Grateful for Everything

Isn't this a fabulous sentiment, expressed by that lovable loser, Charlie Brown, and his faithful dog Snoopy? Look at the joy on their faces and in their bodies. Pure exhilaration. No worries, no fears, no 'what ifs' -- just gratitude.

I started to wonder whether it is possible to set aside just one day to be grateful for everything and everyone in our lives. I don't think it will be easy. Difficult people, traffic jams, uncooperative 'customer service' representatives and a myriad of other things always seem to spoil an otherwise good day. It is so easy to focus only on the hassles in life and on the things we wish we had, but don't.

So today, I tried to think about everything for which I am grateful as I encountered it. Going for a walk, I appreciated the beautiful blue sky and white clouds, the mild temperature and breeze, and living in a state of wondrous natural beauty. I was grateful to see and hear sandhill cranes foraging in the fields, to hear the honking of geese as they flew overhead, and to have a quiet, traffic-free place in which to exercise. I was grateful for my warm jacket and my reliable car, for my nice house, and for my daughter and dogs awaiting my arrival home. 

Think about the things for which we should be grateful, but that we take for granted: running water (I learned about this a year ago when my water pump died and we had no running water for three days until the pump was replaced), electricity and heat. I am grateful for the food in our house, for my clothing, my wonderful bed and the blankets that keep me warm.

I am grateful that my daughter still lives at home and that we still enjoy spending time together. I am grateful that my dogs are doing well despite the infirmities of age, and that my body continues to serve me well, with only the occasional annoyance of bursitis and arthritis.  I am grateful that my father, at age 87, is still able to live on his own, drive and take care of himself.

During these tough economic times, I appreciate my pension and Social Security income, and the fact that my daughter has a part-time job. I have money enough to get me through the remainder of my life, with some left to my daughter and favorite charities.

I appreciate the opportunity to help others through my volunteer work at a food pantry and with a wolf rescue group. I am grateful for my ability to write, for my college education, for finishing (finally!) my book and for living in a place where I can indulge my passion for photography.

I am grateful to have medical insurance, for my physician and physical therapists, and for the ability to get prescription medications when I need them. I am grateful for our veterinarian, who recently treated Tia and made her feel better.

Today's exercise in gratitude again opened my eyes to the blessings I have and gave me a sense of calm when I started to get irritated about something insignificant. I believe that consciously thinking about gratitude on a regular basis is a good reminder of all the people and things in our lives that give it meaning. I don't have the discipline to do a gratitude list every day, as some people do, but setting aside a day once in a while to focus on gratitude provides a great opportunity to think about our blessings.

The Time Is Now

"The time is now and we are it."

I read this quote, attributed to a Hopi elder, in a newsletter I received recently. Regardless of the source, I love the sentiment. 

The time is now, and we are it. That realization has become even more clear the older I become. Time waits for no one. We can't save it to use another day. Once it is gone, it cannot be retrieved. The time to act is now. The time to get involved is now. The time to start making our dreams a reality is now.

We are days into a new year, a traditional time for making resolutions to lose weight, exercise more, spend more time with our families. Unfortunately, most people fail to keep their resolutions for more than a few weeks. Old habits are hard to break. So here's something a bit easier -- don't break an old habit, start a new one. Add something positive to your life.

Don't say "I won't be a couch potato this year." Instead, plan some sort of exercise as part of every day. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Go for a walk during your lunch break. Park at the far side of the parking lot and walk to the door, rather than waiting for a spot near the door.

Take those first steps toward making your dreams a reality. Maybe you can't move to Italy as you would like to do. How about learning to speak Italian as a first step? See if a local community college or adult education center offers a class. Do you dream of running a marathon but you haven't exercised in 10 years? That's OK. Start by going for a 10-minute walk every day. Gradually increase the amount of time you walk. Once you're comfortable with walking for a while, add a short jog. Then gradually increase time and distance.


Get involved. Volunteer. Sign up for a walk-a-thon. Foster a homeless dog or cat. Teach somebody to read. Think about what interests you, then find an organization that needs your help, whether it's an environmental group, a senior center or a local school.


The time is now. The older I get, the faster life seems to pass. The days that seemed to linger forever now fly by. You never know when something will happen that could change your life forever. The change could be negative -- an accident or illness, or it could be positive. You will never know what will happen when you take that first step until you take it. You may find the love of your life, a new career or a new passion. Or maybe you will be the one to make a difference in the life of another being, whether human or non-human.

I love photography, but I want to get better, so I am looking for a local photography class. I am going to Russia this summer with my Russian-born daughter, so I am brushing up on my rusty Russian language skills. My daughter is talking about getting her own apartment in a few months, so I am stepping up my efforts to get involved with a local senior center so I won't be lonely when she does move out. 


The time to do these things is now. Take those first steps; don't waste the precious time you have been given.