gratitude

Hi There! Just here taking a few moments to realize I’m a speck of dust, floating on a sunbeam in the vastness of space. While I’m here on Earth…I just wanted to say I’m grateful for so much…this was a hard, emotional, tough, really long week, this first week of 2021. So I’m making an effort to stay grounded and grateful.

my gratitude list is long:
*hugs from my 14-year old (and my 18-year old when he’s home from college!)
*health care workers going in every day during a global pandemic trying to save lives
*documentaries about dolphins & people like Sylvia Earle and David Attenborough
*kind people who make the world better and brighter
*the smell of candles, lotion, cookies baking in the oven
*warm blankets and fireplaces
*clean water
*a fridge full of groceries
*higher education for myself, my husband, my son(s)
*hiking, and a body that is able to move
*sunrises and sunsets
*hot showers
*music, books, photographs, art
*the internet: answers, questions, recipes, connecting with friends, photographs and stories of places you haven’t been able to visit; it’s all at the tip of our fingers
*flip flop tans, the sound of ocean waves, the salty air and sand between your toes
*changing seasons and weather, but the sound of birds all year long
*late night comedians who share information, but also create a much needed laugh
*inventions like SCUBA equipment, space ships, bridges and vaccines
*of course my health, home and job
*and dreams, hope, love …

Count your blessings today and every day. Sometimes they are hard to find, at least for me, but there is always at least one thing/person/memory/future event … What are you thankful for today? If you’re having trouble thinking of something right now – take a nap or go to bed, at least that sometimes works for me, my mind is always clearer after some rest. So rest. And be grateful.

save ferris

One of my absolute favorite movies of all time is Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. I love the idea of playing hooky with my friends for one day. I love each and every place Ferris visits. I love the entire City of Chicago. Quite honestly, I believe it’s the penultimate bittersweet movie for the way I am feeling in this current pandemic.

If you need a refresher: A sunny day for a high school senior (school is still in session) … he sneaks out and does EVERYTHING I want to do right now…. goes to a Cubs game at Wrigley Field, eats at a nice restaurant, walks through the Art Institute, takes in the beautiful view from the top of the Sears Tower, witnesses booming economic activity at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, relaxes in a hot tub, swims in a pool, sings and marches in an energetic and crowded parade, walks around downtown Chicago, and just generally enjoys laughter, conversation and the company of his friends.

I am enjoying being authentically me. I have my health, the health of my family, safety, security, a job, groceries, a cozy bed … but man, I am nostalgic for all these places and events we usually are fortunate enough to experience each and every summer. A Ferris Bueller Chicago sightseeing day would really be awesome right now! So would a concert, picnic, playground crawl, a drive-in movie, beer garden, dog park, theatrical performance, anything semi-adventurous!

But I guess the point of the movie is summarized by the iconic line “life moves pretty fast, if you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” And thankfully, we have that chance right now; so slow down and look around. Enjoy the life that is right in front of you. Make fun plans for the future, but don’t wish away the present. Life is happening here and now.

Do you have any tips for myself or other readers on how you’re coping right now? Are you nostalgic and grateful for past experiences? Are you grieving your 2020 spring and summer plans? Are you soaking in every moment of calm and stillness, enjoying permission to just be with yourself? Are you lonely? Are you scared? Are you annoyed with your shelter-in-place roommates? Are you taking it day by day?

Thank You COVID-19

Sure, this coronavirus has taken so much, and there are so many bummer-moments, cancelations, expenses, etc. that we all wish weren’t true. But I am reframing. I am taking a few moments to count the blessings this pandemic has brought to our lives. If only to give it a little less power.

I am grateful for the reminder to slow down. To appreciate …

my health
love
a deep breath
time
memories
ideas
light
mindfulness
dreams
friends who check on one another
our home
a hot shower
the excitement of starting a new book
the taste of my favorite food, I am really savoring each bite making meals last
coffee
fresh produce
cuddling up with my family and watching movies
a washer and dryer in my house, and the smell of fresh laundry
a working oven and stove
utilities
fresh water
sunshine coming through the window (and being able to go outside!)
time to reflect and reexamine my priorities/habits/spending
an empty weekend calendar
appreciating past memories and anticipating future adventures
past trips and lessons we’ve learned

distraction from the everyday stress
ability to focus on what really matters

music
candles
baking
decluttering and minimizing
realizing the abundance we already have
communication practice/patience with others while we all deal with this fear differently
seeing in real time the effect we have on one another and how all humans are connected
time to be mindful, just stand at the stove and stir the pot, just stand in the shower and feel the hot water

if you don’t have a real problem your mind invents one, it’s refreshing to have the space and clarity to clear away the “problems” that don’t matter

I long for clarity, peace, light, joy, love.

I am most sad/scared/afraid for…. the people who have compromised health, pregnant women who have to go to the doctor and expose themselves and their baby, and children who don’t have a safe home and are now stuck without the safety/security/routine of school and teachers and friends to get them through the day.

I want to apologize to the HS seniors, who may have to miss their prom or graduation. You’ve worked so hard and we’d love to see you celebrate, fingers crossed for an uneventful end of the school year.

And to the people cancelling weddings, bar mitzvahs, special vacations and other celebrations of life and love… we feel your deep pain and I know nothing can make it up to you, so I won’t pretend to have comforting words.

I am going to consider this time period my quarantine meditation. A chance to pay attention to the in-between moments; what LIFE is really made of.

Caution: use the internet to inspire you, not anesthetize you or feed your fear.

I’m going to take as much of this time as I can to write. To create.

The opposite of being destructive is being creative. So create something that only you can uniquely make. Use a paintbrush, pencil, hammer, garden. Creativity brings us together when so many things try and tear us apart.

Stay safe. Stay healthy. Stay kind to one another. We’re all in this together.