by Judy
I struggled a bit about my post for today. I thought, how can I write anything that follows Leigh's post yesterday about the tragic death of a young boy in her area? Like her, I had a post in mind for today - and in it, I too was focusing on gratitude. And like Leigh, who mentioned that she had originally planned an upbeat post, I too had planned an easy-going post, with a lighthearted Top Ten List, just like Letterman. But what now?
After talking to a couple of my Focusing on Life sisters about this, and reading Leigh's post over many times, I remembered that life isn't always what we want it to be, and bad things, horrible things, happen. But like Leigh mentioned, life is a gift and we need to remember that each and every day. I think there's really no better way to follow Leigh's post than to celebrate life, and to write my original gratitude post.
For those of you who are regular followers, you may remember that last year I began a Gratitude Jar. Each day I write down at least one thing that I am grateful for that day and place the note in my jar. You can read about it here if you'd like. I have continued this practice into the new year. I closed my eyes and pulled ten of my gratitude notes from the jar to make up my Top Ten List of Things I'm Grateful For.
So, without further adieu, drum roll please...
10. February is almost over!
9. Good books
8. Morning light
7. Being given another day
6. Friendly strangers
5. I wasn't picked for jury duty this time (and grateful that I live in a country where there IS jury
duty)
4. ONSTAR, or I'd be terribly lost, stopped on the side of the highway, hoping for number 6 to
happen
3. Comfort food on a cold night
2. My faith. Believing that things do happen for a reason, like it or not, and there are lessons to be
learned from everything
1. Maple syrup
Yes folks, these are real. Of course, in the matter of importance, these aren't in any particular order. I wrote them down as I pulled them from the jar. As you can see, to me it really is about the little things, and sometimes the big things. I am grateful for them all. As I have said before, I begin each day with a grateful heart, and become more and more grateful as I continue my daily practice of gratitude.
Try it, won't you? At least just for today, before your day is over, think about all of the big things and little things that you are grateful for today. I'd love to see some of your "I'm grateful for.." comments here, so please share!
(and one more "little thing" I'm grateful for today...when I uploaded this photo to my computer I saw a perfectly shaped heart in the leaf that I didn't know was there when I took the photo. Do you see it on the top left side? :)
15 comments:
Judy,
You are right, the little things make our life whole and full. The little things are everyday stuff as some days there are no big events going on. March means one step closer to spring! Morning coffee, good books and delicious meals meals go a long way to make the day enjoyable. Faith, family, friends and friendly smiles keep us going too.
This is the perfect post to follow Leigh's, focusing on the things that are important to us and that bring us joy, both big and small. I agree with Robyn, morning coffee has to be on my list for sure! This winter I have been so grateful for our beautiful desert weather and sad for all the people in this country who have been suffering with so much snow and terrible cold. I am grateful for all of my friends here and most of all for a healthy, happy family. Thanks, Judy, for helping us remember to think about these gratitudes today.
Beautiful photo and post Judy!
Oh, what a beautiful post! With Leigh's post still heavy on my heart, Im grateful for so many things…coffee being one of them:) I guess right now Im most grateful for FOL! I look forward everyday to reading new posts, looking at the wonderful photos and reflecting on my life. FOL has given a whole new meaning to the way I view things in person and through the lens! Have a beautiful day everyone!
Thanks for reminding me to just be grateful...
Beautiful way to follow Leigh's post. We can't deny the bad things that happen but neither should we let them defeat us. Gratitude is a good way to keep ourselves where we ought to be. Practicing gratitude is not always easy ... we have to be reminded far too often. Particularly when we realize how much we really do have to be grateful for, big and small. I'm grateful for our FOL community ... all of us, contributors and readers alike. I think we have an amazing group here and I enjoy getting to know each of you. Today, I'm especially grateful for Susan's comment above about what FOL means to her. Thank you, Susan! {You can have your coffee ... I'm grateful for tea, hot and cold.} :-D
One quote always hit home with me...Enjoy the small moments for these moments are your life. We have so much to be grateful for in our lives. It is a shame that some people grumble about the smallest annoyances. I love that there are places on the web like yours where our spirits can be renewed. Thank you for your post. Peggy from PA
By the way....I love the slideshow at the top of your blog. Would it be possible for a tutorial someday?
Great post.
I have so much to be grateful for. Today, for having a new water heater, and that the old one didn't flood anything but the front porch.
Mostly lately, that our daughter is finally cancer free. Like I said, I have a lot of things for thanks giving. Not least of all, the places like FOL that inspire us for photography and life.
I like the idea of the Gratitude Jar. I think I'll do that. Makes you stop and remember that each day has something to be grateful for, even those days when everything seems to go wrong.
I'm going now and reread the past post.
Thanks again for reminding us.
Yep, as soon as I open my eyes in the morning I'm grateful to just be here another day and starting off with gratitude is like starting out with a glass full of joy. And being grateful for all the little moments help so much when we are faced with the not so fun things - gratitude is like a bank account that you can draw on. And as Spring is surely rounding the corner here, I'm very grateful for all five of my senses! Wonderful photo!
thank you for a lovely post judy and sharing some of the things you are grateful for. and yes…i do see the heart in the leaf. i {heart} it. xo
judy i can't think of any better post to follow leigh's. because really that's what those difficult times in life are teaching us. to be grateful. for the right here and right now. not one of knows what tomorrow may bring. and gratitude has been such a good practice for me to stay focused on the present. and so today, like dotti, i am so grateful for the beautiful community of friends. the support and encouragement of everyone here (contributors AND readers). and i am grateful for signs of spring that are starting to pop up in my neck of the woods. the promise of sunnier days and bluer skies. thank you judy for reminding all of us that there is still so much to be grateful for. xo
I agree, this is the perfect post to follow yesterday's. I too am grateful to have found this blog and I look forward to it each day, both for the photography and for the positive messages. Thank you all. I too am going to start a Gratitude Jar. I've been going through a tough time lately with a difficult family situation and I can see I've been focusing too much on the negative. I'm going to try and focus more on the positive. Thanks for the reminder that we all have much to be grateful for. Photography, dark chocolate, maple syrup and good reads are on my list, for sure! And I do love that dear little heart in the leaf above. Isn't it amazing how we "find" something in a photograph that we didn't "see" before. I took a photo of a red poppy last summer, and when looking at it closely, the shadow in the bloom looks like a WWI soldier with his pack on.. you can see it on my Nov. 9, 2013 post... amazing... Thanks again. I am fairly new to this blog but it's quickly becoming a favourite...
Being grateful is a perfect post to follow Leigh's! I remember when you posted about your Joy Jar and I started one that day. I think of you quite often as I drop my gratitude in the jar! Counting the gifts and blessings definitely make my life more joyful!
absolutely adore that photo! I think I'll start a jar.
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