{"id":9097,"date":"2017-10-13T08:45:43","date_gmt":"2017-10-13T12:45:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/blissblog\/?p=9097"},"modified":"2017-10-13T08:45:43","modified_gmt":"2017-10-13T12:45:43","slug":"59-glorious-gratitudes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/blissblog\/2017\/10\/59-glorious-gratitudes.html","title":{"rendered":"59 Glorious Gratitudes"},"content":{"rendered":"

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I woke up this morning another year older and hopefully another year wiser. If I consider the experiences I have had and the people who surround me, I am certainly far richer. It has nothing to do with the digits in my bank account and more to do with the wealth that I glean from the relationships in my life. I think often about the ways in which they enhance my life, perhaps without even knowing that they do. The little things, like a well-timed phone call or email that bring happy tears to my eyes. Angelic encounters like one I had in a grocery store last week with an older woman who reminded me of my mother who died nearly seven years ago and her niece who it turns out is friends with a friend of mine who I had also run into at the same store a few moments earlier, remind me that serendipity and synchronicity are real. The fact that I awoke in a clean, safe, dry, intact home when so many all over the world are struggling to recover from hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, and fires is something to appreciate. There are times when I feel disgruntled that my life is not always on track and sometimes my thoughts get de-railed.\u00a0 That’s when this list will come in handy. I wrote it last night before going to bed.<\/p>\n

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Tomorrow is my 59th birthday. It not only doesn’t freak me out to be getting closer to 60, but it delights me to consider all the blessings that have come along with nearly six decades on the planet (this time around, at least) and maybe a wee bit of wisdom. I made a list of 59 things I am grateful for.<\/p>\n

Fifty- Nine Glorious Gratitudes
\n1. Family
\n2. Friends
\n3. Health
\n4. A beautiful cozy home
\n5. The Muse who inspires me
\n6. My Jeep that gets me where I need to go
\n7. Work that I love
\n8. Cuddle Party
\n9. Free Hugs
\n10. Laughter Yoga
\n11. Love
\n12. Sex
\n13. Yoga
\n14. Meditation
\n15. Drumming
\n16. Dancing
\n17. Music
\n18. Books
\n19. Writing
\n20. Nature
\n21. The gym
\n22. Animals
\n23. That I am becoming more outspoken
\n24. Travel
\n25. Abundance in all forms
\n26. Social media that keeps me connected to the world
\n27. Chocolate
\n28. My memories
\n29. That I learn from my history without making it my destiny
\n30. Being able to channel ideas in written and spoken form
\n31. Persistence
\n32. That I face each day with grace
\n33. Forgiveness
\n34. Compassion
\n35. That I am a powerful manna-fester, sometimes at the speed of thought
\n36. I am learning to ask for what I want and am willing to receive it
\n37. Adventures
\n38. My increased willingness to be vulnerable
\n39. My playful nature
\n40. My resilience
\n41. My ability to uplift myself when I am down in the dumps
\n42. Ancestors
\n43. That I am a love spreader and life lifter
\n44. My spiritual connection
\n45. The overlapping soul circles in my life
\n46. My left of center tree-hugging hippie sensibilities
\n47. The generosity of people in my life
\n48. My ability to connect with kindred spirits every day
\n49. My computer
\n50. The love of my life who is on his way
\n51. Friends who call me on my shit when they need to
\n52.Those who encourage me
\n53. Pedicures
\n54. Time at the gym
\n55. Messages from the Other Side
\n56. The venues and publications that invite me to write for them
\n57. WXPN (my favorite radio station)
\n58. Serendipity and wonderful surprises
\n59. Every day miracles<\/span><\/p>\n

Oh, and that meme with the elephant, bird, and quote was another of those miracles. After a friend created it for me a few years back, it went on a worldwide whirlwind tour and on my birthday three years ago, it landed on Julian Lennon’s Facebook page. How cool is that?<\/p>\n

I was reminded this morning that I share a birthday with Paul Simon. Both he and I are Still Crazy After All These Years.<\/p>\n