Counting Blessings

Reader Contribution by Staff

In the rush of teaching, traveling, attending conferences, giving talks, and writing, it’s easy for me to focus on the bumps in the road, rather than the outcome of the journey.  But this week, in the spirit of Thanksgiving, I’m counting and celebrating my blessings.

For example, in last week’s post, I expressed my hope for a better garden next year.  But if I reframe my approach, I can focus on what I have now:  the one bumper crop from my yardshare with my farming friend Mason. The garden has been bursting with butternut squash that I harvested, picking food for the first time in decades.

Also in this blog, I’ve written about the up-and-down processes of floor-refinishing, staying organized, and remodeling my bathroom and kitchen. (This last project was just wrapped up a few weeks ago.) Now I have an eco-friendly bathroom that’s a sanctuary, and a renovated kitchen, a hybrid of old and new, that inspires me to take care of myself one home-cooked meal at a time. Not only do these rooms make me feel calm and at home; they also affirm and reflect my values.

A running theme in my blog (seen in my recent conversation with Amy Thomas) is the cyclical nature of daily life. All of our lives can be hectic and stressful, and it takes work to continually realign our good intentions with our actions and choices. I’m grateful for the wisdom and support of everyone in my life who reminds me of this.

While thinking about the past year and all that I’ve accomplished (with the help of my community of friends),  I  revisited this post from six months ago, where I wrote about my gratitude  for the joys — and the challenges — in my life.

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