Lessons in Gratitude Day 391–Part One

I am starting my blog unusually early today; that’s in part because I am at home preparing to head over to the Berkeley Food Pantry for my weekly dose of bread sorting, fruit cutting, food bagging, weightlifting, public greeting, frequent teasing, and other epic but non-olympic events that I find so very enriching, satisfying, entertaining, and refreshing. I have also had an emotionally steady, calm and contented morning, for which I am exceedingly grateful. So before I dash off to the pantry (I will not finish this blog until tonight some time) I want to say how very grateful I am for the stuff I am made of (good stuff by and large) and for the love and support and encouragement of family and friends. As I hear stories of people who are suffering  and struggling through various challenges, I notice that many of them do not have family, friends, or people around them who care about what happens to them. I am blessed beyond measure to have loving siblings and wonderful friends who through their very presence encourage me to stand strong and tall and who support, stand by, and show up for me in so many ways.

I want to say though that there’s also something on the inside of me that is uniquely me that not only doesn’t give up or give in, but that also celebrates and rises above everything that’s going on to embrace life. I had never really considered myself a joyful person–there have been times when I would not have even thought myself a happy person. But this morning I discovered a font of joy that I hadn’t known was there. There was no apparent reason for me to feel or be joyful, but there it was and there it is. And I am grateful beyond measure for it.

I don’t know how the rest of the day will unfold, and that’s fine. Because right in this moment, I am joyful and content, and this moment is all I have…until the next one. So from this space I am sending much love out to the world and will report back this evening with more gratitude. You come back too, okay?