My father-in-law was in a horrible accident this week. I’m having trouble processing it and everything that’s happened since, but I find myself inundated with kindness. The kindness of the truckers who held my mother-in-law until help arrived, the kindness of the nurse who happened to be there, the kindness of all of our loved ones who are calling and bringing meals and asking how they can help. We are depending heavily on the kindness of others to get through this time.

Abundance is something I’ve been thinking about a lot lately. I’m not living a life of financial abundance, but I don’t want to feel like I’m constantly in a deficit. Here’s what I’m thankful to have an abundance of- space, kindness, nourishment, and love. I’m hoping to be thankful for an abundance of garden vegetables soon, but that is yet to be seen!

Introspective. I had a bad mental health day yesterday and the kind of day, today, that 1-year-ago-me would have drank after. I’m grateful for my sobriety and grateful for the ability to see past this moment.

I have a hard time releasing guilt, so when something isn’t sustainable or healthy, I have a hard time enjoying it. One thing that fills me with lightness and ease is mindfully making myself a bubbly drink. Carefully cutting up the pieces of fruit, carbonating the water, making it look beautiful, then savoring the drink.

Today, I can give my wholehearted attention to my cats. I always feel as if I take advantage of my time with them when someone mentions what they’d give for one more day with their deceased pet. Giving them wholehearted attention every day is a mindfulness goal of mine.

Spring! The smell of the lilacs, the chamomile starts, the tomatoes dutifully growing in my window. I’m finding it so easy to see beauty right now.

Someone who is sober, informed, powerful, and peaceful.

Working as a public servant, it’s easy to focus on the negative interactions I have throughout the day. Gratitude helps me bask in the positive interactions and brush the negative off. When the only interactions I retain are positive, it makes the world feel like a more positive place.

When I live gratefully, I am called to indulge in sensory experiences, live mindfully, and flow with calm content. Gratefulness is one of the answers to my anxiety (along with physical exercise and meditation).