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Gratitude: Today, I'm grateful for...
Studies have found that expressing daily gratitude improves both physical and emotional well-being. It helps us focus on what is good in our lives, the world and others. It also helps us find the silver lining in our challenges. Gratitude turns what we already have into enough. Gratitude brings us joy. I’d love it if you can share something you’re grateful for today. I’ll start.
I’m grateful I have both the ability and luxury of taking long daily gratitude walks through the beautiful nature that surrounds my home.
I’ll take you through my typical walk:
When I open my front door to leave, I’m usually greeted by a few adorable squirrels, three crow friends, juncos and wrens who all hope for a walnut treat before I go. My walk along the creek down the street brings me peace with a variety of 100-foot trees, flowers of every shape and color, grass, fascinating wildlife, sounds of a babbling brook, birds calling, squirrels chasing, etc. Each day, I also see bunnies, ducks with ducklings, egrets, lizards, turtles, a variety of small birds, butterflies, and sometimes coyotes and hawks.
I meet new people along the way as we share our love of nature. I am also greeted by their happy, adorable dogs. Sometimes I learn something new. Sometimes I feel like I was able to bring joy to someone by letting them know they are worth a few minutes of my time. That brings me joy. Half the people in my large retirement community live alone as I do. Today, I met a lovely 96-year-old woman who walks a half mile with her cane and sweet rescue poodle every day. Impressive! She didn’t look a day over 80. I never miss an opportunity to smile and say hello to everyone who passes by. When I arrive home after an hour or so, some of my wildlife buddies are usually there to welcome me back with the enthusiasm of a dog.
When my last dog went to Heaven a few months ago, my camera became my new walking companion. Once I’m home, it’s time to upload my latest nature photos. I relive my walk all over again through the eyes of a zoom lens and a 32” monitor that together reveal extraordinary colors, patterns, textures and wildlife expressions the naked eye can’t see. I’m sharing a few pix from today. Can’t wait to go again tomorrow! 🙂
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My guaranteed & gratitude & graduate of my human life is:
1) Thank-You, Lord putting up with me
2) Thank-you, Karen of our love together
3) With my whole family
4) Friends & online friends
5) Brothers & sisters at my church, including the leaders, pastors, teachers, and helpers
6) And people I touch by holding, helping, talking, and praying.
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5 ReactionsI've kept a gratitude journal for about five years. Today I am grateful for all the exercise classes I take at Silver Sneakers.
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5 ReactionsI’m grateful for airplanes so my loved ones can come visit me. We may not have that Star Trek teleporter yet but airplanes are pretty amazing! I’m grateful for all the abilities that were given to man along with the ingenuity to create such wonders!
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4 ReactionsI’ve adopted an expectation practice suggested by Joyce Meyer. I now start each morning saying, “Something good is going to happen to me and through me today! This is the day the Lord has made and I will rejoice in it!”
It helps me notice even the smallest good things that happen to me each day. It also reminds me to look for opportunities to help others or brighten someone’s day with a kind word, note or gesture.
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8 ReactionsToday I am grateful
For the gentle, timely rain falling on my newly planted vegetables and flowers.
For a spouse who indulges me when I say "I have an idea" and helps me accomplish it, then cooks me dinner.
For friends and family who encourage my creative pursuits, even when I'm not very good.
For all the shoppers who take the time to lend a hand to a stranger in the building supply store or supermarket.
For the delightful sweaty hugs from happy, grubby little kids playing in the yard.
For my teen-aged garden helper who runs to pick up the heavy pots & bags, digs the big holes and loves to learn.
For the Connect community who has taught me to reflect daily on my blessings instead of focusing on pain.
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12 ReactionsI am greatful for the love of the Lord. I live in North Dallas, Tx where we had a terrible storm two weeks ago. The storm had thunder, lightning, high winds, and heavy rains. We had a brand new 8ft. fence with a tree beside it. The storm took the tree down. But a loving God in heaven allowed the tree to fall on both sides of the fence without damaging the fence. The fence is so new it hasn’t been stained yet, and I look at that fence and I know there is God in heaven!
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7 ReactionsI like gratitude lists.
I have done that as an exercise.
It definitely helps.
Today?
Today I am grateful for just spending some nice quiet moments with my wife, just watching old Star Trek shows.
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3 ReactionsThe monarch is brilliantly orange
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3 ReactionsIn keeping with the “something good is going to happen to me today” practice, I chose to focus on the positives of my expensive car repair. My 10 year old car was taking several tries to start so I took it to the dealer for urgent help. I’m so grateful that…
Cars were invented and mechanics can fix them.
My car promptly misbehaved for the mechanic so he could diagnose the problem right away.
The dealer had one new starter in stock.
They rushed the repair for me so I could still attend a birthday function that day and pick up my cousin at the airport.
I had the $$$$ to pay for it.
We have smart phones to keep us entertained and/or productive while waiting.
The waiting room has really comfortable chairs.
They always wash my car before returning it.
I was able to enjoy adventures with my visiting cousin all week without getting stranded! Yay!
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5 ReactionsToday I am grateful that our unseasonable "monsoons" held off long enough to enjoy the Back to the 50's car show with our family. About the time the 5 year old got tired of walking, and the 8 year old declared "my brain is full of old cars and I don't have any more questions" raindrops began to plop down , so we came home and had ice cream cones - after mini donuts, chocolate chip cookies, pizza slices and garlic fries.
I'm also grateful that Mom and Dad get to deal with any bellyaches from the great diet!
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5 Reactions