10 Things For Which I Am Grateful Every Day For 10 Days

Well, today's exercise is later than I had planned, but at least I'm getting it up here. It's been a gorgeous day, full of sunshine and light light breezes. I took the kayak out for a short paddle around the southern point of Staniel Cay just as the tide started to come back in. I saw two sharks, one of which was as long as the kayak! There was a HUGE bright red starfish in the shallows and a coral head that was completely encrusted in some sort of red sponge or coral. I love being out in the kayak with no sound other than the waves lapping at the boat and the splash of the paddle.

1. I am grateful for the wind that carries the scents of salty sea, blooming coconut palms, and the woodsmoke from the fire on which I will cook our dinner. (Top Loin Steak marinated in homemade french onion soup reduction) Thank You.

2. I am grateful for the feeling of waves splashing my arms and face today as I paddled the kayak through a choppy spot of water. Thank You.

3. I am grateful for the sense of calm that I felt as I focused on the paddle slicing through the crystal clear sea. Just me and the water. Thank You.

4. I am grateful for the soreness is my arms now, because I earned it. Thank You.

5. I am grateful for the thoughtfulness of my friends. Thank You.

6. I am grateful for the safe arrival of our friend Pam today. Thank You.

7. I am grateful for the bounty of clients ordering custom painted wine glasses. Thank You.

8. I am grateful for the fun that Butch and I are having planning Halloween celebrations/decorations. Thank You.

9. I am grateful for the ability to laugh at myself and not take it personally when others do too. Thank You.

10. I am grateful for a friend recently opening my eyes to me being thoughtless and unintentionally hurtful toward another person. I am striving to be different. Thank You.

10 Things For Which I Am Grateful Every Day For 10 Days

Barely a breath of air moves this morning on the cay. The sea is flat calm, mirroring the shoreline and blurring the horizon line so that Harvey Cay & Leaf Cay appear to be levitating in the air. The Sun is streaming down onto rain-soaked sand, turning the beach into a sauna. Billowing clouds lumber slowly over the water to the south, to the east, and way far off in the west, some of them so over-burdened with their cargo of rain that they release it in sporadic cascades that look like silver grey curtains. Now cooler air precedes a cloud that blocks out the sun.  The tree tops begin to sway gently before the burgeoning veils of rains...

1. I am grateful for the Sun. It warms my face and coaxes buried seeds to release the first tendrils of new life into the soil around them. Thank You.

2. I am grateful for the Rain. It soothes my soul and nourishes the first seedlings with the courage to break free into the open. Thank You.

3. I am grateful for the fresh air that I breathe here. It fills me with hope and light. Thank You.

4. I am grateful for childhood friends. They provide me with beautiful memories that make me smile now. Thank You.

5. I am grateful for being home-schooled early in my scholastic career. It gave me a different perspective on Life than I may otherwise have developed. Thank You.

6. I am grateful for the difficulties and bullies I encountered in public school. They helped shaped who I am today. Thank You.

7. I am grateful for the memories of Family Life that I have from my childhood. They ease the sting of loss. Thank You.

8. I am grateful for the friends I been blessed with since arriving here. Many are like Family to me. Thank You.

9. I am grateful for the people whom I find abrasive. They help me to strengthen my self-control. Thank You.

10. I am grateful for this recently awakened desire for Spirit. I am a becoming a more peaceful, confident, compassionate  person. Thank You.

10 Things For Which I Am Grateful Every Day For 10 Days

It is raining and overcast here on Staniel Cay this morning. I can hear the rain drops pinging off the roof and the water that is leaking from the roof dripping into a bucket. The leaves on the trees are glistening with wet, and the sea is a muted, dusty turquoise.










1. I am grateful that when I opened my eyes this morning I had the gift of sight. Thank you.

2. I am grateful for the safe arrival of our friends/neighbors Jack and Gail yesterday. Thank you.

3. I am grateful for the gift of creativity. Thank you.

4. I am grateful for peace in my life. Thank you.

5. I am grateful for conflict because it causes me to grow. Thank you.

6. I am grateful for having plenty to eat. Thank you.

7. I am grateful that our cistern is full and we have plenty of water. Thank you.

8. I am grateful for the beautiful "treasure" we find beach combing. Thank you.

9. I am grateful for the ability to walk to find those "treasures". Thank you.

10. I am grateful for ability to hear. Thank you.

Life can get pretty crazy sometimes. It can be all too easy to get caught up in wishing things were different, wishing we had more money, more skill or talent in painting, a fancier car, a bigger house, designer shoes, or healthier relationship with one's family and friends.
Not that long ago I realized that that was what I was doing. I was caught up in worrying about the future. I was envious of the peace and comfort that other people get from their religious faith, but thought that I was unable to attain. I was caught up in the past and all the things I wished I'd done differently. I was focusing on all the negatives that I perceived in my life.

On October 21st I decided it was time for a drastic change. I began a Gratitude Exercise.

My self-prescribed Gratitude Exercise began on facebook. I debated internally the wisdom of conducting such a personal exercise in public, but in the end decided that it had to be done. I felt like if I was able to meet this goal, neurotic mess that I am...scratch that...USED TO BE, then anyone could do it. Perhaps from reading about my journey in the quest for faith and contentedness, other people will be able to change the way in which they perceive Life too. Well, anyway, long story short, what I do is write down 10 things for which I am grateful every day for 10 days. I then post it in the Notes section of my facebook account.
I knew that it was visible to others if they really wanted to look around my profile, but I didn't really think there would be anyone reading it. I was surprised and humbled when people began commenting on the day's postings saying how much they enjoyed it and how it was inspiring them too. What more can one ask in the quest to better oneself and attain this mythological thing called "faith" that everyone else has than to be of service to others? When I might otherwise have given up on this project when it got challenging (as I have done with so many other tasks), I persevered, and kept up the exercises. No matter what happened during that time frame, I tried to find a positive aspect of the situation on which to focus and be grateful for.

So, without further ado, here is Day 1 of the 10 Things For Which I Am Grateful gratitude exercise:











1. I am grateful for waking up this morning. Thank you.

2. I am grateful for sleeping last night. Thank you.

3. I am grateful for having a safe place to sleep at night. Thank you.

4. I am grateful for a husband who loves me. Thank you.

5. I am grateful for the ability to love him back. Thank you.

6. I am grateful for our dog, Billie. Thank you.

7. I am grateful for the air I breathe. Thank you.

8. I am grateful for the family to which I was born. Thank you.

9. I am grateful for the family that I gained through Butch. Thank you.

10. I am grateful for living in a free society. Thank you.