You’d think I’d have a special blog prepared for today, given that I’ve reached another century mark: my 600th blog. And yet, it comes with no particular fanfare this evening. Tonight I am simply grateful for another day of life with all its possibilities and imperfections. Every moment, every encounter with another being brings with it opportunities, rewards, surprises, disappointments, revelations and so many other possibilities that it keeps everything interesting and new. So today, even with 600 days of writing about gratitude, it still really comes down to very simple things.
As I look back over these writings and think about the many themes I’ve touched upon over these months I realize that none of them are particularly earth-shattering, but are rather elegant in their simplicity. Someone recently asked me, “Have you gotten to the point where you’re repeating yourself now that you’ve been writing every day for such a long time?” And I suppose I am repeating myself, and I would suggest that I have been almost since the very beginning. When I consider the things I’ve written about, there are a number of key themes that I return to repeatedly. One could consider that either being redundant or reinforcing, depending on one’s perspective. I believe that consistently coming back to particular areas like family and friends, perseverance and overcoming challenges, and other themes reinforces my sense of gratefulness each time I return.
I am grateful for many things. Periodically, my ability to express myself flows easily and I am able to convey deep feelings and ideas about the beautiful and bountiful blessings that surround me. The simple act of reflecting back over a given day to seek out those things for which I am most grateful engenders even stronger feelings of gratitude. It is a self-fulfilling feedback loop (or whatever they call it when something feeds itself.) I see this as a very good thing. So tonight on my 600th blog, I want to express my gratitude for my having established a gratitude practice that has taken root in my daily life. I consider gratitude a practice, just like meditation, prayer, and other spiritual activities and am pleased to have found a discipline that I can practice consistently.
Before I take my rest for the evening, I want to offer one simple gratitude: Here on the east coast we’re expecting a blizzard–they started warning us about this storm yesterday morning and we started anticipating a snow day, one of those rare, unexpected days off. I must confess to feeling like a little kid, excitedly watching the news with the forecasts and dire predictions of large amounts of snowfall. It’s not so much the time off from work, which would be lovely, don’t get me wrong. But it’s equally exciting for me to experience a decent snowfall. It took us all winter to get one.
I have missed snowy weather ever since I left Michigan and headed out to California back in 2005. My return to the east has left me disappointed as we’ve had very little in the way of snowfall–we had about two inches back in January that quickly melted. This snowfall isn’t likely to last more than a few days. It’s supposed to be up to near 60 degrees by next week this time. We’ll have snow tomorrow and Thursday that will be well on its way toward melting by Saturday or Sunday. Still, I am planning on enjoying it for the brief time it’s here, knowing that it is probably the last hurrah for this winter.
I am grateful for the movement of seasons, the passing of time. Even as the snow barrels toward us from the west and I anticipate a fun snow day, I am also aware of the lengthening of days and the warming afternoon sun that indicates we are headed for spring time. It’s all part of the processes and cycles of life, and that is a beautiful thing.
