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