Today I am grateful for healing hands.

There is nothing like the touch of someone who has the energy and ability to help your body find it’s proper alignment.

I have a bodyworker I go to on a regular basis who is one of these people. He takes no credit for his ability and merely says he’s listening to the body and facilitating realignment. That may be true but I would go on to say his listening ability is like a clairvoyant and his communication back to the body is phenomenal.

More recently, I’ve also been taking advantage of a massage therapist the company I work for brings in for 15-minute massages. This man is also gifted. He transforms a little side office into a space of tranquility and relaxation. Work and its related stresses quickly melt away and I am brought into the moment, into my body, and into my breath. The difference from when I walk in and 15 minutes later, walking out, is like two different worlds.

These people who help us bring focus, softness, and attention to our bodies and breath are such gifts. Thank you.

Today I am grateful for the time to stop. To stop all else that I am doing and think about my day. What am I grateful for? It was one of those days that nothing leapt out yet I have so many choices of things to be grateful for.

I’m grateful for work.

For living in such a beautiful area.

For a spectacular commute.

For a gym nearby and great tunes to work up a sweat to.

For all those in my day-to-day life that have become friends even if I don’t know them by name.

For coming home to a home that I love.

And for a good day.

Part Two.

I’m home—2 hours early.

I got there at 11:30 and all seemed very quiet. The early shift was leaving and a steady flow of new volunteers were arriving. I had expected a long line of people waiting for food but there was no one! There were many of us all ready to give christmas cheer but no one give to. I think we were all expecting the same frenzy or rush of people and felt a bit awkward standing there with heaps of freshly made food, water, bananas, and an eclectic mix of christmas music blasting.

But slowly, by ones and twos, people arrived. I made a concerted effort to make eye contact and wish each individual happy holidays—christmas, kwanza, navidad . I was on the water station where we had bottled water and canned “bubbly” water. Offering a choice between the two became silly after a while. Some people didn’t understand what “sparkling”, “bubbly”, “fizzy” water was so I suggested “take both”. Eventually, we ran out of the bubbly and had only the bottled water.

Some people declined the water “Thanks — we’ve got water”. Others took as many as they could carry.

Some turned down the banana but no one left without the container of food. Some came back for seconds.

Overall, it was anticlimactic. An odd word to use but fitting given my expectations. It’s also an appropriate word to use given the nature of homelessness, bare subsistence, drug addiction, and mental illness that is so rampant in our cities. Why would I expect it to be otherwise? It is something I see on a daily basis. I have become hardened to it. It is, dare I say, almost normal.

Naming what I am grateful for in the face of those I served today seems obvious and redundant.

Perhaps today what I would most wish for, is the opportunity to share the wealth of love and fortune I have in my life with those who need more. At some point in handing out the water, I ended up saying “take as much as you need”. It’s not about one bottle per person, it’s “what do you need?” If I can give it to you, I will.

Part One

Today I am grateful for the opportunity to feed those less fortunate. 

Providing something as simple as a warm meal to someone who is living on the bare minimum or nothing at all is truly humbling.

When I initially sought out volunteer opportunities a week before christmas, I went to all the obvious organizations. Glide, Ronald McDonald House, OpenHand.  Thankfully, they were all “booked”. All volunteer positions were full—something I’m sure happens every Thanksgiving and Christmas when we are lulled out of our day-to-day routine and reminded to think of others and be thankful for what we have.

I’m due to leave in about an hour to start my 4-hour shift and I’m both grateful for the chance but also a bit scared. The Tenderloin area of San Francisco is home to the homeless—the most destitute and ill population. It is a cold reminder of life’s darkest sides.

I’ll update this later—but for now, I wish you a very merry christmas. Cherish the warmth and love that surrounds you—and if you get the chance, spread the joy. There’s never too much joy.

Today I’m grateful for a humorous and plentiful universe.

I was asked to pick up a few ingredients for Christmas Eve dinner — one being Fuyu persimmons. I wrote back to my friend that I was pretty sure I could find everything at the store I was going to but I wasn’t sure about the persimmons.

When I got to the store, I was meandering through the produce section when I remembered—persimmons! I turned around to see a woman uncovering box after box of fuyu persimmons. I had to laugh.

As I was telling her the story, her coworker was on the PA announcing: “The Fuyu Persimmons have arrived”.

Thanks Universe. I got the message

Sorry, that is one bad pun but really, Siku is just about the cutest thing ever! Happy Feel Good Friday!

Today I am grateful for my path. I am grateful I continue to question, seek, listen, learn, and grow.

I am grateful for the teachers in my life. For their challenges, support, humor, patience, wisdom, and love.

I am grateful for those who bring laughter to my life and for those who bring introspection and authenticity.

I am grateful for the life I have made and all of you who help make it what it is.

Thank you.

Today I am grateful for hearing words that are so true I feel them.

You know that feeling when you hear something that is so true for you—when someone has put words to a feeling you’ve not been able to verbalize or perhaps didn’t even know you felt—there’s a physical sensation that happens with the realization. And you know these are words to add to your life book.

Well, here are some of those words. Thank you Louis C.K.

Audio excerpt from Louis C.K. on Fresh Air

STANHOPE (as Eddie Mack): Louie, look me in the eye and tell me I have one good reason to live.

C.K.: No.

STANHOPE: See, you got nothing.

C.K.: No. No, I’m not – I’m not playing that. I’m not doing it.

STANHOPE: What do you mean?

C.K.: I mean – I mean (bleep), man. I got my reasons to live. I worked hard to figure out what they are. I’m not just handing them to you. Okay? You want a reason to live, have a drink of water and get some sleep, wake up in the morning and try again like everybody else does.

STANHOPE: Yeah, I get it. Tough love.

C.K.: No. No love. Okay? More like tough not giving a (bleep) anymore, Eddie. If you want to – if you want to tap out ’cause your life is (bleep), you know what? It’s not your life. It’s life. It’s life as in bigger than you. If you can imagine that. Life isn’t something that you possess; it’s something that you take part in. And you witness.

It resonated so deeply. The anger, the work, the honesty. “Meaning” can’t be given. It is for each of us to work for and find. It takes effort and intention.

You can listen to the episode in its entirety here.

p.s. I also happened upon an interview with Jon Kabat Zinn. I love this man and again, it is just what I needed to hear, when I needed it. Thank you universe!

I have been remiss in my gratitude posts. Not because I haven’t had much to be grateful for — but because I have had so much to be grateful for!

So forgive me if I lump a few days into one stream-of-thought gratitude-dump.

The future is very sparkly (and blue)

For these last three days I am grateful for my friends. I am grateful for their thoughtfulness, heart, creativity, unique character, and kind hearts. For their spirit and joy and love of a good party. For their impeccable taste in food and beverage (that never takes itself too seriously).

I am grateful for manicures and the unexpected “lift” it gave me from feeling like a soggy six to at least a healthy 8. Who would have thought having pretty colors on your fingertips (and toetips) could make you feel just a bit better about yourself?

Cozy bed-fellows: two cats and a book

I am grateful for lazy days (following crazy days) where I have the best of bed mates and no reason to leave the house. For overcast mornings that give me permission to sleep in and afternoon sun that casts beautiful shadows.

For books that take the imagination across the world and into worlds I could never have imagined.

And for Mondays—a return to routine. A routine of mornings at the gym, then on to interesting work, talented colleagues, and an opportunity to learn and grow professionally. A routine which helps me to improve every day. Routines are generally frowned upon but for me, routine, for the most part, is a welcome song.

For all of this (and for the amazing David Attenborough), I am grateful.