An Attitude of Gratitude

As Thanksgiving approaches, it seemed a good day to revisit my “Thankful Thursday” theme and share a few things for which I am especially thankful.

For the record, I’m still thankful for the color pink!  

I am thankful that the election is over and, with it, the barrage of political commercials and robocalls.  I am thankful I live in a country that depends on independence and free elections to shape our future.  I am thankful we have free elections, even if I don’t always agree with the results.  I know that many people are protesting because they do not like the outcome of the election.  I am thankful we live in a country where people are allowed to make their voices heard.  I pray that the protests continue to be about raising voices and not raising fists.  Rioting against the result of a free election seems scary similar to violence against democracy.

I am thankful for the beauty in the world.  I am thankful for the Sandhill cranes and for the gorgeous greenness that blesses central Florida.  I am thankful for flowers and oceans and lakes and clear skies.  I am thankful for puppies and kittens and giraffes.  I am thankful for laughter.  I am thankful for the beautiful moments that are born of fun…. Like at Disney World. 

I am always thankful for the love of my family and friends.  I am even more thankful for their caring and support during the past few months as I’ve tried to cope with my mother’s illness.  I know that it can be hard to know what to say or what to do to help someone in a difficult situation.  We hate to think that we might make things worse by saying or doing the wrong thing.  I’ve learned that there is no “wrong thing” when whatever is said or done is offered in love.  Also, I’ve often found that a friend has said or done something that turns out to be EXACTLY the right thing, once my poor wee little brain has completely processed it. 

I am thankful for the people who care for my mother… the doctors, nurses, aides, therapists, cooks, housekeepers…. Just everyone.  They are really doing an awesome job with my mother.  As they have gotten to know my mom and me, they have also shown incredible compassion and empathy for me, as well.  My heart is so full of gratitude for them all, it spills over on a regular basis.  I wish there was a way for them to mind meld with me for just an instant to really know how much I appreciate them.  I try to tell them and thank them, but I can’t really communicate the abundance of my gratitude with words. 

And, as difficult as these past few months have been, I am thankful that my mother is still with me.  People say that every day is a gift.  To be completely honest, I’m not sure I can go quite that far.  Some days are not so good.  On the balance, though, most days with her still do feel like gifts when we can still love each other and laugh with each other.  I am thankful enough to take the bad with the good. 

I am thankful that I have a good God who is in control of the world instead of me.  I sometimes fool myself into believing I have some control and behave as if I do. I know, deep down, that I really do not.  I think we can all be thankful for that.  Let’s see… hmmm… God in control or Terri in control?  Uh… no contest.

I am also joyously thankful for all my readers.  All my life, I wanted to be a writer.  For a very long time, life got in the way.  Now, the people who read my posts validate that I am a writer at long last.  It excites and humbles me to think that I am writing anything that anyone, including people who don’t even know me, actually want to read.  One kind soul actually suggested that I don’t realize how effectively I inspire and entertain people.  While I think that may be a stretch, it is very gratifying to see that real people visit my website and read what I’ve written.  This whole experience shows me that dreams do come true.  They don’t necessarily come true like when you blow out the candles on a birthday cake.  Dreams are like blueprints.  You have to use them to build what you have envisioned.  Here’s what I’ve learned- building is better than blowing. I absolutely love writing the blog posts, thinking about how they might impact on others, watching the statistics to see readership increase, and reading the interesting perspective the readers provide.  I think, for me, the creation is part of the dream.

So, as you sit down to your Thanksgiving dinner and count our blessings, know that I am counting you amongst mine.  Thank you from the top of my head to the tip of my toes!

For what are you giving thanks this year?  Please share your perspective by leaving a comment.  In the alternative, you can email me at terriretirement@gmail.com. 

Have a blessed day!  Again, thank you, thank you, and thank you!

Terri 🙂

7 thoughts on “An Attitude of Gratitude”

  1. Beautifully written as usual! I am also thankful for you!! Hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!!
    -Kathy

  2. Now it is just about thanksgiving day….how fast the year has gone. I am so thankful for my God and Lord of my life. He is the top of the list for thanksgiving. I am also thankful for my family, my son Keith, and his wife Debbie and their four girls. What a blessing they are to me. I never thought I would be a grandma, but now I am experiencing it daily. I am thankful for the health I have even though the Gilllian Barre Syndrome has effected my life in many ways. I have limited feeling in my toes and fingers and have some loss in taste. The muscles and nerves are not up to par, but I can drive and volunteer in several ways. God is so good and I know He is with me daily.

    Thank you Terri for all your encouragement in working with your mother to help her as she recovers from the stroke. Thanks for allowing me to pray for her and for you both. We have faith to believe God can heal in His own way.

    Love, Lois

    1. Thank you for your prayers, Lois. We all have much for which to give thanks, even when life seems hard. Blessings to you!

  3. You continue to be an inspiration to many, including me. I am thankful my mother is still with me as well. I know every time I hug her good bye it might be the last and I am thankful every time I call her and she answers the phone. (She lives 8 hours away from me.) I am also thankful for my husband, who continues to deal with my retirement transition and life exploration with humor and encouragement. Just this morning he said – of course you’re going to yoga class tomorrow… turkey will get done when it gets done. (Yoga is my newest exploration.) I am also thankful for my health and the opportunities I have had in life which has allowed me to retire early. Wishing you a joyous Thanksgiving. Pat

    1. Thank you, Pat. I am glad you are finding the freedom in your retirement and celebrating you. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

  4. Happy Thanksgiving, Terri. I love your heartfelt and often humorous posts, and I’m thankful for them and for you.
    I’m thankful for inspiring ways to approach and live the journey of retirement…..newest exploration is into watercolor painting. For a stick-figure artist, I’m making some pretty paintings and love trying new brushes and paint colors, as well as subjects.
    Best of love to you and your mother. I’ve been on that journey too.
    Joy

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