My fifties were grand, and as I have ended that decade of my life, I have so much to be thankful for. In no particular order, the following is a list of 59 things that I am tremendously grateful for:
- Breathing—the ability to breathe with ease
- My senses: taste, touch, vision, hearing, smell, equilibrium, intuition, and my sense of humor
- Health — body, mind, and spirit
- Connection with divinity, family, friends, and companion animals
- A world of ethnic cuisine to enjoy (especially Asian)
- Trees
- Travel
- Books and libraries
- Photography
- Farmers—”no farms, no food”
- Pollinators such as bees, butterflies, hummingbirds
- Gentle dog groomers who work with animals without scaring them
- Blue skies
- Thunderstorms
- Mountains, log cabins
- Oceans, lakes, rivers, streams
- Creativity
- Music and singing (I’m a rock star in the car!)
- Exercise: yoga, bicycle riding, swimming, hiking
- First responders: Red Cross, firefighters, police, paramedics
- Teachers who make positive, life-long impressions on their students
- Healing: traditional, complementary, integrative, and alternative
- Color (especially green)
- Laughter, smiling
- Personal safety
- Treats: peppermint ice cream, red licorice, BBQ chips
- Peace
- Intentional kindness
- Manners
- Backgammon
- Spontaneity
- Flying with a safety conscious pilot (Len) who keeps the ease of his passengers — seasoned or otherwise — in mind
- Imagination
- Mental acuity: focus, memory, concentration, and understanding
- Sensitivity
- Comfort with being alone (enjoy my own company), personal getaways
- Sunrises and sunsets
- Flowers, color
- Drinkable water that flows from a tap
- A roof over our heads
- Geothermal heat
- Proximity: we can walk or ride our bicycles to everything we need
- Dreaming
- Indoor plumbing, electricity
- Volunteers and humanitarians such as hospice, Amnesty International, Greenpeace, Sea Shepherd, Conservation Society, Doctors Without Borders, Habitat for Humanity, and Conservation International
- Curiosity, observation
- Color blindness — nonjudgment based on skin color
- Philanthropy
- People who leave places better than when they found them
- Ergonomic desk chairs
- Scented soy candles
- Glasses that help me to see clearly
- Physicians, surgeons, dentists, optometrists, medical technicians (etc) with well-developed bedside manners
- Flying kites
- Appliances: refrigerator, stove/oven, microwave, coffeemaker, etc…
- Enjoyment of learning something new
- Entertainment: screen, stage, and sidewalk (i.e., buskers)
- Uncluttered space—inside and out
- My lifelong partner, Len
Big, little, tangible, or intangible, name three things you’re grateful for.
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This post was previously published on Tuesdays with Laurie.
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Photo credit: Author