Every day is a day for gratitude (and journaling)

      Gratitude (definition): The quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness. 

     This is about gratitude, and how it is part of our everyday life.

A decade of gratitude journals

     Tonight I will make the final entry into my
2021 gratitude journal. It will conclude the 10th consecutive year of daily gratitudes; the photo shows the books (and does not include the two years in which I kept the entries on separate sheets, which later were converted into a digital file. Wish I could locate those ... but I will.)

     Wrote about this in detail almost four years ago ... https://nvanthyn.blogspot.com/2018/02/scanning-gratitudes-and-memories.html

     The idea, as stated then, is to find something positive in every day, no matter what's happened. 

     The last two years -- the COVID years -- have tested that objective. But, dang it, we can do it. Even on January 6, 2021 -- a day that will die in infamy -- the positive was that democracy works (shaky as it is).

     Anyway, we are grateful for another year. Older we get, the more grateful we are. There are more health issues -- general soreness, for one -- and we have to make some changes to protect that health. But here we are. (And we are not volunteering to try the COVID experience.)

     Personally, 2021 was much better than my heart-stopping few months of 2020. Don't know that my longtime roommate would say that about her personal health, but she's determined to hang around.

     We are so grateful for our friendships -- the ones that are decades-long, and the newer ones we've gained the past few years (mainly at Trinity Terrace), but also from other places.

     It is a bit hurtful, and disappointing, that with many old (and new) friends, we don't agree on politics and social issues. Frankly, we have had to split with some people or reduce time talking (or writing) with them. They are entitled to their opinions; we all are. Sharing those opinions often does not go well.

     There doesn't seem to be much chance for compromise, and that's too bad. I think you know the disagreements, for the most part, center on one person. And that's all I'm going to say about that.

     But I am grateful to live in a place where people can express those opinions openly if they want to do so.

     To me, civility is a crucial part of life. I don't always get there, and I'm sorry about that. But there are times to stick up for what you believe in. Time and place is important.

     That said, civility was greatly missing on January 6. Period. Before and after all that mess.

      Back to gratitude. We are beyond grateful, if that's possible, for the kids and grandkids, the most special part of our lives. Nothing is greater in our lives than family.

      Just to touch on athletics for a moment: It was nice to see games and matches played before live, in-person crowds for most of this year (the Summer Olympics were an exception, and the empty stands took a lot away from the excitement).

      Don't know how wise it is late in this year to have full houses of spectators, and it is distressing in the last month to see so many players "in safety protocol" or on inactive (COVID) lists, and so many games cancelled or postponed.

       Could write a whole blog on this -- and I've said it before, and will continue to say it: (1) Athletics these days is far too much about m-o-n-e-y; college football and the NFL are prime examples; (2) watching all the athletes with their "look-at-me" celebration antics takes the fun out of it for me. I know it doesn't bother a lot of people (let's say, younger people). But I'd just as soon turn off the TV as watch that crap.

        And as much as I love baseball -- always have since I was 8 -- I don't like much of the trends in today's game. But -- money rules -- with the current lockout in the major leagues, we likely won't have to worry about any games until, say, mid-summer. 

        Don't like saying "who cares?" about baseball, though. I have been rooting for my favorite team since 1956, and I will always care.

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         A final word on gratitude. Recently read Michael J. Fox's book The Future is Now, and the part I like best was his writing about his father-in-law, Stephen Pollan. He was "by profession, an attorney, financial advisor, and life coach" and  had a plaque on his desk that read, "Professional Fear Remover."

     In dealing with Stephen's death, Michael writes, "In our family vigil, there was love for him and for each other, and a sincere aura of acceptance, which was a big part of Stephen's philosophy. The prevailing mood and spirit around Stephen -- gratitude -- was the very essence of the man. That's what he inspired in all of us. Always thankful for everything in his life, his gratitude was manifest in how much he loved his wife and family, and how appreciate he was for all of his experiences, positive and negative. A true optimist, he was known for his trademark assurance, 'Just wait, kiddo, it gets better.' 

      "The core lesson Stephen left with me was this: With gratitude, optimism becomes sustainable."  

      Love that last sentence. 

      Michael goes on to write this:

      "... As for the future, I haven't been there yet. I only know that I have one. Until I don't. The last thing we run out of is the future.

     "Really, it comes down to gratitude. I am grateful for all of it -- every bad break, every wrong turn, and the unexpected losses -- because they're real. It puts into sharp relief the joy, the accomplishments, the overwhelming love of my family. I can be both a realist and an optimist."

      From this realist and optimist, and from our place at Trinity Terrace, we wish you a great 2022. With gratitude.