The above image is a quote by Steve Maraboli that says "If you want to find happiness, find gratitude." The white text is printed in three lines across the center of the image. The background is composed of about sixteen large iridescent bubbles on a background of muted shades of blue, green rose, pink, gray and white, giving it a very soft and magical feeling.*
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Happy Weekend to You! As I noted in the comments on the TToT Blog, happiness to me means being content. Gratitude means being content with what you have and thankful for what you've been given. Happiness isn't a wild dance of joy at every moment, sometimes it is the quiet awareness that your life is good; I am so thankful for the life I have now.
August 1st marked one year since the law firm I was working for closed and I lost my job. It has been a year of transition. I am thankful that we have survived this year, it hasn't been easy but we have learned and grown a lot. I am thankful for the joyous freedom to plan my days. I am thankful to be away from office environments which all too often meant dealing with problematic coworkers. I am over-the-top thankful not to hear ringing phones all day long! :-)
I am thankful for the downpour of rain we had a couple days this week, while it resulted in flooded streets in the city and humidity like a sauna in the afternoon heat of the following day, it cooled things down nicely those evenings, and lessened the risk of wildfires. I am thankful that there was no hail high wind in the rainstorms. We have been so very blessed with rain this season. There have been summers where no rain fell at all.
I am thankful that my younger sister's 60th birthday turned out to be a wonderful time that she enjoyed very much. She and her husband took a mini-vacation to stay at a B&B that I located for her near a large recreational lake, her first B&B experience, and they really loved it. Whew!
I am thankful for the fun of making my highest scoring word to date in Words with Friends this week, 141 points on a triple-word score space, in a game with Lisa! I am thankful that I was able to win a game with her, a rare occurrence! :-) I love playing Words with Friends and Yahtzee and having my brain challenged by it.
I am thankful for people who share the bounty of their summer gardens. Papa Bear brought home squash from a coworker this week, and it was much enjoyed. If you think about it, being given anything that you weren't expecting makes you smile. Those little intentions to share good matter!!
I am thankful for opportunities to see people in different perspectives. Yesterday I watched a video of Todd Hoffman singing Sounds of Silence, it was a truly powerful rendition in a unique style. You might recall Todd Hoffman as one of the lead characters in the TV show Gold Rush. We used to watch it and I can't say that I liked him very much, he had an abrasive manner of treating people. So it came as a surprise that he could put this much feeling and a talent I was unaware of into a song I love. Check it out on YouTube. Funny the things we don't know about other people that might surprise us!
I am thankful that we are now in August and just a couple more months away from cooler weather here in West Texas. I am also thankful for an averaged electric bill that keeps our budget on an even keel with no blow-out expense during the hottest or coldest times.
I am both thankful and excited that one week from tomorrow I will be on a plane to Nashville to spend time with my daughter and son. I miss them so much! <3
As always, I am most thankful of all for the quiet reassurance of faith that sustains me and helps me to live in the moment without letting fears or worries overcome me.
Blessings to you in the coming week.. Look for reasons to be thankful in your life, and remember to be a blessing to someone else!
* Descriptions of the included photos are being provided for those who may be unable to view the illustrations.
It's wonderful that you have been able to stay home and not go back out into a hectic office! Papa Bear's co-worker probably has a prolific garden, i'm glad he is willing to share.
ReplyDeleteBeing home has done wonders for my blood pressure... and my sanity! :-) I always appreciate those who share from their bounty, and when I had a veggie garden I did the same. If only everyone shared what they could, there would be less people in need, and it would be a nicer world!
DeleteSoft and magical sounds nice.
ReplyDeleteGetting rain here too and normally I like it, but not lately. I've come to dread it.
I am with you on the hydro bill thing. Mine is a good one this month too.
I am so happy for you that you get to see your kids soon.
Soft colors and muted images always feel peaceful to me, even though I love bright, bold things like flowers and clothing!
DeleteIt has definitely been a year for excessive rain in so many places, I can see where your roof leaking makes it a problem, as well as just navigating on walks that have deep puddles, etc. I would guess that icy streets are even scarier, they terrify me!
It is always a relief when the utility bills are no worse than anticipated. We've been pretty lucky with that this year, thankfully, since our weather is so hot here and requires extra AC.
I am beyond excited about getting to spend time with my kids! It doesn't happen often because we live so far apart.
Wonderful list of thankfuls. I like that version of Sounds of Silence, I didn't realize he had been in a TV show. I am glad someone shared their garden bounty with you. We always try to share ours too. I am glad you will be getting to see your kids soon. Have a nice weekend! And thanks for hosting.XO
ReplyDeleteThank you, Ellen. I thought it was a really good rendition of Sounds of Silence too, kind of haunting. I love people who share what they can with others, and it always makes a person happy to be given something, especially something good to eat! :-)
DeleteIt will be wonderful to spend one-on-one time with my kids, we have several little fun things planned. I leave in three days... and counting! :-)
Good outlook/good TToT
ReplyDeleteI agree that without content(ment), if only in a handful of simple things, the big things don't matter. The key to achieving this (for me) is to try and avoid the past and the future. It is my letting the illusion of both exist among the real things in my life that accounts for 99% of the work to get through a day. But with bloghops like this I'm able see others deal with the same (basic) issues and their successes increase my confidence and their setbacks keep the anticipation of my own down to a manageable scale.
And all that is required is the perspective that allows me to identify with other people. Which brings me full circle to agreeing with your point about being content with the simple things in life.
We are in total agreement about learning to avoid dwelling on the past or the future, both leave us anxious and sometimes feeling defeated. Today is what matters, what we do with it and how we feel about it and ourselves. I also agree that this bloghop helps us to accept our human short-comings and also encourages us by showing us what others appreciate that we also share in common with them. I often find myself nodding in agreement as I read everyone's posts! The older we get the more realize that the simple things are the important things. Big events and blessings are wonderful, but it is the day to day that sustains us! Thank you for this insightful comment!
DeleteIn all my adult life I have worked for organizations ( a church, schools, even once a church school) that I had never considered could ever fold and go away. So, I am still taking in the thought of working for the law firm and having it shut down. What an incredible lifestyle change. Yet you appear to be weathering it well!
ReplyDeleteThe law firm closing (the branch in our city anyway) was the last thing I anticipated happening until the final year or so when I could see the writing on the wall, but I am company loyal and did my best to keep things running smoothly in the midst of turmoil. It has been quite an adjustment, both wonderful, and frustrating. I can't say as I miss it one bit though, it was a very stressful job. :-)
DeleteDoesn't seem like a year since you stopped working. Amazing how time speeds along. We have had rain, too. Thankfully no flooding! Have a great time visiting your family. Stock up on the hugs!
ReplyDeleteStrangely, it feels like I've been at home longer now, that chapter of my life closed, thankfully. Yes, I am grateful for not being in an area that has severe flooding, other than streets which drain off in a day or so. I am very excited about my trip, and yes... the hugs!
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