DAILY GRATITUDE FAVORITE PERSON

 

In a world where hate, evil, prejudice and the threat of war

each day seem to increase…

I’m grateful I have a favorite person to go to

when my minds searches for peace.

FAVORITES

 

May we be blessed to understand

there is a treasured gift in life that doesn’t cost a dime.

This gift is as wonderful to give…as it is to receive.

This precious gift…is time.

OUR FAVORITES

 

I was lucky to marry a woman…at the time much to my surprise

who sees the world around us through pure and innocent eyes.

I loved to kid her about all the favorites that she has, so many from which to choose…

favorite color, favorite food, favorite blouse, favorite shoes.

Favorite author, favorite actor, favorite place…favorite thing to bake,

favorite movie, favorite animal, favorite cookie…favorite cake.

Yes, I loved to kid her about how she viewed the world

through those pure and innocent eyes.

But I came to realize it was my eyes that were wrong…and it was her eyes that were wise.

She taught me as we ride through life together…as we do our best to muddle through it.

It’s not only important what we see…but how we choose to view it.

How wonderful for her…how extraordinarily rare

to be able to walk through life finding favorites everywhere.

Imagine if your heart was open to it…if your mind was so inclined

all the miracles you’d discover…all the favorites you would find.

 

Imagine the anticipation…the excitement you would feel along the way

if you knew when you woke up this morning…this could be your favorite day.

Why just yesterday, for instance, we took one of our favorite walks,

talked to one of our favorite friends…a friend with whom I used to teach,

ate our favorite lunch at one of our favorite restaurants

and watched our favorite sun set on our favorite beach.

One thing she has taught me…is that if you can find favorites

in whatsoever any moment has comprised…

you will usually have a smile on your face…and you’ll constantly be surprised.

You’ll fall asleep at night contented, happy…thinking…this was my favorite day to date…

and you’ll wake up the next morning excited to see what new favorites await.

Now, as I share in all her favorites, I no longer have a reason to tease or doubt her…

because the fact that she has so many favorites…

is my favorite thing about her.

DAILY GRATITUDE CHILDHOOD INNOCENCE

 

Today I’m grateful that no matter how much I age

as I continue to sing…even if a little off-key…

a little bit of my childhood innocence

sings along with me.

OUR SHOULDERS

 

May we be blessed to understand

our shoulders are meant to carry the weight of our children’s worries…

that is one of our parental powers…

And just as blessed to understand our children’s shoulders

were never meant…to carry the weight of ours.

PIZZA FARM

 

There is an innocence in life to which every child brings…

before their brains become too cluttered with all those adult things.

It is a lovely place where wide-eyed children dwell.

Where, if we listen, their innocence can be profound as well.

A grandma was grocery shopping with her grandson

when in the produce department, she grabbed a peach.

because if you know anything about Grandmas…you know Grandmas love to teach.

Next she picked up an apple, a pear and then a plum.

then asked her grandson, “Do you know where all this food comes from?”

He knew his grandma loved puzzles…he had fallen for her tricks before…

“Grandma, that’s an easy one.” He said. “They come from inside this store.”

Then this grandma and her grandson through the produce section they walked around.

and she told him all these fruits and vegetables are grown out of the ground.

She said they are grown on farms…by farmers…with the help of the rain and sun.

then asked her grandson expectantly, “How would you like to visit one?”

Her grandson thought about the question…thought about the lesson she was teaching too

and came up with the perfect answer…as children are wont to do.

His favorite food was neither fruits nor vegetables…so with all his innocence and charm 

He said, “Grandma, I have a better idea.  Can we go to a pizza farm?”

Grandma chuckled when she realized her lesson on farming fell so flat…

then smiled as she wondered…why didn’t I ever think of that!

When I think about this story…

I think about childhood innocence and how and where that innocence began.

and I wish all children were allowed to keep that innocence 

for as long as they possibly can.

How I wish we could do more to help hungry children, 

children in the midst of war…

children who are unwittingly put into the path of harm…

How I wish they only thing these children had to think about 

was visiting a pizza farm.

DAILY GRATITUDE RIGHT AND WRONG

 

Today I’m grateful for two abilities 

that, hopefully, equally share my light…

The ability to admit when I am wrong

and the ability to stand up when I am right.

COURAGE

 

May we be blessed with the two courages in life

everyone should seek…

The courage to know when it’s time to listen…

and the courage to know when it’s time to speak.

STAND UP TO YOUR HATE

 

For years now I have tried to understand your hate…

to find the cause…the reasons…

the source from where your anger originates.

I’ve tried to understand how much pain and suffering on others 

you are willing to impart and to ignore.

I’ve wondered when and how you began to hate

everything that I sand for.

I’ve often wonder how you sleep at night…

where do you find your joy…

when so many things that mean so much to so many

you are willing to destroy.

I have seen and felt the pain of your hatred…

oftentimes I grieve…

When simple logic and years or scientific study

you are unwilling to believe.

But I have come to the realization I cannot explain

this hatred that has permeated our land….

for how do I explain something I will never understand.

So I will endure your anger, your prejudices, your enmity

if that is to be my fate…

As I stand up proudly and fight for…everything you hate.

I will do my best to stay resolute, courageous, unshakable and strong

and let history decide which one of us is right

and which one of us is wrong.

DAILY GRATITUDE TO BE ALIVE

 

May we be blessed to understand

from one big moment to the next 

most of our life is living the moments in between..

and perhaps the best way to a happy life

is to find the beauty in the routine.

BEAUTY IN THE ROUTINE

 

May we be blessed to understand

from one big moment to the next 

most of our life is living the moments in between..

and perhaps the best way to a happy life

is to find the beauty in the routine.

COMPLETING TEH CIRCLE

 

Life is a series of circles…each second circles into each minute, 

each minute into each hour, each hour into each day…

Each circle has it’s own attraction…It’s own unique rhythm and beat.

and we do our best to find as much beauty as we can

In every circle we complete.

Yesterday’s circle began as most days do…nothing too extreme…

when my eyes opened…deciding it was time to step out of my dream.

On my morning walk…around one corner my favorite rabbit was waiting there

as I greeted the stars, the planets and the moon the aroma of jasmine filled the air.

 

Deborah and I loaded up our Subaru with the needed odds and ends

then headed to the causeway to go kayaking with friends.

We watched the sunrise over the water, 

saw pelicans fly and dolphins swim…just a little out of reach…

then kayaked over to an island where we walked along the beach.

We heard from our daughter Ali…something we think is pretty cool.

Next year she stars a new job…at an elementary school.

We had lunch with our daughter-in-law Amy…

She was dropping Juniper, their dog, for us to dog sit overnight….

She paid us off with cheese pizza…we loved every bite.

We took a nap, went to the grocery store…and for dinner…leftover pizza was a must….

we ate all the cheesy parts while Juniper ate the crust.

We watched an old movie on TV

then did something that for a while we’ve delayed…

we drove by a friends yard in the evening…to see the improvements she has made.

With yesterday’s circle complete…even thought it was nothing too extreme…

there was a smile on my face when my eyes decided it was time to step into a dream.

This morning another unique circle began…on my walk I heard a mockingbird's song…

and I could tell by how fast she hopped away my rabbit friend was not happy

that I brought Juniper along.

DAILY GRATITUDE NONJUDGMENTAL

 

Today I’m grateful for remembering not to judge a person

by the person I initially see…

realizing I never know the kind of person

that person will turn out to be.