It’s Thankful Thursday, a pause to express appreciation for people, places, things and more. Why give thanks? Because joy contracts and expands in proportion to our gratitude, and in these difficult days we must rise up, give thanks, and keep on.
Like a confession, I’ll admit my gratitude has been small, tired, and primarily comprised of whispered pleas of get me through this, please, please, please.
Still, I’m reaching for the small joys.
On this Thankful Thursday, I am grateful for:
the smell of bleach
sun-dried sheets
horoscopes
my patio
lavender
long soft evenings
my husband’s worn hands
the satisfaction of ironing
mail carriers
library2go
scientists
strangers who trust me with their stories
sunshine
wine
strong legs, strong arms
my dad’s smile
naps
a crisp cucumber
bike rides
audio poems
listeners
grocery store workers
my sister laughing
hope rooted in knowledge
tortilla chips, peanut butter, apples
quiet
czech national symphony orchestra
health insurance
fledglings
the neighbor who shares her garden harvest
the other neighbor who comes to my door crying
friends who send letters
nursing home housekeepers & nurse assistants
my lungs
the heavy-headed sun-soaked leggy resilience of sunflowers.
What are you thankful for today?