Category Archives: Fall

Gratitude Friday

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This post is a mashup of The Little Bliss List and Joy Jam, and as such is meant to celebrate: the little things that brought me hope and happiness this week, the sweet stuff of life, those small gifts that brought me joy this week. By sharing them, I not only make public my gratitude, but maybe also help you notice your own good stuff and send some positive energy out into the world.

1. Fall. Sweet, cool, comforting, glorious, gorgeous fall. The time in Colorado when the temperatures cool, the leaves turn golden and purple and red, but the sky turns an even bluer blue. Oh how I missed you, wool socks and cashmere sweaters and long pants and down blankets and yes, even you sweet gloves and hat. And soup and hot cider! *sigh*

2. My Writing for the Web class, the community they are forming, the voices emerging, the kind and gentle conversations, the laughter, the bright ideas, the trust and steps towards courage, authenticity.

3. Relaxation of fear and worry, softening of tension, easing into uncertainty and staying with the strong emotions, the experience, surrendering to what is, as it is.

4. Dahlias. Whenever I am having a rough time, am tired or struggling, a jar full of flowers on my writing desk, or a few blooms on my meditation shrine always make me happy, always provide comfort.

5. Homemade breakfast burritos. I have been craving, cooking, and devouring these this week.

6. Dog dreams, and especially all the noises they make, the whimpers and half barks, and the way their feet twitch and “run.”

Bonus Joy: Dexter jumping into our bed today to say good morning, which is a sure sign he’s feeling better. And the cutest thing: because he’s been feeling yucky, when we go somewhere we’ve been leaving the door of his crate open, and the past few days when we’ve returned, there he is, asleep in his crate anyway. Also, when I got home from work yesterday, the weather was so nice and cool, that we hung out in the backyard playing with his favorite toy, Little D, a Cattle Dog stuffed toy that looks an awful lot like a Mini Dexter should. Dexter maybe, might, probably has a fatal cancer, but for now, the quality of his life is second only to how much I love and appreciate him.

Gratitude Friday

2 Replies

This post is a mashup of The Little Bliss List and Joy Jam, and as such is meant to celebrate: the little things that brought me hope and happiness this week, the sweet stuff of life, those small gifts that brought me joy this week. By sharing them, I not only make public my gratitude, but maybe also help you notice your own good stuff and send some positive energy out into the world.

1. Cooler temperatures, the beginning of Fall. Fall is my favorite time of year in Colorado, and this week has definitely been much cooler. I even wore a hat and gloves for the first part of our walk the other day (it was 49 degrees!). Yay for Fall!

2. Handmade zucchini bread with walnuts and homegrown peaches from friends. Yum. Good for the heart and the stomach.

3. Yoga. Good people, movement and practice that centers and settles my mind, softens my heart. I have one good friend in yoga who has cancer, who recently shaved her hair off, and in this morning’s class, when her “yoga husband” had to leave class early, and we were all telling him to have a good weekend, he walked over and kissed her on the top of the head. And later, when one woman was asking for dog sitter recommendations, another offered to keep her dog. This is the kind (kind) of good people I’m talking about.

4. Dexter’s experience. He’s doing what makes him happy, without too many interruptions, and I am so grateful for that.

5. Lots of good stuff to share with my Writing for the Web class. They might not get it right now, might find a way to be bored with even these things, but it might spark something, has at least the potential to inspire good stuff.

Bonus joy: relaxation of fear, releasing of panic. I don’t wake up every morning with my stomach hurting. I realize that might return when/if Dexter starts to get worse again, but for now, I feel okay. Sad and tender, still a little scared, but not sick with it.