By: Gentle Gardener Oracle
Gratitude is about acknowledging what was received, whereas thankfulness is about giving and receiving. So, in that vein, I’m thankful for my co-workers and clients. I’m thankful for my health, and all the medical personnel I’ve needed to keep this body going. And, finally, I’m thankful for my neighbors. There is nothing more comforting than knowing your home is surrounded by really good people.
Today is a day that I have to dig down deep for my gratitude toward change. That space between where you were and where you’re going can seem gray and overwhelming. I’m grateful for the free things in life, like sunshine and sunsets, and lemon with your iced tea. And, I’m grateful for my intuition, which grows ever stronger.
I’m grateful I know a little bit about interviewing for a job. Interviewing is an essential life skill, like knowing how to write a check, or how to bake a chicken. I’m grateful for old, white, rich men. Their brand had taken a beatin’ but it’s still one of my favorite demographics. And, I’m grateful for housekeepers and dog groomers. Two things I definitely didn’t have as a kid, and I appreciate their hard work so much!
There’s a big part of me that is an awkward, anti-social introvert, and it can be hard for me to embrace the human side of my often solitary work; however, today I’m grateful for a mentor who once told me that my priorities where wrong, and I needed to focus more on the relationships. I took his advice to heart, changed myself, my attitude, and my approach to my team, and I’m better for it. Finally, I’m grateful for free shipping. Isn’t everyone?
I’m grateful I’m dynamic, although dynamism is like spunk – people hate spunk. I’m grateful that I was ahead of my time by being strong, healthy, and curvy. And, I’m grateful I have a healthy sense of suspicion. Some people think I’m too suspicious, but I find those criticisms dubious.
No one is really happy about returning to work after a long weekend, myself included; however, today is one of those days I’m grateful I get to go to work, not annoyed that I have to….
I’m grateful for my neighbors. For the most of my adult life, I haven’t interacted with my neighbors very much. Maybe because now we’re a decent distance apart from one another, I feel more comfortable socializing with them. Finally, after a full year of ups and downs, I can confidently say that I’m so grateful for my beautiful home. Even though it’s been a manual labor, time-sucking, money pit, I never wanted to feel “stuck” at home – especially after Covid – but this long weekend assured me that I definitely made the right decision to move here.
I’m sure I’m not alone in being grateful for an extra long weekend. And, it’s a payday! I’m grateful for my pool. I love it so much. And, I’m grateful for salad. Sometimes, it’s just too hot to eat anything else.
I’m grateful for restaurants. I never ate in a real one until I was in my 20s. (I’ve made up for the deficit since then, tho!) I’m grateful for the years of managing screwed up projects and screwed up people. It’s made me a calmer, more tolerant person. And, I’m grateful for butter. If only we had more butter and fewer guns. If only….
Summer is in full swing, and I’m grateful for the arrival of Cancer season – my solar return! I’m grateful for my washer and dryer. I did laundry in a laundromat for a good part of my life – the only thing worse is taking the bus – which I also did for a long time. And I’m grateful for baked chicken. For the lazy cook, it’s the easiest of chickens.
This has been a week of disappointment and annoyance. Ten years ago, I would have expended a lot of energy (and alcohol), quelling frustration. Now I’m grateful my reaction is more of an eye roll and bored “whatever,” as I head out the door and back to my real life. I’m also grateful that I’m a customer restaurants are happy to see v. patrons to avoid. People who work in the hospitality industry have a tough job. Being an appreciative customer isn’t that hard. And, I’m grateful for beer. I’m more of a wine drinker, but sometimes a cold brewski really hits the spot.
365 Days of Simple Gratitude 