Gratitude

"Gratitude brings more to be grateful about." I just read that quote from Louise L. Hay today and found it to be very timely.

On my way to work this morning, I started thinking about a former boss. He was a wonderful mentor to me and a great leader. I have such respect and affection for him and wondered what he would think about my promotion. I composed a letter of gratitude in my head on my way to work and promised myself I'd handwrite a letter to him today. It felt so good just recalling all the ways he'd helped and supported me early in my career.

Before I got to work, I thought about one of our maintenance assistants and a job he did for me this week. He moved all my marketing materials from an upstairs closet to a downstairs one. It took most of the day and when he was finished the new closet looked fantastic. He had stacked everything so neatly and was very proud of the work he'd done.

I thought it may be nice to pick up a scratch-off lottery card for him to show my appreciation so I stopped at a local convenience store/Dunkin' Donuts. After I bought the card, I stood in line to buy a muffin. Our postman from work was ahead of me and we chatted for a while. He insisted on paying for my muffin. It was a small gesture but it made me feel good and was a lovely start to my day.

I wrote my gratitude letter as soon as I got in the office before I got too busy. A few hours later, I checked on a family member of one of our residents who has moved to a nursing home. His daughter knew of my love of 18th century samplers as I had admired her father's collection. She handed me a book on antique embroidery and told me she wanted me to have it. Again, a small gesture that made me feel wonderful.

About a half hour after that, I got back to my office just as another family member of a different resident was delivering a gorgeous bouquet of roses to me. I was stunned and so grateful! What a lovely, generous gift!

I sat there in awe of the blessings I'd received over the course of what I thought was going to be a normal Saturday at work. I started the day in a spirit of gratitude which multiplied tenfold by the end of it.

So many recommend always having an attitude of gratitude and now I know why. My heart is filled with it now.

A wedding

My eldest daughter, Lindsay will be getting married in less than three weeks. I'm very happy for her and her fiancee. They're both mature young people with good jobs and I believe they are prepared for marriage.

I went through a mini mid-life crisis when I heard the news last year. Was I ready to be someone's mother-in-law at age 44? Grandchildren can't be too far behind despite Lindsay's frequent reassurances she's not ready for parenthood.

The idea slowly sunk in and the wedding plans forged ahead. A date, a dress, a venue, the bridal party. It all came together. I found a dress that doesn't make me look like Laura Bush and today finally found shoes and jewelry.

So now the wedding is 19 days away and I'm petrified.

Our life together rolls through my head like a schmaltzy Kodak commercial. Her first cries, kindergarten, the trip we took together to New Jersey and Disney World, just the two of us....they all pass through my mind evoking bittersweet emotions with each one. I grieved when she went away to college and rejoiced when she lived with me two summers ago when she did her externship. And then grieved again when she went back to college.

I will try my best to not cry as my son walks me down the aisle to my seat at the church. I will choke back the tears when she and her husband are pronounced man and wife. And I will dance with joy at her reception knowing I have raised a beautiful, brilliant woman who has a promising life ahead of her and a good man with whom to share it.