Blog
68 years – 68 reasons to be grateful
By Carol / October 11, 2016 /
October 11 is my 68th birthday. I’ve had – am having – a great life. Borrowing another idea from Laurie Buchanan, author of the soon-to-be-released Note to Self, and to recognize the years with which I’ve been blessed, I’m sharing 68 reasons why I’m grateful.
In no particular order, here they are:
- More than a house – a home
- My logical, practical husband who invariably has whatever I need
- My son and the happiness he’s finding in his life
- Two delightful granddaughters
who give me so much joy - Parents who loved me and gave me a solid foundation of values
- A lifelong love of education
- Hearing devices
- Glasses
- Living in an area with ready access to great medical care
- A positive attitude
- Readers who’ve supported my writing – and chosen to write and tell me what my stories meant to them
- Book club friends
- Bible study friends
- Lifelong friends and brand new ones
- My sister who’s living and another one I had for 58 wonderful years
- Good health
- The ability to travel
- The trips I’ve taken and the ones I see ahead
- Farmers
- The change of seasons
- My prairie and all the lessons I learn there
- Birds at the feeders and those in the trees
- Cheese
- The Percheron horses that pasture adjacent to our back yard
- The Internet and Google
- Libraries and librarians because Google doesn’t know everything
- Good editors
- The smell of lilacs
- Electricity
- More good memories than otherwise
- Curiosity
- Green trees, green grass, green
- Nurses like my sister and her daughter
- Teachers
- Authors who inspire me
- Our service men and women
- The police
- Summer tomatoes
- A deep freeze full of the bounty of our garden
- Hostas
- My washer and dryer
- My hair dresser
- A “good stick” at the blood bank
- October and the advent of cool weather
- April and the return of warm weather
- Chocolate chip cookies
- Vanilla ice cream
- Being ‘old enough‘
- Good health
- The ability to walk easily
- Colorful sunrises
- Thunderstorms
- Birkenstocks and Chacos
- Breathing
- All the colors of the rainbow
- Music of the 60’s and 70’s
- The breadboard my dad made me
- The smell of fresh-baked bread
- An appreciation for hard work
- My nieces and their families
- My smart phone
- Oakridge Neighborhood and all the places that help individuals, children and families in need achieve a better life
- Givers
- A good bed
- Children laughing
- My writing buddies
- A wealth of ideas for what comes next
- Another birthday
What things are you grateful for today? Leave a note with two or three.
Posted in Random Thoughts
I’ve been ruminating over your question from an earlier post (How old do you feel?) for days; now reading your 68 reasons inspired me to answer both that question and the one above: I am old enough to have acquired wisdom and young enough to still be surprised; old enough to enjoy the satisfaction of achievement and young enough to still be restless for new challenges; and… I am GRATEFUL for it all! I also concur with all 68 on your list. Happy birthday, Carol.
I love the synergy of thinking, Nan, and the beautiful way you expressed it. Thanks for sharing.
I wish you a Happy Birthday, and many more joyous additions to your list in future years.
Thanks, Earleen. Once you start listing things to be grateful for, more pop up. I have no doubt I could keep adding to the list indefinitely. And I hope I have that chance!
Happy Birthday dear Carol. I loved reading your 68 reasons and agree with all. I would have to add God to my list who makes everything possible. As I am approaching 82 I would have to put breathing a little nearer the top of the list. Also I am very grateful for the people who have the ability to express themselves in written words as I cannot even write an interesting letter. Keep writing Carol and have a wonderful day.
Thanks for sharing your reasons for gratitude, Barbara. In any given year, on any given day, I’m sure new reasons rise up. Such is the beauty of life. I look forward to seeing what is on my list when I’m 82 – if I am blessed with those years.
What a wonderful list and a great idea. Hope you had a wonderful day filled with all the things that bring you joy.
My birthday was a delight, Pat. Thank you for the well wishes.
Happy birthday dear Carol. Wishing you many many more. What a wonderful post.
Thanks, Paulette. Another bit of gratitude I add to my list is the opportunity to meet other authors like you via social media. I treasure the relationship we’ve built over the miles.
Happy birthday, Carol! Your list comes alive as I read it. I can smell the bread, the lilacs and the tomatoes with you! I’m five years older than you are, and enjoying my life. I’m especially grateful for the robin who greets me on the deck almost every morning, even though it’s getting cold and he should be moving on to warmer climes. Somehow he has become a symbol for me of perseverance and courage and cheerfulness!
Thank you, Elfrieda. That robin sounds like a great companion. Even when he moves on, he’s left you with good thoughts.
Carol — happy, Happy, HAPPY birthday to YOU! I absolutely love your list of reasons to be grateful!
Many thanks for the idea, Laurie. I continue to journal from the list of questions in “Note to Self.” So much enlightenment. Looking forward to your launch.
A wonderful approach to a birthday which I might copy on my 72nd in a months time. In the meantime number one on my list will be my riding buddies and especially you . sorry I missed the big day by a day but Italy is a big distraction!
You had reason to be distracted, Mary. I treasure our writing partnership even as it evolves as we pursue new interests.
I’m happy to hear from ‘older’ writers. I’m not young anymore and it’s reassuring to know there are writers my age or older out there. I haven’t taken the time to enumerate the blessings of my 55 years, but think I’ll settle for being content.
Those of us who love to write are blessed with a passion we can pursue indefinitely, Chuck. I like your decision to be content. That’s not as easy as it sounds.