gratitude lists

Last Call

I received one more submission this morning – better late than never I always say – that brings this little adventure to a total count of 475 Beautiful Things. Things good, and right, and holy, and ordinary that are happening right now, in this mess of a world. While a bit far off from my lofty goal, this list is nothing to sneeze at. Thank you, thank you to all that contributed. Here’s a few more batches.

#456 Weekends “off” from school that give space & time to read a book
#457 My cat, Pippa, – she reminds me to never stop being curious
#458 A quiet snowfall while sitting in a warm cabin by the fire
#459 Wine and dance parties to old music
#450 warm sheets fresh from the dryer

#456 – #460 Contributed by Madeline Huey

#461 A cool, calm, fall morning on the golf course
#462 changing into sweatpants and a hoodie after a long day
#463 Lord of the Rings marathon while snow is falling
#464 hot tea on the porch
#465 When your pup is little spoon & falls asleep

#461 – #465 Contributed by Rachel McClintock

#466 drinking a 15 year Tullamore Dew with your dog Tulla
#467 playing footy on freshly cut pitch
#468 hot Chinese food on a cold winter’s night
#469 watching any movie from the ’80s
#470 celebrating a goal at White Hart Lane

#465 – #470 Contributed by Travis McClintock

# 471 I was given enough time to rest and refresh myself 🙂
#472 I started my own blog
#473 got nice books to read
#474 I got a new job
#475 I have great people surrounding me

#471 – #475 Contributed by Naz Garcia

#476 Being able to go to the university of my choice
#477 The warm sun
#478 My Spotify Premium
#479 My amazing family
#480 The dutch education system
#481 Fall fashion
#476 – #481 Contributed by Amber Cornelissen

So, when you’re feeling down, return to this list, or make your own. There is magic to be found.

 

Podcasts and Petals and Quiet

I’m trying to get in a gym routine. I met with a personal trainer – you get two free sessions when you sign up – and I now have a weight training card with exercises I’m supposed to do. Those cards sit still and wait for me in the filing cabinet under the stairs.

Lifting weights still intimidates me.

My comfort zone often places me on the elliptical, feet staying stationary while my legs and arms pump me towards imaginary miles while I watch shitty t.v. shows or worse.

The news.

When I go to the gym at 5:30 pm, ten t.v. screens flash with world news updates.

Blech.

Horrible news flickers across the screens. Volcanoes erupting. Draughts happening. Teenagers arrested. Meth houses making babies sick. Politics – a circus. I channel the absurdity on these screens and pump my arms faster – if I run fast enough on a stationary machine, maybe all the madness will stop.

I’ve been at this looking for good thing long enough to know fixating on the fear and negative doesn’t help. It’s like me on that machine – all that energy exerted and in reality I haven’t gone anywhere.

Instead, a list of gratitude for the quiet, beautiful things.

Some weeks, it’s just that simple. For this week:

  • Bourbon Milkshakes – yup that’s a thing – who needs a margarita on Cinco de Mayo when you can have something from this menu instead? The sound of ice cream slurping up a paper straw
  • Hearing your recorded voice – I’m tickled that Hello Humans allowed me to record what I’ve learned in the last two years on this podcast – listen to the first few minutes
  • Lilacs – they smell so amazing – I want to go on a sneaky lilac hunting adventure through the park and find extra sprigs to cut and stick in a mason jar. If you have extras – let me know
  • Pink petals falling from blooming trees – they grace the sidewalk and make me feel like God is preparing where I walk like I’m a bride walking down the aisle
  • Spring rain storms
  • Food in the fridge — water flowing from my sink — the stove turns on with the press of a button
  • Facetime – for phone calls with loved ones
  • Taking risks – the worst that can happen is they ignore you – good news when they find out they aren’t, in fact ignoring you
  • Flannel sheets
  • Breezes coming in through the window as I fall asleep

 

What good and quiet things can you find? What do you do to drown out all the noise of the bad?