Daily Gratitude

I know I should have being thankful for these basic things all along! But honestly I guess I just took them for granted, until fairly recently.

I'm thankful for all the 'regular' stuff in my life. My apartment and for a car that gets me around. For knowing I have food in the fridge, utilities I can pay for. And my job(crazy as it makes me!) that provides me with enough pay to scrape by every month; and with medical insurance.

I think it's become all more apparent to me in past few years working in social services. Funding has been slashed for programs, much needed and used homeless shelters have closed. I have clients who live in the woods...the demand for spots in housing programs far exceeds the supply; wait lists are long. Others rely solely on food from the food pantries that have managed to survive cuts.

Not saying I get all Pollyanna every time I pay my electricity bill or my rent. Not at all! But now being thankful for the basic stuff is something I honestly think about when put my key in my front door or start my car.

 

Today I'm especially grateful for my partner, since it's his birthday! In the year before he decided to come out, he was in a state of despair and was actively considering suicide. His then-wife was oblivious to his unhappiness, but fortunately a caring co-worker noticed, talked to him, and wouldn't let up until he opened up to her. It was only about 6 months later that we met online and then a few more weeks till he came out to his wife, and we finally met in person. My life is so much richer and happier for having him in it. I know that depression, like addiction, is something managed day by day, not cured, so I do my best to listen and care, because he is truly a blessing, and I want to be sure he always knows how much I value him and appreciate having him in my life.

 

In a few hours I will be undergoing a cholecystectomy, or gallbladder removal...I knew this was coming, and I have no choice in the matter, another pancreatitis could be a lot more serious...
So today, I am grateful for all the health care professionals who are busily whirring around me and in the corridors who have devoted their lives to alleviate the suffering of others, for their professionalism, and for their compassion.
I am especially grateful to be living in a country that long ago decided that health care is a right, and not a privilege. When the healing begins, I won’t be thinking about costs and bills, I can focus 100% on getting better.

 

...and above all else I am especially grateful for my partner who, fortuitously, is also a nurse, but so much more to me than I can say...

 

I'm grateful that someone kept this thread going because I think it's a great idea. I'm grateful that our Disney World trip is almost here (twelve days!!!).

I'm grateful how things sometimes just work out, even when it really seems like they won't. A while back I was up for a job in my firm that I really wanted. Things were going well and we got to the point where they literally told my boss I would be leaving my current position. I was very excited and then it all fell apart. They eliminated the openings and I was just kind of left out in the cold. The hiring manager protested that he really wanted to hire me, etc. etc. etc. but it just wasn't possible I'm generally a pretty positive person and give people the benefit of the doubt but I honestly was not sure I believed him. Well apparently he's been working behind the scenes to find me a similar job elsewhere in the firm and he found one in a division that I was pretty much told you just couldn't get into from where I was. He's spoken with the hiring manager and had one of his colleagues do the same. They called and asked me to apply. I've got the third and fourth interviews scheduled for next week. I really think I might get it and I'm really excited. I'm just trying not to get my hopes up too high this time... But I'm super excited. Don't tell anyone.

 

Truth be told, I'm feeling a little childish to be sharing this, because I'm really not into taking joy in someone else's misfortune. But the company I work for was doing its standard 4th quarter purge to make their numbers, and among the thankfully very small group of people walked out the door was an infuriatingly nasty woman whom I've worked with for 20 years. She was a terrible bully who abused people for years, yet somehow managed to befriend just the right people and make her numbers, so she hung around for years with people walking on eggshells to avoid her bad temper. She does inexplicably have a small group of genuinely nice people who like her, so maybe there's a diamond buried at the bottom of the outhouse, but it hardly seems worth digging for. If it makes me a bad person, so be it, but I am SO grateful she is finally gone!!!! (And Choirboy hangs his head in shame....)

 

Grateful that my gallbladder had it’s very own coming out!

 

I'm grateful that greatwhale had a successful surgery. His advice was instrumental in my coming out for which I"m also grateful.

 

I'm grateful for life, and even in difficult times the opportunity for rebirth and healing

 

Looking for me - that's great! I'm grateful for your post because it really made me smile and I was feeling a little down this morning.

I'm grateful it's Friday too lol

 

Life
A short moment in time
Remembered forever
There are small things
Sewn together by the threads of memories
Big events mark history
Small moments make up the fabric of a life.

This is what I am grateful for.