Courage and Gratitude~

I was thinking about all of your comments in the post below (I responded to them- which got motivated to write- so thank you :) - and the thing I extracted from each of you, in some form or another, was courage.
As I reflected on this powerful attribute I recognized 2 things- 1) your thoughts and words gave me confidence, and 2) you assured me of the strength I already have within.

Immediately I was grateful and began to think heavily on all the things in my life I am thankful for; and I had never noticed how much courage it takes to be truly and utterly grateful.
I would even go so far to say that it's nearly impossible to be thankful without courage.

Think about it for a moment...
About people you know who are never satisfied, never at peace, either worried about the future, or angry at the past. They might be passionate in their anger and able to face difficult things, but it's NOT with courage and gratitude they make things happen- rather it's with force and bitterness, or selfishness.

I looked up the word "Courage"- the definition is at the bottom of the post...I found something remarkable in Latin that spoke directly to me. It was originally spelled "CORAge" :) - be sure to read all of the definition. I hope it will speak to you too.

---- Gratitude---
"Many people who order their lives rightly in all other ways are kept in POVERTY by their lack of Gratitude"
-Wallace Wattles

My deck and backyard look like a tropical garden- and the lounge chair covered in towels is where I sit in the sun and marvel at how blessed I am to live here and have this view everyday.
Spa's are nice...but this place is good for my soul.

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A tropical storm is brewing off the coast of NC- and it will breeze right past us. My beloved children are at the coast with their grandmother for 2 more weeks. My mother in law is a blessing. My kids are fabulous, smart, funny, wonderful, healthy, and did I mention they are away for the next 2 weeks? :)

2 whole weeks of me getting to be me? Not mom, not chef, not taxi driver, not appointment maker, reminder, and taker? Wow...this is big. Anybody want to go to beach? Anybody want to go anywhere with me? lol!

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I know it's silly- but I love my girly socks. Love them. Love them even more with a tan! :)

-More stuff to be thankful for-

Friends who love you and miss you and call you or send you email- (which is a whole bunch of you ;)

Family- especially the ones who walk alongside you on a difficult path, and the ones who make the path difficult. There's room to be thankful for all of them, even the ones who give you heart-ache, because those are the ones who teach you how NOT to be~

A BEST friend who knows everything about you- keeps your secrets- and loves you- inspite of you. My life would be sad and difficult without you Chris. One day- we may have our chance to make the biggest scandal this town has ever seen- until then, we can dream about it :) lol!

The good and dear friends of my children who have blessed my life- in so many many ways. (yes Josh- and Anna...I am talking about you :)

Airconditioning and fans

Hot English breakfast tea!

Sunshine

Rain- and having enough of it to keep the lakes full

Thunderstorms

Cookouts

Brie and good wine

Passionate kisses

The laws of attraction and expectation

The ache of watching a friend move away- it reminds us how deeply we love

Life- for it's complexities, endurance, it's fragility, it's flavor, sting, surprises, and how it's more than just breathing and moving...

Love- "Ditto" what I said about life.

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And while I feel my gratitude list could go on and on (the ocean, trees, birds, DOGS :), books, microwaves, email, digital cameras, my car! etc)

I'm so very thankful for things that have a deeper meaning- a secret message if you will, one that speaks to you and you alone. Something in your home, or within your posession that reminds of an important event or person in your life. Something that whispers to your heart that no one else can hear. Something that gives you courage...and something that makes you grateful.

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Courage:

n. The state or quality of mind or spirit that enables one to face danger, fear, or vicissitudes with self-possession, confidence, and resolution; bravery. [Middle English corage, from Old French, from Vulgar Latin *corāticum, from Latin cor, heart; see kerd- in Indo-European roots.]