are faced with many options, smile and be grateful. To have more than one is a blessing often ignored.

 

November 23rd

Being Grateful - Nov 21st

 

This November, I have taken on the challenge of pondering blessings that I commonly overlook. Things I would certainly miss if they were gone, yet scarcely give much thought. My goal is to share daily one typically-ignored blessing for which I am truly thankful.



Nov. 21st:

I am thankful for socks. Thin socks. Thick socks. Furry socks. Cute socks. Ugly socks. Long, medium, and short socks. They are all magnificent! 

I love the feel of socks on my feet. They keep my toes warm, especially on chilly winter nights. They absorb perspiration while protecting my feet from abrasive shoes. They act as a layer between the soles of my feet and things like thorns, tiny rocks, and bits of broken glass that sometimes end up on the floor. 

Interesting fact: socks were first invented in the 8th century when they were fashioned from matted animal hair. 

I bet they were oh so soft! 

We are lucky today to have countless kinds of socks available to us. I admittedly own way more than I need! Nonetheless, it is gratifying to slip on a pair of fuzzy socks at the end of the day and prop up my feet on the coffee table. Ah, comfy socks, you make me happy.

 

 November 22nd

Being Grateful - Nov 20th

 

This November, I have taken on the challenge of pondering blessings that I commonly overlook. Things I would certainly miss if they were gone, yet scarcely give much thought. My goal is to share daily one typically-ignored blessing for which I am truly thankful.



Nov. 20th:

There are certain types of people in this world who show exceptional skill at perceiving the feelings and thoughts of others. They are keenly aware of those around them, and sense emotions even when the emotions are intentionally hidden or suppressed. These individuals we call empaths.

Empaths are sensitive people who share in the pain and happiness of others without needing to live through the same experiences. They joy vicariously. They suffer vicariously. They often identify and understand your feelings before you do. An empath will ask if something is wrong, perceiving even a slight deviation in mood, often recognizing there is a problem before anyone else is aware of it. 

The wonderful thing about empaths is they compassionately discern feelings. They are sensitive, and they genuinely  care. It is a rare treat to befriend an empath. In a world that seems teeming with apathy, detachment, and spite, I am grateful for the empathetic individuals who continue to offer understanding, patience, and mercy. Thank you with all my heart, my empathetic friends.

 November 21st

Being Grateful - Nov 19th

 

This November, I have taken on the challenge of pondering blessings that I commonly overlook. Things I would certainly miss if they were gone, yet scarcely give much thought. My goal is to share daily one typically-ignored blessing for which I am truly thankful.



Nov. 19th:

Today I am thankful for floss. Now, that might seem like an odd thing to say, but believe me, there is genuine gratitude to be felt at finding a roll of minty floss when food is wedged between your teeth.

 I don’t recall it being a problem when I was young, but as an older adult I have found that food gets caught in my teeth a lot—way too often—and it is aggravating! My poor tongue nearly goes numb struggling to loosen trapped food... largely without success. Neither a toothpick nor a fingernail work well enough. It drives me mad the more I try! Ugh! 

I admit it; I have resorted to using thread, yarn, ribbon, hair (my own), paper, the end of a straw, and even the tip of a sewing needle when no floss was available. Nothing has proven as effective as actual dental floss. Those thin, waxy, minty strings are useful, satisfying, lifesaving, and in my opinion hugely-underappreciated. And yes, I am very thankful for floss.

 November 20th

Being Grateful - Nov 18th

 

This November, I have taken on the challenge of pondering blessings that I commonly overlook. Things I would certainly miss if they were gone, yet scarcely give much thought. My goal is to share daily one typically-ignored blessing for which I am truly thankful.



Nov. 18th:

There are opposites in all things: light versus darkness, heat and coldness, noise contrasting quiet, laughter versus tears. You could probably list a dozen more opposites without thinking too hard about it. 

We experience each side of these coins through a lifetime, tasting the bitter and the sweet at various points. It is because of opposites that we develop appreciation. 

For example, hard work makes us welcome rest. Salt causes sugar to taste sweeter to the tongue. The chill of winter gives summertime more impact. Prolonged darkness gives greater value to a sunrise. It is our experiences with opposition that teach us to appreciate the good over the bad, the kind over the cruel, things of worth over things of no real value. 

