"Leah Dieterich's mother always told her to write thank you notes." So says the "About" column of Leah's blog, featured in my roll here. And so Leah does. Write thank you notes. One-a-day. Short ones. In her blog. Delightful little ditties. Cleverly expressing Gratitude for fun and kooky little things like "Dear: […] old LP stereo," "donut shops" and "time zones."
So…You know where this is going. In this season of Gratitude, I wanna give thanks for the little things and a few bigg'ins, too. Here goes:
Dear Mother Nature–thanks for the heapings of deliciously colored leaves of intriguing shapes with which you cluttered the ground during my walk in Centennial Park last Wednesday. It was hump day and I was looking for a dose of environmental Prozac. You reminded me to stop. Be present. Marvel over the small gifts that are sprinkled into my day. Every day.
Dear Glass of Pinot Grigio–thank you for your delicious first burst of tarte and your last slither of sweet at three in the afternoon when I escaped for lunch on a very difficult day last week and sought refuge in you, a large baked potato and a scrumptuously fresh salad.
Dear Oxygen–thank you for filling my lungs with crisp fall air as I walked today. Thank you for pumping life into my heart and deep red blood. Oh, because of you, I felt so good after I walked. You opened my chest and reminded me of your gift.
Dear New Midlife Friends–what a delight to find you in a time when I am swirling into a new phase of my life, as are you. You share my perspective that it's all kinda wild and wonderful and wacky all at once. I feel so blessed to have reconnected with you, Dawn, and now have a deeper friendship with you, Dena.
Dear NVC Nashville–thank you for making seminars and workshops plenty and affordable for myself and others. Thank you for your commitment to helping me and others learn to communicate and connect with our world more compassionately. I am so Grateful for the "Parenting from the Heart" seminar last Saturday and all the oh's and aha's I had while attending.
Dear New Therapist–thank you for being the anti-dote to a new life that's often seems overwhelming with its dump truck of changes. Oh. It's feels so good to connect with you. To be heard and to gain some perspective with your gentle aid.
Dear Grandmother crones–thank you for the work of your lives. For the work of raising your children and the time and gifts you bring to me and those younger than me to show us a better way. (Joanna Carnahan, Barbara Nicholson, Diane Ault)
Dear Young Mothers–thank you for nursing your babies and for choosing to parent them peacefully and help our world evolve into a kinder place. I am impressed with your young but wise skill, comittment and love. (Asia, Kara, Samantha, Emi, Kirsten, Rebecca, Angel)
Dear New Family–thank you for loving me unconditionally. Our new life together has been challenging these past four weeks with Husband 2.0 away at knife-smithing school. But, we made it and we survived. I look forward to spending tomorrow with you.
Dear Reader–thank you for visiting my blog here. For the first time. For the umpteenth time these last TWO years. And, Happy, Happy, blessed Thanksgiving to YOU. May your heart overflow with Gratitude and give "thx thx thx" for the little in addition to the BIG.
Namaste.
A version of this above photo, by me, of leaves in my old neighborhood's creek, originally appeared here.
