Day Nine: 30 Days of Gratitude

Day nine began really early, as my weekend of working at the day shelter for homeless men began at 6:30 a.m.,  That said, it is easy to wake up in the dark, when you know that light awaits you, literally and figuratively.  Even with twenty-one days to go in this month of gratitude, I have rediscovered how important it is to focus on the positive people and things in my life, for when I do, life becomes richer and fuller across the board.  These are the three things that I am giving thanks for today, as they left my heart happy:

1. Waking up to a kind text message.  As much as I love the art of conversation, I also appreciate the role that texting and emailing can play in maintaining communication with family and friends, and it is always nice when someone takes the time to send a positive message or to let you know that you are being thought of and wished well.  It certainly beats waking up to only the clamor of an alarm clock!
2. Being referred to as “nice”.  I don’t know when “nice” became a benign or backhanded compliment, as it really is a very dear compliment.  So, when several of the gentlemen at the day shelter thanked me for being “nice”, it really meant a great deal to me that they viewed me in such a lovely way.  My intention always is to treat them with kindness, respect, and compassion, and I was thankful that they felt like I had done so today.  The older I get, the more I realize that being nice in a world that can be very cruel is a gift, and it is one that I am grateful that I can share with these special men.  Then again, as I said to them, it is easy to be nice to such wonderful people!
3. Feeling exhausted at the end of the day.  That may sound negative, but I am not referring to feeling fatigued, but rather, I mean feeling exhausted from having put in a hard, yet fulfilling, day’s work doing something that I enjoy.  As I relax this evening, I feel content and happy, two feelings that I welcome. 

As the weekend comes to a close, I am ready to unwind, and I also am looking forward to what the week ahead will bring.  I have no doubt that each day will bring much more to be grateful for, and that thought alone makes me smile big time!

Just one thing each day . . .