Even though some experiences are unpleasant, the truth is that opposition makes us more aware, more discerning, and more appreciative. I am grateful for opposites and the learning experiences they provide us in life.

 

 November 19th

Being Grateful - Nov 17th

 

This November, I have taken on the challenge of pondering blessings that I commonly overlook. Things I would certainly miss if they were gone, yet scarcely give much thought. My goal is to share daily one typically-ignored blessing for which I am truly thankful.



Nov. 17th:

I removed a pile of envelopes from my mailbox today and noticed a big, brown, hairy spider standing motionless on the top piece of mail. Shrieking (because I hate spiders) I dumped everything onto the ground and then—with a thick envelope advertising 0% on a new credit card—I swatted at where the spider had landed. You might be wondering if today I am grateful for no-interest credit card offers (as if there’s never a catch) but no. The nasty spider got me thinking….

Strangely, I’m not afraid of grasshoppers, crickets, tree frogs, or mantises that are found in abundance where I live. Nope, I just hate spiders. I neither appreciate their purpose nor understand why they were designed to look so creepy. *shuddering* Nonetheless, I have a friend who is in fact fascinated by spiders: their hunting methods, routine habits, and the geometric design of their webs. So, while I freak out at the sight of eight long, hairy legs, spiders genuinely capture my friend’s interest. (Go figure.)

Now, this got me thinking about how vast the variety of life is on the Earth. Did you know there are over 8,700,000 species of animals in the world? Over 34,000 recognized species of fish, over 17,500 species of butterflies, over 10,000 species of birds, over 9,000 different insects, and over 45,000 kinds of spiders! (That’s a lot of creepy crawlers.)

My point is that nature gifts us a wealth of variety in life—in lifeforms. The world is a colorful, stunning place because of it. Among human life the same thing is true: we are more beautiful because of the variety that exists in our appearances, cultures, talents, and unique personalities. Variety is a tremendous blessing. Differences are glorious. I am thankful today to have recognized this truth.

 

 November 18th

Being Grateful - Nov 16th

 

This November, I have taken on the challenge of pondering blessings that I commonly overlook. Things I would certainly miss if they were gone, yet scarcely give much thought. My goal is to share daily one typically-ignored blessing for which I am truly thankful.




Nov. 16th:

One of my all-time favorite phrases has been around for years, and it goes like this: 

"Once upon a time…"

Oh, how I love to hear those words! They have the power to hush an auditorium full of people, making every ear pause with anticipation for one of the most enticing pleasures in the world—a story. 

We love stories! I love to read them; I love to write them. But it is not the fairy tales I find as fascinating as the creativity and imagination unveiled by the author who wrote them. Stories are a treat—no arguments there—but when the plot takes an unexpected turn, when the tale “wows” the reader, that is the sweet experience we want. 

It takes real creativity and imagination to craft a story like that. I am thankful for clever imaginations. I am thankful for the gift of creativity. I am thankful that these talents can be improved with practice.

 

 November 17th

Being Grateful - Nov 15th

 

This November, I have taken on the challenge of pondering blessings that I commonly overlook. Things I would certainly miss if they were gone, yet scarcely give much thought. My goal is to share daily one typically-ignored blessing for which I am truly thankful.



Nov. 15th:

I had a delightful time this weekend baking delicious treats with a very good friend. We made soft chocolate-chip cookies, homemade bread, big cream puffs, sweet apple pie, and a peach-apricot tart… and it’s not even Thanksgiving yet! 

Everything was made from scratch (not kidding!) and every recipe called for one main ingredient—flour. I grind my own wheat ahead of time and keep the flour in jars for ready use. Wheat flour is a good source of iron, thiamine, niacin, calcium, and vitamin B6, in addition to several vitamins and minerals. It is “the staff of life” and certainly stores well because it lasts FOREVER! Well, for many, many, many years anyway. 

Today I am grateful for the nutritional value of wheat and for flour that is a key ingredient in so many foods we eat (including the delicious waffles I made this morning!)

 

 November 16th

Being Grateful - Nov 14th

 

This November, I have taken on the challenge of pondering blessings that I commonly overlook. Things I would certainly miss if they were gone, yet scarcely give much thought. My goal is to share daily one typically-ignored blessing for which I am truly thankful.



Nov. 14th:

“Why do you think the sky is so blue?”

“Google it, Mom.”

