Gratitude

Gratitude is something I am constantly "preaching" to my clients. I consider it a Life Skill. I can't even imagine a life without it!
So, in the practice of "practicing what I preach", I am noticing all of the daily small miracles I experience.

- Tuesday morning I awoke to a thunderstorm. I had planned to run that morning - darn. I rolled over and listened to all the wonderful sounds of the rain... so peaceful, rhythmic and calming....I realized my legs were pretty tight from all the running I had been doing. I thanked God that "there is a time to every purpose under heaven." There definately is a time to rest. I can be a slug today..I smiled and listened to the rain and caught an extra hour of peaceful sleep: NICE
-Tuesday afternoon I arrived at the office to find a newborn fawn near the front door, behind a bush. Apparently mother deer do that to newborns, leaving them in a "safe place" until they return. Those few moments of eye contact were amazing. The fawn was fearless, wide eyed and totally beautiful: PRICELESS
-Tuesday afternoon, in search of the fawn who had run into the woods after a dog appeared in our parking lot, I ventured out. Never realized how thick the patch of woods behind the office was. Geez, I'm usually in and out the back door so quickly. A wonderful midday break, walking in the coolness of the woods and the extra bonus of ripe raspberries I discovered on my jaunt. Now I have a new sanctuary in the midst of hectic days. (Never did spot the fawn):NEAT
-Texting.....I love it! I get these random texts from my daughter (the med student) who is in Tennessee on a 5 week internship. The most recent was "I almost had a baby pee on me today!" Gotta smile: TOO FUNNY
-Yesterday I remembered an interaction with a butterfly on Saturday 6/12 when my friend, Tim, passed. (See previous posting). Someone was talking about butterflies and I instantly remembered coming home Saturday, prior to the onset of the unexplained deep sadness and seeing a butterfly on the ground in the driveway. It was so beautiful and it followed me. When I stopped, it stopped, sitting on a stone. When I walked several feet, it followed. I was talking to it, telling it how beautiful it was and how much I enjoyed it's faithful company. I had sense it was there with me for a purpose. As I went back into the house, I said a loving "goodbye" to the butterfly. The deep sadness descended shortly thereafter. I like to think it was Tim, saying a peaceful and loving "goodbye" "thanks for your friendship": SMILE
-Meeting a "regular" on the trail yesterday morning. I finished my run, he was biking. He is a "trail buddy", one of the group of us "regulars" who frequent the trail. Hadn't seen him in over a year. Had a great conversation. Making new friends after losing an old friend: HEALING