GRATITUDE.....

When you think of the word, "gratitude", many ideas can be conjured up in one's head......feeling happy about something that has happened to you.......joyous that things seem to going your way.....lucky to be home sleeping in your own bed after being gone for a long time......All of those ring true for me as for a few others that beg to be addressed......My husband and I had the opportunity, through his consulting work, to go to London and then Israel....home for a few days, and then on to Costa Rica where two of our sons live, along with their wives and three gorgeous girls..........Let me dwell on Costa Rica a bit......being the mother of two sons, I could have certainly run into a mother-in-law problem.....or maybe I should say, I could have been the cause of mother-in-law problems........but I have been so very blessed, and I am always welcome to come see them. Sure, there have been a few patches along the way, but on this past journey, I had another "aha" moment. Whenever I feel a bit removed from a conversation or the girls decide it's not time to play with "Abby", that's me, I have sometimes felt sad and have wished for more. When I travelled this time, I hoped to be bringing a new attitude with me......"Stay in the moment......put yourself out a little; know that you will not get these precious moments back again".....and when a situation came up which could have been stressful, I meditated for a moment......be grateful for what you have, not for what you don't.........and it was like a magic wand had been swept across the room and serenity and acceptance were at my feet......It made my visit all the more joyful. Then on to see my other son, his wife and daughter.....and it was pure unfiltered joy, gratitude on their part about life and all that they had been given....and I sat back and smiled at what I was observing. I am so grateful to have watched my two sons mature into dads of the best kind......when did they learn this behavior or should I say how.....my pride of watching them with their families is a gift.....and for that I am forever grateful. I have a wonderful daughter who is an attorney in Atlanta who is feeling secure in her own shoes, realizing her own worth and thriving. We have a wonderful relationship, this family of mine...and for that I am grateful.....
Now back to my trip with Gary to London and Israel. I had a little trepidation about this trip when the opportunity first presented itself, but I had an attitude change. Be grateful that you are being afforded this wonderful travel adventure. Details about the trip will follow in another blog, but the best part of the trip was my time with Gary....sharing so many things, nothing too monumental...but that was why it was great...it was the small things that we laughed at.....it was gratitude that I have this man in my life......and of course, I am sure he is extremely grateful that he has me....but that's up to him to write in his own blog.....our relationship continues to flourish...this trip, that I had doubts about......pulled us even closer together.....as we plan to celebrate our 40th wedding anniversary in August, that is certainly something to be incredibly grateful for.....I have a pretty blessed life.....be overjoyed with the things that you have, not with the things that you don't......I like that.