So Grateful Today

Grateful today for family who got home safely from holiday travels, for a new Christmas-eve addition to the bitty cousin line-up, for cozy warm homes in the bleak midwinter, for toddlers who know how to sing "In the Bleak Midwinter," and for Christmas giftcards to Appleby's (because who wants to cook the week after Christmas, anyways?!)

What are you grateful for today?

Gratitude vs. Thanks

I love this time of year! I love that people focus on gratitude and the most meaningful aspects of their lives. I love the positive vibes, especially around Thanksgiving in the US. It's a time for us to gather with our families and pay special attention to the blessings we have received throughout the year.

I don't know about you, but I have been blessed with so much! I came from a (relatively) sane background with parents who wanted the best for me. They made sure I had a good education and encouraged me in my pursuits. I have a nutty family that I love so much (and who love me back!) anyway. I have kind and intelligent friends who are spiritual giants. I have an amazing relationship with my Dreamguy. I have a smart and cheerful daughter. I have a comfortable and adventurous life and have had many opportunities I wouldn't have dreamed would have been afforded me. I have chances to reconnect with nature on the regular, and have been to some incredible places in this huge world. I have truly been blessed.

In the spirit of the season, I've been sharing a #monthofgratitude post every day this month on Instagram. I've pondered on the many things I have in my life to be thankful for, and I've realized that there is a definite difference between gratitude and thanks. I wish Thanksgiving were called Gratitudegiving because I think it would be taken more seriously with more intention. Gratitude is more like an attitude or way of living, and thanks is a reaction.

Don't get me wrong, thanks is wonderful, but it is giving thanks that begets gratitude, the more deep-rooted and wise mother of the two. Thanks is shown through words. Gratitude is shown through actions. Gratitude requires an added measure of maturity and an extra step. It requires a follow up and a reciprocation of your thanks.

So, I'd like to invite you to join in this tradition of gratitudegiving. It's never too late to start showing gratitude, and if you start now (if you don't already have such a tradition), your mind will be in a thoughtful and open place come Thanksgiving Day. Warning, though: once you start counting your blessings, it's hard to stop!

What have you done lately to express your thanks and act on your gratitude?

Thank-you Notes

Dear Dreamguy, thanks for holding down the fort while I've been the mayor of Crazytown this week. Your skillz and selflessness always always always make me want to be better.

Dear wildflowers, you seriously come in every color of the rainbow (what?!) and it makes my heart soar! There's nothing as appealing to me as rainbow colors in rainbow order, and when it's from the mountains, it's even better! Thank you for the loads of eye candy you provide!

Dear neighbors, thanks for sharing the bounty! We love the tasty apricots and your pleasant company. Don't tell anyone else, but you're our favorites. (Shhh!)

Dear blackberries, I know we haven't had the best relationship in the past, but I'm starting to accept your presence in my life (as long as you continue to follow my rules and keep things under control). Thank you for still doing your fruitful duties even though I haven't exactly encouraged you because we still benefit from your goodness.

Dear Provo River, you have pretty much zero rapids and seem really boring, but it is still fun to raft down you with approximately one million screaming, giggling teenage girls with water guns. I totally saw your fun side and can't wait to see more of it! Thank you for housing all the awesome beaver lodges and weasel romping grounds, too. I can tell we are going to be good friends.

Dear mountains, thank you for being my soul mate! You know me so well and give me so much. You are sweet and peaceful and still wild and crazy, which I like. I love the feathers and tiny speckled egg and pine cones you shared with me this week. I just know we were made for each other!

Thank-you Notes

Dear flowers, you make me smile every day with your bright colors and gorgeousness that is close to bordering on ridiculousness. It's just that good. And you've been bringing joy to other people lately too, so you can consider your mission accomplished. Keep showing off what your mamas gave you!

Dear Dreamguy, when our 3-year-old pooped her undies at church today of all places, you were a champ and took care of everything gross and then some. Then, a few hours later when she pooped her undies again at someone else's house, you were a Spartan and took care of that one too without even asking and nary a flinch. You really are so hot right now!

Dear Alaska, I've never personally met you, but my parents have and only have good things to say about you. So, there you have it. I'm glad you were gentle with my parents even though that earthquake worried me for a bit there. But most of all, thanks for the sick ulu knife. It makes me feel like a kitchen ninja, which is a good thing...or will be a good thing with a little more practice.

Dear garden, thanks for your bounty the last few weeks. Turns out our food budget was smaller than usual this week and you've been a huge help, so thanks for that! You remind me pretty much every day that fresh snacks are the best snacks!

Dear Grandpa-wampa, I know you've been gone for years, but every time I paint with your old watercolors, it makes me think of you. It simply can't be helped. Thanks so much for passing along your vintage art supplies and guiding my brushstrokes.

Thursday Thought: on Gratitude

I believe that gratitude can bring out the best in people, and instead of sharing my philosophies on gratitude, I thought I'd share some of the thoughts that I've been ruminating on today:

Dear little seeds, I'm so thankful you're growing! Your happy faces peeking through the dirt made our morning a lot better. You have given me a great opportunity to teach my daughter about hope and patience and growth and how those three things often work together. Keep it up, little hope warriors.

Dear daughter, thank you for all of your eager help today! We got so much done today and I love it when you help me with all the goodness of your golden heart. You are so full of love. Thank you for letting me hold your two-year-old hand and getting to know your old soul better. Doesn't it feel like we've known each other for eons?

Dear dreamguy, it's been an arduous week for both of us, and I'm so thankful that when we both got home from work kind of late today to a cluttered kitchen and a stinky garbage can and an overgrown yard that you ordered a pizza without even asking. Because heaven knows I was too dang tired to even throw a salad together. Pizza never tasted so good and you are so hot right now!

Dear garden, thank you for helping me find my center today. Digging around in the dirt and chucking those durn weeds in the trash is so therapeutic. Boy am I glad we can start spending more time together, old friend.

Dear mountain mother, thank you for the lessons you've taught me this week. Thank you for opening my heart to your wisdom and for teaching me about the nature of fear. That lesson is still at the forefront of my mind, and I'm eager to learn what more you have to teach me on the subject.

Dear little bro, thank you for our lunch date today. It was soooo delicious, but the best part was hearing about your progress in following your dreams. You are an excellent example of keeping up hope and patience and growth. You're on your way to becoming a mighty Sycamore, buddy, and I love being witness to that.

What have you been grateful for as of late? I'd love to hear!