Season of Gratitude

I have a perpetual gratitude journal that I've written in since 2012, at least, if not earlier. At our family meal today, I read what I noted from October 13-November 27 this year. It's the Canadian Thanksgiving to USA Thanksgiving time frame, a traditional season to exercise the gratitude muscles.
Here's what I noted:

Canadian Thanksgiving

bananas

medicines. naps. High Potential.

Benji gulped down his morning medicines. One of two work restroom air fresheners is used up (I'm allergic to them). I was grateful I forgot a community celebration, because I was so tired I shouldn't have gone even though I wanted to.

I didn't have to take my hearing aid charger to work.  My car still works.

my daddy

going to the grocery store Sunday afternoon reminded me why I like to go on Sunday morning

no runny dog poo piles to clean up first thing in the morning

Niece and Nephew foster parenting

I had more coffee available when I thought it was gone.

Benji's healthy turd.  No one was around when I had to fart loudly. Hat day protected my hearing aids from rain.

It's not MY child with the special celebration; I can arrive later to the event.

umbrellas. I am still able to work.

I can smell. Vivid stars. No Raynaud's. gratitudes flowing. Sunshine.

the filthy washcloths because it mean DH cleaned something. I have low-wax ears.

Cronometer

my eyesight - it allowed me to see how to level the laundry soap lid when I was having trouble putting it back on

a warm winter coat

Dr. office phone call understood my "rude" cultural whiteness

wool. Socks, specifically. Oh and the coat! an accidental full, hot bath and the time to enjoy it

The splinter from the floor did not go into my foot.

I no longer menstruate.

Benji. Red bush throwing pink light through curtains.

Benji is not a morning dog.

I could fart quietly when I needed to.

I had OG covid, I've had flu A. I believe it still helps my immunity, true or not 🤷

sewing experience that lets me infer what the thread is doing even when I can't see it

NAMC - our one stop shop for doggie daycare, vet, and groomer

the moisture on the car is *not* frozen

A sister willing to share baked gifts but not viruses 🫂

~~~~~~~

May your lives be filled with peace, joy, love, and many good things to spark (see what I did there 😂) gratitude. 💜

The pink light shining through green curtains - caused by a vibrant red bush just outside this window.

Getting creative

 As some of you know, blogger has not been kind about allowing me to post comments, but I still surf the remnants of sparkpeople blogs. I got comments to post this morning, yay, and wanted to share this picture. Have a great day!  (oh I miss the days of SP resizing-hope this works)

September 22: Two restrooms

Today I am grateful we have more than one bathroom. For two people with very different sleep schedules, it’s amazing how frequently we need the facilities at the same time.

September 14: a sense of belonging

The kind when you’re with people, but the silences are comfortable.

I got this Thursday. I got this last night.

I’m grateful I went last night. I was tired and reluctant. DD said are you going and we agreed we should and we did. What a great community. Small. Are we shrinking? Hard to say. But we need to do our part. A good share of life is just showing up.

Friday night services really require effort from me to get there. At the end of the work week, I just want to stay home all weekend.

Tonight is another event - the 25th anniversary of the monthly potluck. When I was tracking on sparkpeople, I always had a weight bump-up after. Nowadays that seems like a small price to pay for the sense of belonging, the feeling of being with friends, with chosen family.

Hugs and love to all,

Ace

September 12: sweat

 Today I am thankful for sweat. Without the constraint of having to be at work at a specific time, I was able to pedal and pedal and pedal on the exercise bike. I sweated like I haven't in a long time! I'm grateful my body still knows how to do that.

 Today I am grateful for enough to eat. Although I dislike the physical feeling of hunger, I am confident I will be able to eat as needed, as appropriate, and even in excess at times - both in healthy and unhealthy ways.

 Today I am grateful for the wisdom of age. I will not regret not being at work as a friend I've never met in real life passes through my town. Why anyone would want to travel here, I've no idea, but this friend definitely has itchy feet in the idiomatic sense. Probably too smart for their own good. My peeps! 

Today I am thankful for whoever said to talk to yourself like you would talk to your dog. Look at that beautiful belly! 😂

September 10: friends

Today I am grateful we can make online friends and stay in touch electronically even when platforms change.

I am grateful for those friends who can pick up where we left off, even after time has passed between our episodes of keeping in touch.

Today I am thankful for the routines of work. I may not like all the tasks, but some of what my boss wants can be predictable, and for that, I’m grateful.

Today I am once again thankful for unrestricted donations. Other like-work places may have the human resources and financial support to enhance their workplace; we do not. The generous people who give because they can see we need help and trust us to use it wisely are so, so appreciated.

Thinking of you all and hoping there are gifts you find in this day, hugs, Ace.

Sept. 8: football and patience

Today I am grateful for football. Getting into the routine of the next season. DH seems happier with this diversion in the mix.

I am thankful for diet soda. When I feel the need to consume something or hydrate (I dislike water), it’s a useful tool that doesn’t break the calorie bank.

I am grateful for the skill of patience. I had to exercise it with myself today. I needed a break from routine! Ended up riding the exercise bike “mid-day” at 10:30. Paid a premium to restock the pantry from our local store; I just didn’t want to spend so much time shopping this week. Treated myself gently as I dealt with my own resistance to chores that must be done. Got them done anyway. Yay, me!

Remember, the only person you have to live with for the rest of your life is you. Today I am grateful for that knowledge, and fortunately seemed up to the challenge!

❤️