I’ve been practising the act of gratitude for a while now. It helps me keep things in perspective. Many times personal issues can seem overwhelming. They grow to an insurmountable size and feel crushing. Practising gratitude helps me remember how lucky I am. That no matter what is going on in my life, I truly am blessed. Being grateful, for even the smallest things keeps me humble. Each day when I’m walking, I think of three things that day, that I am grateful for. The don’t have to be grandiose, in fact they rarely are. It’s really mostly the little things that I like to recognize. For its those little things, once added up, that bring me joy, peace and happiness.
Today I’m grateful for…
My legs.
This comes up frequently for me. I walk everywhere. My legs give me freedom. My legs give me independence. My legs provide safety. This morning I walked around the colonias, up and down streets, admiring houses, animals, architecture. My legs helped me dodge a doggo that was uncomfortable with me navigating his stretch of the sidewalk. My legs took me into a new to me fruit and vegetable stand. My legs jumped over all manner of obstacles on the sidewalks. My legs brought me home.
The breeze.
I’m currently in Puerto Morelos, Mexico, and its December, winter. The high each day has been 29 or 30 degrees celsius. I love heat, its one of the reasons I and many others make Mexico a destination. But heat can be oppressive when there is no relief from it. Here in PM there has been a consistently strong breeze since I arrived.
When I’m walking down the beach or a street, that beautiful breeze enveloping my body and keeping me refreshed is such a blessing. It also keeps the bugs at bay. I’ve only been bitten twice so far, a little miracle that I mustn’t forget.
Roosters.
If you have spent much time in Mexico, outside of an all inclusive resort, you will be familiar with the roosters. To some they are a curse, but I can’t help but find them entertaining. During the day they strut around keeping track of their ladies. Making sure the gals don’t wander too far seems to be a full time occupation.
They crow a little, but with all of the other sounds of daytime, it is hardly noticed. It’s their early morning escapades that can be a blight or a blessing. Now I’m an early riser, so for me, being woken up at 3:10am, yes you read that right, is okay in my books. That is the time my neighbourhood boys start their horns.
First awake is the younger adult rooster who I would image to be about 25 years old in human years. He has a clear and crisp ‘cock-a-doodle-do’. Once he has been going for about 5 minutes, dear old gramps starts up. He must be about 95 years old. Now he resides nearest my house and the first morning I heard him I burst out laughing! His voice is so horse and dry, all he can manage is a ‘cock-dooooo’. And then only about once for every 5 times his young rival sings.
After another few minutes, you will hear a youngun, I would guess maybe 12 years old? Even though he gets out a clear ‘cock-a-doodle-do’, his cry is so high pitched and without oomph. I keep waiting for the day his voice will break.
That is what I’m grateful for today. Wow, what a good feeling. I sit here with the biggest smile on my face.
See? Truly blessed am I.
