Practice Gratitude

temporarily, in order to replace it with this one – “Attitude of Gratitude: Make Note of 3 Gratefuls & 3 Did Wells Each Day (43T)” – for a while. smile

[The Annual “Orange Banner of Doom” Edition]

• it’s not moving around the screen
• it’s not flashing
• it’s not orange-r
• it’s not bigger
• it didn’t appear any earlier
• it contains no misspellings
• it contains only a minor punctuation error
• it isn’t required that I do anything with it (although there’s a lot I’d like to do to it!)
• & best of all: it will probably go away very soon!

LOL

• that I was able to travel safely, despite the rain, in my reliable little car,
• that it has served me well through its first 15,000 miles (& that the required check-up for this milestone cost “only” about 12 cents per mile),
• & that it’s a relative gas-miser, as well, getting 27 mpg in mixed city/highway driving;
• that I was able to listen to audio-books during my commute,
• that I was able to use my big “sunshiny” sunflowers umbrella (the one I always keep in the car) while walking between parking lots & buildings,
• & that I was able to see a little bit of the sun today, even if only just for a few moments, during my drive home;
• that, having met some interim deadlines at work, I can relax (a bit) & feel some sense of accomplishment;
• that I was able to get some personal phone calls made (not that I’d been putting them off, exactly, but…) that I hadn’t made a priority until today;
• & that I can see some small-but-real changes, both at home & at work, resulting from a few measures that I’ve taken to become more organized.

smile

[The “Drivin’ in my Car” edition]

• that I was able to travel safely, despite the storms, in my reliable little car
• & that it’s a gas-miser car, as well, given current fuel prices(!)
• & that I was able to listen to audio-books during my commute
• that I was able to use my big “sunshiny” sunflowers umbrella (the one I keep in my car) while walking between parking lots & buildings
• that I was able to stay warm & dry (despite the storms) in my car, my work-place, & my comfy little house
• that the places I was in had electricity while I was there(!)
• that I’m working somewhat fewer hours now, which could help to improve my health as well as give me a little more time to pursue personal interests
• that I was able to treat myself today (fresh nail polish!)
• & that my husband & I were able to enjoy supper out together at an inexpensive local place we both like

smile

[The “Winter Chill” edition]

• that our little house is warm despite the cold nights
• for a still-reliable furnace that we’ve “inherited” here
• for the valiantly-performing hot water heater that we’ve also “inherited”
• that the energy companies have 12-month bill-averaging plans
• for the roof that we’ve had replaced
• for the insulation & siding that we’ve had installed
• for the snug high-R-value windows that we’ve had retrofitted
• for flannel sheets & wool blankets
• for my soft & warm red plaid robe

smile

[The “Orange Banner of Doom” Edition]

• it’s not flashing
• it’s not moving around the screen
• it’s not bigger
• it’s not orange-r
• it didn’t appear any earlier
• it will probably go away fairly soon
• it contains no misspellings
• it contains only a minor punctuation error
• & it isn’t required that I do anything with it (although there’s a lot I’d like to do to it!)

LOL

[The “Bicycling Edition”]

• for brilliant sunshine to enjoy & interesting cloud formations to see
• for the cooler temperatures (nice to exercise in!) that cause the trees’ leaves to begin turning beautiful colors
• for the delicacy of goldenrod blooms (despite my being allergic to them!)
• for the incredible beauty of a song sparrow’s intricate warble
• for the sassy call & dapper black-and-white pattern of a chickadee
• for the amazing red color of a male cardinal’s feathers
• for the assorted beauties of warbler, woodpecker, & thrush (all of whom flew by too quickly for me to identify more precisely)
• that B has a bike to loan me, so I can get out to enjoy all this & more
• & that I’m getting stronger & fitter each time I go biking

smile

As I wrote, the other day, concerning another goal:

“Recently I’ve been noticing how much more easily I am able to accomplish this while traveling on vacation than I am when living my ordinary life. I wonder what lessons, following on this realization, I can ‘bring home with me’ to my day-to-day routines?”

...I realize that it is true of this goal, too.

• that we are enjoying so much good healthy food from our CSA share
• for cooler weather after the latest hot & humid spell
• for a pleasant chat with our new(est) neighbor—hard to believe he’s already been here almost a year
• for the unique taste of mulberries, eating several handfuls as I picked them
• for the chance to hear the nuthatch’s nasal “peent” & the woodpecker’s rat-a-tat-tat from in the trees surrounding our home
• for the chance to see what may be the last hatch of this season’s fireflies, dancing in the air with their electric-green glow
• for the opportunity to travel this summer
• for good conversations with work colleagues who have become friends
• for a great Cafe Misto—it really hit the spot!

[1 July]

• for iced black coffee (from “Timmy’s”)—it hit the spot
• for continuing cooler weather after a long hot & humid spell
• that today’s tornado warning while I was at work was a false alarm
• that I was able to go walking this evening, despite the fact that rain began to fall as I went out (first a mist, then a sprinkle, & by the time I was done, real rain)
• to see the fireflies again, dancing in the air with their electric-green glow
• for the mock orange bush: although its blossoming spell is nearly over for the season, its smell is still so sweet
• to hear the bats twittering through the sky as I walked (ignoring the rain, just as I was)
• for good friends (& especially for some online chat with a good friend this evening that helped me to cope)
• that we are enjoying so much good food from our participation in the CSA this year

[7 June]