Gratefulness

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Grateful for Day #5…

I admit openly; yesterday was not a personal best, so much so I put myself into timeout to adjust my attitude and effort (let me be perfectly frank: the only two things I really control are personal attitude and effort).  Little things, stewing situations, and outcomes were not gelling; nothing was gelling.  Why was I so determined to feel negative emotion AND want to act on it?  What caused me to tie myself to small-mindedness and steal my personal well-being?  It was definitely a full day of being a spiritual being who was having lots of human experiences.

And then my phone rang.

Gratefully, I have the blessing of a friend who somehow instinctively knows when I’m struggling.  She’s a soul sister from another mister who makes a mean southern biscuit, a strong cup of hot tea, some of the most scrumptious cookies ever to pass your lips, and a special person who has loved me unconditionally through many stages of our uniquely woven lives.  She takes the lowness and builds height while graciously keeping the important nuggets of information requiring polish and blowing away the others to create fairy dust.  She humbly reminds me of my own words, “flexible people never get bent out of shape,” and brings out the best in me which ALWAYS involves belly laughter.  Through our unique sense of humor and understanding, I like to think we help each other by allowing the cream gravy of understanding to soak in and blessed grace to shine through…

So here’s your question today:  Who’s a soul friend in your life who gratefully helps you show up, pay attention, let go, and speak your truth while blessedly reminding you not to be wedded to the outcome?  

May you take a moment today to gratefully count your blessings and give thanks for this individual.  Now… just where did I park my broom yesterday?  🙂

 

 

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Grateful on Day #4

AHHH…  Autumn…the year’s last colorfully, cooler smile showing us how great it is to let things go!  From crisp nights and leaf-peeping sights to twinkling lights and pumpkiny bites; fall is the time to reap what we sow, prepare for the colder months, and reflect upon our harvest of bountiful blessings.  Family, friends, celebrations, gatherings, festivals, feasts, and more come together during this time of year in preparation for starting a new year.  Earth and nature in our part of the world inspire us one last time before laying dormant to rejuvenate in astounding inspiration come Spring.  Even on my darkest days of life’s ebbs and flows, Autumn warmly wraps me as a source of comfort, security, and peace (and a strong cup of hot tea doesn’t hurt either); from my auburn hair to my freckled skin, I’m truly grateful to be a natural autumn.  Of course, this brings us to the question for today:

Grateful Game Question #4:  What season are you most grateful for and why, and what is your favorite part of that season? 

Happy fall, y’all!

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Treasuring Day 3 of Gratefulness…

I have dear friends who have an incredible little man for a grandson.  He is currently pirate savvy, collecting all manner of pirate booty, celebrating a pirate birthday as he enters Kindergarten, and more.  We spent a few days together in my part of the country exploring museums as well as famous pirate gathering places of yester-years along the Atlantic coast a couple of months back.  Because he’s about to become a big brother for the very first time, of course I had to gather some big brother pirate booty to send his way so he can better prepare to teach his little brother the ropes (being an additional surrogate GrammyB has perks, you know). Pirates always get a bad rap historically, but my pirate teacher friend, Dave Burgess, says it best in his manifesto, Teach Like A Pirate:  “Pirates are daring, adventurous, and willing to set forth into uncharted territories with no guarantee of success. They reject the status quo and refuse to conform to any society that stifles creativity and independence…entrepreneurs who take risks and are willing to travel to the ends of the earth for that which they value…they travel with and embrace a diverse crew.  If you’re willing to live by the code commit to the voyage, and pull your share of the load, then you’re free to set sail…and besides, everybody loves a pirate.”

So what do pirates have to do with today’s question?

Day #3:  What do you truly treasure or value most right now?

Personally, I value finding purpose, nurturing relationships, and treasuring the transitions of time above all else. Savoring a hand-written letter from a long distance friend or performing valuable daily (if mundane) tasks brings a sense of peaceful order and a calming focus.  Creating experiences, moments, and opportunities to venture forth and explore cultivates the inner-pirate…and face it; there’s a little pirate in all of us! After all, as my momma would often remind me, “wherever you go, there you arrhhh…”  just a like a pirate! 🙂