Sometimes life hands you pomegranates. You get wiser. Sometimes life hands you that icky lemonade. You get stickier. Sometimes life hands you a boatload of people who either enhance your journey in lovely ways or rock the boat off course just for the hell of it. You get an oar and row in your own direction. It happens to all of us. Either way, there's gratitude to be found if you're willing to look. Sometimes the conflicts are indeed blessings in disguise - you just don't know it yet. Sometimes the storm IS the thing you will one day bless while you wait for calmer seas.
Maybe not today, but someday.
So find some patience and hang on.
We all have something to be grateful for one way or another.
I found a few things this week. I hope you did too.
The Gratitude Meme
1. What are you most grateful for when you first wake up in the morning? The gift/blessing of breath.
2. What are you most grateful for when you go to bed at night? To be able to lay my head down on a soft pillow - that I have a bed to sleep in.
3. Who is the person who has had the most influence on your life? My mother.
4. Is there someone you'd like to thank for something special they did for you but haven't yet? Take the time to do it in this meme. I would like to thank Sam for being a good friend.
5. Who was your favorite or least favorite teacher? Gosh, I can't even remember his name, but what he said to me determined my career path. Graduation was near and he went around the room giving each student a little tidbit about life and their character - a kind of proverb/adage/axiom - if you will. When my turn came, he said to me, "Michelle, I know you have a bone to pick with this world." Well, wouldn't you know!!!! That's why I became a social worker. To ensure social justice, to enhance people's lives, to advocate for those who can't advocate for themselves. Because I believe in man's/woman's innate worth and dignity and their right to express themselves as they deem.
If you could talk to them now, what would you say? Thank you.
6. Do you say grace at mealtime? Yes, when I remember.
7. Name one thing you take for granted everyday. Probably the fact that I can breathe on my own without any assistance from a machine. Or, that I can walk, talk, hear, see, taste, smell and touch without any problems.
8. Have you ever looked back at your life and realized that something you thought was a bad thing was actually a blessing in disguise? Yes. I won't go into detail, though.
9. What are the top five things you are most grateful for in your life? That's very, very dificult for me to say. But, what I am most grateful for - is the BREATH OF LIFE!!!!!!
To play along with the Queen's Meme, please go to http://mimiwrites.blogspot.com/ to find out how to play.
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about me
- bobbybegood1
- a fun-loving individual who loves good food, good drink, good conversation and good people
I'm thankful for the changing of the seasons. Yes, I do pray before every meal. And I'm thankful for you BBG. And let's not forget I'm am very thankful that God made such a gorgeous creature, namely Vincent D' freakin' Gorgeous Onofrio!
ReplyDeletea state of mind...
ReplyDeleteMeme's! I love Meme's!! Play them on LJ now and then and they're fun :)
ReplyDeleteAwesome answers! Your teacher sounded like a very wise person and one you remember. I, too, am thankful to breathe and have a pillow to rest on at night.
ReplyDeleteSome people don't.
Breathing is definitely nice. I couldn't hardly do that back in October. Here's to ya. Cheers!!
ReplyDeleteI am also thankful for the people I blog with. You guys and gals are thoughtful, wise, considerate and most of all FUN, FUN, FUN!!!
ReplyDeleteBev - you are a warm, wonderful and charming person to talk with.
Just - your words are such an inspiration to me. I am glad I found your blog through JoJo.
TJ - you are definately an intellegent young woman who is going places.
Mimi - what can I say about the fabulous woman with my namesake. QUEEN OF THEM ALL. You know you are just toooooooo much. I love your swagger, spunk, and style.
Matt - I wish I could tell the world about your blog. You are so COOL!! You are a blast to chat with. You're brillant, comical, um, um - I hope Schmoop doesn't get too jealous, but you are good-looking and SEXY as all get out. Cheers Buddy!!
Cheers Everyone!!
I'm still on the oar thing, b/c I'd like to take said oar and smack a few clients off the boat with it. I know, I'm so violent. ;p
ReplyDeleteLoved the answers to the Meme. I may do one to lighten up my blog after that heavy post of the other day!
JoJo - see that's why we get along soooooooooo damn well. Hahaha!! Cheers!!
ReplyDelete@bbg
ReplyDeleteThank you for the flowers...
1. What are you most grateful for when you first wake up in the morning? That I have made it to another day that will hopefully bring more challenges, observations and moments that bring me further towards a deeper personal growth and understanding of life and my role in it.
ReplyDelete2. What are you most grateful for when you go to bed at night? To digest what the day has brought me in the darkness and quiet solitude, and, when all is resolved and catalogued away, turning off the brain machine and enjoying a restful night in a comfortable bed.
3. Who is the person who has had the most influence on your life? My mother who gave me compassion and my father who gave me passion.
4. Is there someone you'd like to thank for something special they did for you but haven't yet? My 4th grade math teacher who did everything he could to help me understand something that I was hard-pressed to understand. He would stay after school and work with me one-on-one. He always made me feel special and at an "Open House" at the school my parents talked to him. Driving in the car on the way home my mother told me he said to them, "Nancy is the sunshine of my class." It was one of the most beautiful and overwhelming moments in my life.
5. Who was your favorite or least favorite teacher? See above.
If you could talk to them now, what would you say? Thank you for giving me your time as a teacher and as a human-being giving an awkward girl self-esteem.
6. Do you say grace at mealtime? Not always.
7. Name one thing you take for granted everyday. That I will always find good people in the world.
8. Have you ever looked back at your life and realized that something you thought was a bad thing was actually a blessing in disguise? My father was an alcoholic and I spent the majority of my life mad at him. When he became extremely ill as a result I quit my job to take care of him at home. He never complained, never felt sorry for himself, and this man I had been angry with for so long became this hero in my eyes. The courage, dignity and grace he showed was inspirational to me. We made our peace, and when he passed I was set free; no guilt. That was a blessing for my mind and heart.
9. What are the top five things you are most grateful for in your life? 1. That my brothers are happy, enjoy good health and are beautiful men. 2. That my mind is working well. 3. That I grew up with an amazing family next-door to me with 7 kids...one of them my age and my first friend on this earth. She became a noted singer, subsequently developed 4th stage breast cancer, and because of it started a cancer center to help others. She is an inspiration and neither fame, fortune or disease has changed that sweet girl that I first met many years ago. I am grateful she came into my life. 4. Chocolate (ok, but I am) 5. Having the ability to see beyond the shell of people into the story that lies within.
TJ - where, when, and what flowers did I give you? Is that a metaphor for something? Cheers!!
ReplyDeleteNantz - you are such a positive, supportive individual. That's very encouraging. The world needs more like you. Cheers!!
What a generous and beautiful comment validating my existence on this earth, I am touched.
ReplyDeleteWell, you gave me a very nice compliment a little farther up...
ReplyDeleteWell, you are most welcome! Cheers TJ!!
ReplyDelete