Gratitude

I am grateful that it is Friday. It’s been a long stressful week and I’m ready for some downtime. I am grateful for the upcoming week, which I am taking off from work even though we may not follow through with the original plan of traveling to NY state to see family for Thanksgiving. I am grateful for the flexibility I’ve developed over the years. I was once very rigid in my approach to life which made change and uncertainty difficult to bear. Being willing to be flexible makes sudden curves in the road easier to navigate.

I am grateful for the strength to make amends and ask for forgiveness, I wasn’t always good at recognizing when I was in the wrong in the past. I am grateful for the forgiveness others afford to me, it shows that I’ve made progress rebuilding trust with people I’ve hurt. I am grateful to be able to forgive others. Letting go of anger and resentment and forgiving others heals as much as or more than it heals others.

I am grateful for my legs and feet. They carry me through this world, enabling me to live an independent and free life. I am grateful for my arms and hands. Not only are they are fundamental tools I use for daily tasks but they help me connect with others, through handshakes and hugs. I am grateful for my eyes and ears. They help me observe and understand the beautiful sights and sounds of daily life, small glimpses of the mysteries of the universe among us.

I am grateful for the chill in the air as the seasons turn toward winter which reminds me of the essential impermanence of all things. I am grateful for soft, warm fleece sweaters and flannel shirts which protect me against the chill. I am grateful for luxurious hot coffee on the couch while the sun light streams through the bay window, a small sense of peace unfolding before the hectic day.

I am grateful for self restraint. It doesn’t come easily, but things work out much better when I can keep my cool. I am grateful for the writings and teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh — they help me find peace in an otherwise chaotic world. I am grateful for my church which welcomes all people regardless of race, gender identity, sexual orientation, creed, or belief system. I never thought I’d feel comfortable in a church community but I do in this one.

I am grateful for the low angle of the sun at this time of year. It makes for beautiful photographs. I am grateful for my newly repaired, 16 year old Barbour jacket. It has been with me on many adventures around the world. I am grateful to have had lunch with my mother on the front porch yesterday, even if I still cannot hug her because of the risk of coronavirus.

I am grateful for waking feeling rested for the first time in a long time on this sunny morning.I am grateful for my wife who has stuck by me through the good times as well as the bad times.I am grateful for some quiet time alone this morning to read and reflect before the family wakes up. It is rare to have a few minutes of unscheduled solitude.

I am grateful for the flexibility and support that my son's school shows him because he really needs it.I am grateful for technologies like FaceTime and Zoom which allow us to see each other even when we can't be physically present with our family and friends.I am grateful for my Twitter community because we support each other at a moments notice from all around the world.

I am grateful for the rain that we are getting. While I’d prefer a nice sunny day, I know that rain is essential to our interdependent web of life.I am grateful for the opportunity to meet my friend HD for lunch. It’s been a while since we caught up in person.I am grateful for the opportunity to begin my 49th trip around the sun this morning.

As the pandemic reaches the seventh month here in the United States, and our death toll continues to climb — in part due to mismanagement and disinformation on the part of the highest levels of our federal government — we are assaulted by science denial and lies on a daily basis. We watch as the President intentionally sows distrust of the electoral process, spreads baseless conspiracy theories, and has calls for his cult like followers to actively participate in voter intimidation at the polls, as it becomes more and more likely that he will lose the election. ...

Something that isn’t talked about enough in the rooms of the recovery community — courage. It takes courage to admit that we have a problem. It takes courage to ask for help. It takes courage to leave behind old habits and old coping mechanisms. It takes courage to get honest with ourselves and others. It takes courage to get sober or get clean. ...

One thousand, eight hundred, twenty-seven days without a drink — one day at a time. But who’s counting? Well, I am. Five years is a long-ass time without taking a drink, considering that I drank daily for seven years, and at least weekly for 25 years, leading up to September 23, 2015. ...

Since March, I haven’t been to an in person 12 Step meeting. I’ve been to meetings, just not in person. And really, at this point even as we’ve had in person meetings open back up and some have gone to a hybrid mode (in person and zoom at the same time), I have no intention of going back for the foreseeable future. Not because I don’t need meetings, I do, but because I am not quite ready to go sit in a room with other people in recovery who may or may not be taking this pandemic seriously. ...

Of all the muscles in the body, the heart is probably the most essential. In conjunction with the diaphragm, the heart works to delivering oxygen and nutrients to every other system in the body by pumping blood 24 hours a day. ...

“People need to hear your story.” “What do you mean, bud?” “People need to hear your story. I think it’s inspirational. I mean you used to be a guy who didn’t do much besides go to bars and get drunk. Now, you do cool things. You love your wife, spend time with your son. You run. You hike. You bike. People need to hear your story.” ...