Grateful
This has nothing to do with writing, but since everything in my life has to do with writing, then I suppose it really does.
I don't watch Oprah. I look at most self-help gurus with a jaundiced eye. Generally, this is because I WORKED with some of the biggest household names in that arena, and most of their personal lives were such a mess, and their egos so large, that it amused me to no end they felt qualified to give advice. But there is something to be said for serenity. There is something to be said for the Middle Way. There is something to prayer and meditation. There is something to wishing on stars and picking up lucky pennies. I am, most days, a Theist. I like thinking when I pray, it's not merely an echo.
In the last two weeks, I have been horribly betrayed. I have been gossiped about. I have been painfully injured. I have been sick. AND STILL there is nothing this world can dish out that cannot be soothed by the sight of my Dynamo Boy, in one of his daddy's long white-t-shirts, sleeping peacefully in his "nest" (seven goose down pillows artfully arranged in the middle of my king-size bed).
The answer to peace in my life is never BIGGER. It is always SMALLER. And though this sounds like something Oprah would say, this morning I took it way smaller and thought about three things--three little things--I am grateful for.
1. Ice water. My medication, by nightfall, makes my voice sound like the Wicked Witch--hoarse and dry. Overnight, I get so thirsty. This morning, when I finally made it down the stairs, I filled a pitcher with ice water. It's been HOT here lately. And a cold glass of ice water on my desk . . . heaven. And more, I know this.
2. Sleep. I slept eight UNHEARD of hours last night. Like, holy cow.
3. My iPod is actually a sentient being. No, I mean it. It KNOWS what music heals my heart and always--on Shuffle--manages to play what I need to hear. I don't know how Steve Jobs did it, but I think my iPod is actually my soul mate.
4. Friends. I said three little things. So this doesn't count, because friends are a BIG thing. I love mine. You know who you are. All of you.
Your turn.
Have a great Friday.
Namaste.
20 comments:
1. Sandals or barefoot in summer. Proof that there's still some kid in me.
2. My bicycle. Maybe the same thing as #1, now that I think about it.
3. Books. Even e-books, but I like the physical objects as well, and am glad I have them surrounding me. They are doors into other worlds.
4. Probably not so small, but garbage collectors. Yeah, weird, I know. Today while walking Frodo he yanked backwards on me just as the garbage truck was going by and the two guys in the truck laughed and waved at me. And I thought the same thing I always think when I see a garbage truck: you have the most important job in modern civilization, you're the difference between a plague-ridden scene of squalor and the fairly healthy, clean society we're lucky to live in here in the U.S.
Mark:
In my wip, when the garbage stops being picked up, NYC becomes . . . GROSS. teeming with garbage and stench. You're right. And in summer, that job has GOT to be brutal. So hats off to my garbage man!
I often consider gossip in noun form, and it angers me. Then I look at it as a verb, and I feel myself turning red with guilt. I'm not sure if it's human to gossip, or an unconscious-conscious act. I like to think that when I'm in the verb form, it's more a rant than gossip...
((HUGS))to you because you don't deserve the harshness that has come your way recently.
Anyway, here goes:
1. Rit Dye and Lisa Frank art. This week I was searching the store for Rit Dye in black (bleach attacked my favorite black shirt). Did not find it in the local store. Last night daughter had an errand to run at Walmart. Before leaving we had a conversation about the kinds of backpacks and school supplies she liked when a child. We concurred it was the Lisa Frank stuff. As she left for Walmart she asked if I needed anything. I told her about the dye.
She returned with not only the dye, but a Lisa Frank folder for my back to school supplies. I know you'll appreciate this, E., knowing a bit about my daughter. The dye with the added folder made my day, plus she wouldn't take money for the dye. :-) Wow! Miracles exist; prayers are slowly answered.
My shuffle. I didn't want an iPod, any of them. I wanted that tiny, blue box that holds every piece of music I love. It's not only really cute, it makes the world go away.
Floating in the lake. No matter what's going on. I can pack up the kids and be there in twenty minutes. If I could start every morning off like this I would.
My husband's random road trips. Spontaneous is not my middle name. A few months ago it was the beach. Last week it was Tennessee. The other day it was down some country roads. I would never do this, not if he didn't drag me out. And it's never where we go, it's the drive, the sitting next to him.
