Being Grateful - Nov 6th

 

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 6th:

I was recently watching a cartoon about a teenage vampire. The show pointed out how to identify vampires—you simply look for their reflection in a mirror because they won’t have one. In this particular episode, however, the teenage vampire was surprised to view her reflection for the first time by aid of a special dark mirror. (Turns out it was cursed.) Nonetheless, she became fascinated by her pretty face, thrilled to glimpse her mirror-image for the very first time. It made me think. 

How strange would it be to live for years and years yet never see myself? How differently would humanity behave if there were no means by which we could see our own reflections? Would cosmetics still be popular? And who would apply the face paint for us? Would we trust them to do a good job without a way to personally judge the end-result? It’s sort of entertaining to think about. Yes, one could easily argue that vanity would shrink if reflections were not a thing. Still, I am grateful for mirrors. I am grateful I can see my own, unique reflection. (Whew… not a vampire.)

November 7th 

November 6th

Being Grateful - Nov 5th

 

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 5th:

You know how it sounds when the house is quiet? Kids, spouse, pets, visitors all departed, leaving you the only soul at home. Television and radio off. Technology and appliances unplugged. Life at a standstill, inside and out. 

This silence isn’t inaudible but deeply hushed. Tiny clicks. Mild creaks. Gentle, steady tick-tocks. A tranquil hum sings in the air so soft and serene it lulls you in whispers, soothing to the ear. It is the sound of peace. It is the sound of relaxing quiet. I am thankful for moments flooded with this sweet sound.

November 6th 

November 6th

Being Grateful - Nov 4th

 

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 4th:

Today I was breathing. You too?

It’s funny how we inhale and exhale roughly 20,000 times each day without considering how miraculous and vital this automatic process is. It got me thinking about air and how grateful I am for it. Not just because it provides oxygen that maintains human consciousness… and ultimately life, but air performs other jobs—critical jobs—for which I am grateful. 

Air carries carbon dioxide to plants that in turn create oxygen for humans and animals to breathe. (Nice dependent bond there.) Air also holds tiny particles that attract and accumulate water droplets, allowing rainclouds to form. Air moves fast and far, which allows winds to move rainclouds inland, bringing water to drier lands. The wind carries living organisms from place to place. It keeps pollutants from building up and stagnating. The Earth’s atmosphere provides a form of insulation that keeps the planet from getting excessively cold or hot. It also provides the ozone that helps to protect life from the harmful effects of too much sunlight. 

Though I scarcely stop to think about the air around me, I am truly grateful for how it aids and protects life on Earth.

November 5th