G is for Gratitude

A to Z Challenge day 7. Letter G.

I received a phone call today. The caller asked if everything was okay; I was behind two letters. And in that call, the essence of this post: Gratitude.

The A to Z Challenge allows for one day off–Sundays–so I am not a day behind, and today’s letter is G, however, that call, the fact that _someone_ (okay, my mother) noticed I had not posted yesterday, filled me with the warm tingle of gratitude. If only one person reads my posts, I have reason to be grateful. I have an audience. Ask any busker: an audience of one, is better than none.

Sometimes gratitude is a hard emotion to summon. Last year when I languished on my sofa with severe rotator-cuff tendinitis, I struggled. I focused on what I couldn’t do, rather than what I could, and it started to take its toll. So I forced myself to redirect.

Every day I celebrated small things, like being able to lift the kettle even if it took two hands, or wash my hair, even though I had to bend over to get my hands to my scalp. Eventually those little things snowballed into bigger things, and I could carry my purse, and finally drive myself to town. And then to the next town. And as I attained each new goal, I gave thanks. And each time I gave thanks, I felt better. As I felt better, I regained strength and enjoyed less pain.

I believe in the mind/body connection, and I believe persistent stress, and/or pervasive negative thinking poison a body, and in time, a soul. So, as I face new challenges this year, I am reminding myself to embrace gratitude, daily.

Today, I am grateful for many things, one of which, is you.

Thank you for reading. I really do appreciate it.

D.

I’m in a wonderful position; I’m unknown, I’m underrated, and there’s nowhere to go but up. ~Pierre S. DuPont IV