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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:

  1. More than a house – a home
  2. My logical, practical husband who invariably has whatever I need
  3. My son and the happiness he’s finding in his life
  4. Two delightful granddaughtersCarol & Eliza on Tractor who give me so much joy
  5. Parents who loved me and gave me a solid foundation of values
  6. A lifelong love of education
  7. Hearing devices
  8. Glasses
  9. Living in an area with ready access to great medical care
  10. A positive attitude
  11. Readers who’ve supported my writing – and chosen to write and tell me what my stories meant to them
  12. Book club friends
  13. Bible study friends
  14. Lifelong friends and brand new ones
  15. My sister who’s living and another one I had for 58 wonderful years
  16. Good health
  17. The ability to travel
  18. The trips I’ve taken and the ones I see ahead
  19. Farmers
  20. The change of seasons
  21. My prairie and all the lessons I learn theremonarch in prairie
  22. Birds at the feeders and those in the trees
  23. Cheese
  24. The Percheron horses that pasture adjacent to our back yard
  25. The Internet and Google
  26. Libraries and librarians because Google doesn’t know everything
  27. Good editors
  28. The smell of lilacs
  29. Electricity
  30. More good memories than otherwise
  31. Curiosity
  32. Green trees, green grass, green
  33. Nurses like my sister and her daughter
  34. Teachers
  35. Authors who inspire me
  36. Our service men and women
  37. The police
  38. Summer tomatoes
  39. A deep freeze full of the bounty of our garden
  40. Hostas
  41. My washer and dryer
  42. My hair dresser
  43. A “good stick” at the blood bank
  44. October and the advent of cool weather
  45. April and the return of warm weather
  46. Chocolate chip cookies
  47. Vanilla ice cream
  48. Being ‘old enough
  49. Good health
  50. The ability to walk easily
  51. Colorful sunrisesIowa sunrise
  52. Thunderstorms
  53. Birkenstocks and Chacos
  54. Breathing
  55. All the colors of the rainbow
  56. Music of the 60’s and 70’s
  57. The breadboard my dad made me
  58. The smell of fresh-baked bread
  59. An appreciation for hard work
  60. My nieces and their families
  61. My smart phone
  62. Oakridge Neighborhood and all the places that help individuals, children and families in need achieve a better life
  63. Givers
  64. A good bed
  65. Children laughing
  66. My writing buddies
  67. A wealth of ideas for what comes next
  68. Another birthday

What things are you grateful for today? Leave a note with two or three.

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Carol

18 Comments

  1. Nan Johnson on October 11, 2016 at 10:34 am

    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.

    • Carol Bodensteiner on October 25, 2016 at 9:18 am

      I love the synergy of thinking, Nan, and the beautiful way you expressed it. Thanks for sharing.

  2. Earleen Devine on October 11, 2016 at 11:50 am

    I wish you a Happy Birthday, and many more joyous additions to your list in future years.

    • Carol Bodensteiner on October 25, 2016 at 9:15 am

      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!

  3. Barbara Gilpin on October 11, 2016 at 12:47 pm

    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.

    • Carol Bodensteiner on October 25, 2016 at 9:23 am

      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.

  4. Pat on October 11, 2016 at 5:30 pm

    What a wonderful list and a great idea. Hope you had a wonderful day filled with all the things that bring you joy.

    • Carol Bodensteiner on October 25, 2016 at 9:14 am

      My birthday was a delight, Pat. Thank you for the well wishes.

  5. Paulette Mahurin on October 12, 2016 at 8:23 am

    Happy birthday dear Carol. Wishing you many many more. What a wonderful post.

    • Carol Bodensteiner on October 25, 2016 at 9:13 am

      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.

  6. Elfrieda Neufeld Schroeder on October 12, 2016 at 9:13 am

    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!

    • Carol Bodensteiner on October 25, 2016 at 9:11 am

      Thank you, Elfrieda. That robin sounds like a great companion. Even when he moves on, he’s left you with good thoughts.

  7. Laurie Buchanan on October 12, 2016 at 11:28 am

    Carol — happy, Happy, HAPPY birthday to YOU! I absolutely love your list of reasons to be grateful!

    • Carol Bodensteiner on October 25, 2016 at 9:10 am

      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.

  8. Merry gottschalk on October 12, 2016 at 12:11 pm

    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!

    • Carol Bodensteiner on October 25, 2016 at 9:09 am

      You had reason to be distracted, Mary. I treasure our writing partnership even as it evolves as we pursue new interests.

  9. Chuck Robertson on October 24, 2016 at 7:51 pm

    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.

    • Carol Bodensteiner on October 25, 2016 at 9:05 am

      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.

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