Saturday, November 4, 2017

Celebrating Ten Things


     Celebrating with Ruth Ayres and others today. Come visit to see how wonderful it is to celebrate the good things in one's life! 


      Life fills up before I know it, with good things, and then not so good. I am sad for the children of our world who hear news like the deaths this week, and those not long ago, and those from hurricanes. I know I'm supposed to be celebrating, yet on one level, I feel the stress of news and wonder how it will affect the children. One former student, now a teacher, lamented the challenge of having lockdown practice with her class, and the hard conversations necessary to help them answer worried questions. 

      And I do find much beauty too, in the people in my life, in nature, in words. Thus, I celebrate. . .
  1. the smiles of children Halloween night, holding sacks up to be delighted with one more piece of candy
  2. the expertise of workers helping me assess a water heater and change my car's headlight
  3. the friendliness of checkers at my grocery who act as if we're old friends, ask how I've been, how everything is
  4. my granddaughters' happiness when I arrive to pick them up at school, saying things like "Hurrah, it's Grandma day!"
  5. customers at the bookstore needing help to find books "just right" for travel
  6. co-workers at the store sharing their enthusiasm for new donations
  7. beautiful books with stories of resilience, like Ruth's and others  
  8. nature's beauty, every day a new discovery
  9. a new group of support formed from my recent Highlights poetry retreat
  10. the love and support given by my brother to his good friend when others stayed away

       "We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures." ~Thornton Wilder

18 comments:

  1. Ten lovely moments. Ten reasons to smile. Ten treasures. Thank you for the quote.

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    1. You're welcome, Terje. Thanks for coming by!

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  2. One day I will be so happy to hear "Yay, it's grandma day!" Music, music!

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    1. I'm sure you will, Margaret. It will be a good day!

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  3. What a great list! I especially love 4, 8 and 9. So glad you're celebrating the wonderful things in your life, Linda, and sharing them with us, too!

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  4. Beautiful. A great list and practice. Ten things. Things to fill us up.

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    1. Thanks, it makes a difference to think through and around the busy week and know that good things were there, too.

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  5. Such a beautiful list! Such an important practice! Thank you for sharing!

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    1. You're welcome, Michelle. I know that you do this often.

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  6. Acknowledging the sadness, but focusing on things to be grateful for. It is what we must do.

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    1. Yes, I know. Later today, after a nice time at the bookstore, I heard this latest news. We need to make changes. Thanks, Diane.

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  7. Linda, I am late to the Celebrate This Week round-up but still celebrating despite the horrific news from San Antonio. It is hard to believe that a Sunday morning at church could be the end of life for so many. Life is fragile and uncertain. I enjoyed hearing your about your celebrations. Enjoy this week and have more wonderful Grandma Days!

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    1. I wrote this very early yesterday, Carol, then had a good day at the bookstore, only to discover this latest and tragic news. We need to stop thinking that thoughts and prayers are enough in response. Thanks very much for those wishes!

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  8. The last line about your brother...heart-moving...

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    1. Thanks, Loralee. My brother always does good things!

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  9. While the not so good feels overwhelming, your list warms my heart. How fun to see the excitement of your girls for Grandma Day. And helping customers find just the right book at the bookstore. And nature's beauty every day. Thanks for sharing pics from your walks on FB!

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    1. Thanks, my friend. I'm happy you like the pictures. They show what I love!

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