“What is the rule for semicolon use?”

“Google it, Mom.”

“What was that funny quote Shakespeare wrote in As You Like It?”

“Just Google it, Mom!”

It took a long time for my mind to accept that Googling is a legitimate tool for information gathering. My boys use it religiously to research material for schoolwork, but when I was in school, information gathering meant a trip to the library or questioning someone who might know. 

It is mind-boggling to me that nearly anything you want to know today is available online. It is even more mind-boggling to see how many lesson videos are posted, starring pros ready to teach us nearly anything we want to learn. Want to play the guitar? The piano? The drums? Choose from numerous music lessons online. Want to learn how to check the oil in your car? Google it! Want to solve the equation 2+49/7(45-3) = (X/2)+17 and actually get the right answer? Google it! (This is why my kids got their homework done so fast. Hmmm.) 

My point is this: there has never been a time in human history when information and education were so easily and readily available to people all over the world. I am immensely grateful I have access to it. And yes, I use it all the time. (Yes, sometimes just to Google my name, but hey.)

 

 November 15th

Being Grateful - Nov 13th

 

This November, I have taken on the challenge of pondering blessings that I commonly overlook. Things I would certainly miss if they were gone, yet scarcely give much thought. My goal is to share daily one typically-ignored blessing for which I am truly thankful.



Nov. 13th:

Imagine what the world would be like without paper. No notebooks on which to write, cardstock on which to print photographs, newspaper on which to print daily news. Nothing from which to make dollar bills or publish books or make paper planes. Sure, we can do these things digitally today… all except for making a paper plane… but there is something satisfying about tangible contact with paper products versus virtual, digital experiences. 

I love the feel of paper in my hands: the smoothness of glossy photos, the sensation of flipping pages, the heaviness of big books. My fingers find satisfaction brushing over embossed décor on Christmas cards and rubbing brand new dollar bills between my fingers. I like writing with pen on paper. I like receiving Thank You cards in the mail. I enjoy amazing origami created from the detailed art of folding paper. 

Paper is a versatile blessing that affords many tactile experiences for which I am thankful. Yes, including toilet paper. 2020 surely made us thankful for toilet paper—there is no digital substitute for it!

 

 November 14th

Being Grateful - Nov 12th

 

This November, I have taken on the challenge of pondering blessings that I commonly overlook. Things I would certainly miss if they were gone, yet scarcely give much thought. My goal is to share daily one typically-ignored blessing for which I am truly thankful.



Nov. 12th:

This morning I was mentally reviewing the long list of things I hoped to get done today (Why, oh why is there never enough time?) when it occurred to me that I am very thankful for a healthy brain that collects and stores a vast amount of information. It is a blessing to have functioning brain cells! 

The miracle is that our brains act much like computers, taking in information, storing it, and then retrieving it at some later date. Have you ever stopped to consider how many facts you recall in a single day? How many memories pop up from the past? How many items you can recall without a shopping list? True, our brains don’t function at 100%, but it is still amazing how various memories resurface at the slightest trigger. 

A song brings up images of my high school prom. A phrase sends me back to a bitter divorce. A smell takes me to the bakery where I decorated cakes while working my way through college. A bowling alley makes me smile recalling my first kiss. Happy memories bring joy. Unhappy ones are lessons learned. All of them make for life experiences that shape who we are—that are shaping who I am. Thank goodness for a brain that stores both short-term and long-term memories.

 November 13th

Being Grateful - Nov 11th

 

This November, I have taken on the challenge of pondering blessings that I commonly overlook. Things I would certainly miss if they were gone, yet scarcely give much thought. My goal is to share daily one typically-ignored blessing for which I am truly thankful.



Nov. 11th:

I am grateful for the ability to choose. It is Veteran’s Day, a day to thank those who served to protect our country and our valuable freedoms… like the right to choose. 

Yes, I can hardly imagine how awful it would be to lose the right to make choices about my own life, things like what occupation to pursue, which religion to practice, what I believe or don't believe, whether to speak out or remain silent, how I want to live my life and so forth. Making choices is a precious blessing that I try not to take for granted, yet it is easy to think it will never be taken away. 

I know how dangerous it is to neglect appreciation for our rights and liberties, for the choices we are granted. I am thankful for them. And I am forever thankful for those who have fought to protect our right to choose.

 November 12th