Grateful, appreciative, and thankful

It’s Thanksgiving.

Talk of gratitude is as prevalent as the turkey on our plates. We are parsing what is worthy of our appreciation as we sit down for today’s feast.

The original idea of this holiday was to show thanks to God for the bounty in our lives. Gratitude practice is at the least a spiritual one.

It’s hard to be thankful if we don’t see a benevolent universe. 

Sometimes, it’s hard to say thanks even when we see good around us.

We are often put into a grateful mode after a life‐threatening event. We look back, and we are thankful to be alive.

Gratitude comes to us after our lives are changed by other difficulties.

Burt’s diagnosis, and his ongoing illness, have given me the pause that sparks gratitude.

My gratitude at still having him here with me is tinged with sadness but also with memories of the happy life we shared.

I am grateful for the memories and for the good times we had.

Burt has often shown his deep  appreciation over the course of his disease.

At times, he gives us grief and resistance before thanking us for something we did.

He can take pleasure at many little things and is quick to give a thanks for them.

His pleasure gives me joy. I am grateful for that.