My college kids came home last night. After a bustle of activity this morning, everyone dispersed in various directions – job interview, haircut, and a run (the latter undertaken by the lovely visiting girlfriend). I sat in the stillness, my heart filled with gratitude and thanksgiving.
I have too many friends who have lost children to know not to take any of this for granted. I hesitated last night before posting a picture of Apollo welcoming Jacob upon his arrival because I didn’t want to bring pain to others who have children who won’t be coming home. At the same time, hiding my gratitude and joy didn’t feel healthy either. I posted the picture.
Having set my intention to choose joy this holiday season, I allow myself to experience the fullness of the moment. The sunlight spilling through the window onto my kitchen table (and favorite writing spot) illuminates more than two decades worth of mealtime pockmarks, splatters of craft paint, and newsprint from wet editions of the Washington Post left long enough to infuse the finish with inky headlines. My husband and sons are with me here, even when they aren’t.
At this particular juncture of my life, I am almost embarrassed by the sense of abundance I feel. Embarrassment comes from a sense of shame, though, not joy. Why should I resist abundance? Why is it shameful? Having gone through dark periods in my life, and knowing that nothing stays the same, I will let go of this unproductive thinking and simply rest in gratitude.
My gratitude extends to YOU, as well, for your support and encouragement. Whether you’ve read my book Blooming into Mindfulness, attended one of my talks, taken a workshop, bought a piece of my artwork, or simply followed my blog and/or social media posts, I am thankful! You have made my life richer by deepening my sense of purpose and fueling my inspiration.
Wishing you unabashed gratitude and joy this Thanksgiving!
***
If you enjoyed today’s post and are not yet a subscriber, please join my Readers Circle via the sign-up box in the right margin and receive my free ebook Six Playfully Mindful Strategies to Beat Procrastination and Boost Productivity. You’ll also receive updates on my book Blooming into Mindfulness, weekly blog posts, and photography, speaking engagement, and workshop news. Visit https://www.damselwingsphotography.com/ to sign up for special offers on my artwork. Email is much more reliable than social media in getting information to you in a timely fashion, so subscribe to make sure you’re in the loop! (I promise not to share your address or send you spam.)
And if you know someone else who might benefit from an extra dose of calm in their lives, please spread the word! Social media likes and shares are always appreciated.
Finally, if you find typos anywhere on my site, I’d be grateful if you let me know. I hate typos! Contact me so that I can correct the error. Thank you!
