There has been a lot of upheaval, scheduling-wise, and sadness, and loss of routine, and generally lots of loss in 2016. Recently, not only the deaths of Carrie Fisher and her mother, Debbie Reynolds, and one of my favorite authors, Richard Adams, but also the death of a much-loved cousin made me very, very sad.
As I was meditating this morning, I worked on changing my mindset from loss to gratitude. It’s incredibly hard, but I’m working on it.
I am grateful for my wonderful, supportive, loving husband. For my funny, lovable, sweet dogs. For my health, which is generally pretty good. For my family, near and far, who are always good for a hug or a laugh (or both). For my friends, ditto. I am grateful for the creativity that keeps me picking up cross-stitch or crochet projects, or playing with new recipes when I cook, or digging in the garden.
I am grateful for books and music, and for the friends who create both, as well as for the people I have never met who create both. I am grateful for movies, and television, and recordings that mean even though I never met Alan Rickman, I can sit down and watch one of his many stellar performances and be grateful that I lived in a time when technology makes it possible for me to watch him perform. Ditto Prince, and Carrie Fisher, and Glenn Frey, and so many of the other wonderful artists we’ve lost. I am grateful for books, and for the writing of people like Richard Adams, and for being able to pick up a book any time and read the beautiful work of people who are gone.
I am even grateful, in some ways, for challenges, and for having to find new ways of thinking or acting, and many, many opportunities to learn.
May 2017 bring us all joy, health, laughter, and opportunities for gratitude.
Cheers! Here’s to your health!