November 23, 2012

I think we do a pretty good job of being grateful.  We keep gratitude journals and review our days to maintain an ongoing awareness of the blessing in our lives.

At the same time, on the day after, I’m realizing that in spite of noticing and expressing gratitude for the blessings in my life, I still somehow continue to take a lot for granted.

Like breathing.  And seeing and hearing.  And the fact that with a partner I created another human being.  I mean, WHAT??!!  Why am I not stopped in my tracks, gob-smacked with wonder every moment of every day with the magnificence of it all?

We’ve got these crazy bodies that do a bazillion things through a seemingly endless series of complicated and intricate steps, all of which are almost completely outside of our awareness as they are happening.

Then there’s the reality that we’re all pre-programmed to reason, and problem-solve, and plan.  And we’re hard-wired to connect and nurture and support and the big one—LOVE.

Finally, don’t even get me started on the fact that we’re plopped on a round planet in a solar system that’s hanging in the midst of millions of solar systems.  Seriously, how can I take this stuff for granted?!

I’m not looking to figure out the why’s or the how’s behind the gift of life.  And I get that none of it is really perfect in the common definition of that word.  There are bodies that don’t work as we’d like, and hearts that get broken because the connections aren’t forever.  I’m not talking about perfection.  I’m just asking myself how on earth I can wake up every day and forget to be amazed.  Over and over and over.

So today, the day after the Big Day, I sit in awe at the miracle of this gift of life.  And I want to thank you all for allowing me in to your world occasionally with whispers of ideas and early morning thoughts.  From my heart I wish you all good things through this Holiday Season.