Love this post. I'm going to post my three on my blog. And... ((((hugsforyou))))
Kath:
That is SOOOOOO awesome. Just beyond sweet.
Thanks, Posey. :-)
I love spontaneous stuff. Doesn't happen often--guess too many kids, too much responsibility. I used to be a lot more spontaneous. I remember going with my boyfriend at the time from Manhattan to Rhode Island for lobster. Just because. Road trip. :-)
((hugs)) for the last two weeks. I hope things get better.
1. Airplanes. Even though I HATE to fly, a plane safely took me to visit my family for three weeks - I hadn't seen them in over a year.
2.My ipod shuffle. The audio books on it have allowed me to do chores and to be able to lie still at night while trying to fall asleep
3.My rabbit, Harvey. Just looking at him brings a smile to my face.
This has been my year to reconnect with some dear old friends (I'm talking people I first met 37 or more years ago). We partied and played music and had just an awesome time. I'm grateful for that opportunity.
I'm grateful for Oceanview and the opportunities I'm going to have through them. The crowd over at Joe Konrath's blog seems to think publishers aren't relevant anymore. They just don't know.
I'm grateful for you, Erica, and all my cyber friends, who have (and continue to) help me find my way in the publishing arena.
I could go on and on. I'm grateful for so much!
Nadine:
I love your profile picture with your bunny. They make great pets.
And how wonderful to be able to see family and friends. I used to teach ESL to some kids from Vietnam who used to walk three or four HOURS a day to get to school versus here in America hopping on their yellow school bus. It's amazing what we take for granted sometimes!
Jude:
Aww . . . it's be so cool to watch first Stephen and now you . . . it's gonna be awesome!
I'm grateful for gratitude because when I think of all that I'm grateful for, my life is so much better.
Functioning: two arms, two hands, ten fingers, two legs, two feet, ten toes, eyes, ears, mouth, major organs, some or most of my brain depending on the time of day.
I'm grateful for good friends and the amazing people I've met on this writing journey - many of whom have become good friends. And, after my SCBWI business meeting yesterday, the ones I just met who will, no doubt, become my good friends. What a great bunch of hyperactive volunteers. Sat across from the woman from Korea. Fascinating conversation. (Do you do school visits? Skype maybe?)
I'm grateful for so very many things - both small and large.
1. My sun porch which is my window on the world.
2. Children, because the remind me to laugh at silly things and not take myself seriously.
3. Books that take me anywhere I want to go.
Damn Erica, things will get better because someone like you deserves only the VERY best.
Sarah:
I do Skype quite a bit. I actually Skyped into Travis's classroom (afterschool writing club). I have a couple coming up this fall . . . they just need to write to the magickeepers site.
:-)
Being grateful for gratitude is quite wise.
Mary:
My sun porch is in major need of a cleaning, but I need a few more days in the brace before I think about it . . . tough getting around still. But I love my porch. Especially on fall nights. Listening to the frogs.
I had trouble thinking of little things. I could think of my wife, my son and his wife, etc.
Also, I am thankful for the way I grew up and things my parents taught me, especially that justice and people are at the heart of everything that matters.
Some of my little things would involve electronic gadgets too. They add a lot to my life.
Here goes - an autumn day with open windows and curtains blowing with a gentle breeze, low volume West Coast jazz, my children running & loving each other recklessly as they play some newly invented game while I share a throw curled up with my husband, both of us reading wonderfully frivolous books and nothing else but that moment on my mind ... :) xo BB
Joe:
I love my rice steamer. It makes my life easier. And yummier. I do like gadgets.
BB:
Sigh. That fills me with longing. :-) Aimless days . . . .
Love you!
E
Man it makes me angry when good people are hurt by the selfishness of others. Grr.
Three good things? Hmm...
1. My parents. They've made all this possible. (and by THIS I mean my current status, not my life)
2. My dog. He's sometimes the only happiness in my life.
3. The internet. It's led me to people that I have more in common with than people I've ever met in person. They've made my life better and given me hope when I didn't have a whole lot of that going around.
Melanie:
I'm partial to your #2. He is a cutie!!!
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