Every school year, I sign up for a mental health workshop of some sort. (To my chagrin, I promptly neglect these mental wellness skills as soon as music program season rolls around.)
All of these workshops, without fail, recommend sending gratitude into the universe in some way, journaling, meditating, disseminating light throughout the world. (I don't know. I don't listen well.)
TBH, I have a difficult time coming up with things to be grateful for on the fly. I thought about making a quick list to help me with that task.
Then I realized, I am actually grateful for several trivial things that I probably take for granted on a daily basis.
I decided to make that list instead.
1. Being able to see the Boise Foothills on non-smoky days
We have a fire season that seems to get longer and/or earlier every summer. As soon as fire season hits, I regret my lack of appreciation.
2. Days when everything’s not on fire
Speaking of fire season, these days, I'm just glad when Boise and the Northwest are not on fire. Maybe we should start taking climate change seriously . . . ?
3. Days when I DON'T have a period, a headache, or cramps
There is a lot about perimenopause that NOBODY told me.
Hot flashes and night sweats exist in my world, though not in the extreme because I am on hormones.
But my period AND PMS symptoms (CRAMPS!) are so irregular and frequent (like a light period, but spotting for a month), even on hormones.
It's like going through puberty in reverse. I probably need a hormone tune-up at my next physical.
If you are a male rolling your eyes right now, shut up. I WILL FIGHT YOU.
4. Use of my opposable thumbs
Out-of-the-blue aches and pains in your joints and shoulders that suddenly freeze up are also fun side effects in my new season of life.
Last weekend, I think I overextended my right thumb while mountain biking. I was going hard, man. (Riding my brakes, I mean . . .)
A few days later, I was opening an Amazon package with scissors, and I got distracted by, I don't know, a squirrel or something outside. And I cut my left thumb instead of the box.
Did I mention brain fog? #thestruggleisreal
I have never been so grateful for thumbs.
5. House plants that continue to live under my watch
Meet Audrey II. He has been alive for a couple of decades. And he sings, "FEED ME, BECKY!"
If you know, you know . . .
6. Nights the neighbor cat does not use our raised garden bed as a litter box
My husband, Dan, caught the cat prowling our backyard in the evenings, side-eyeing him, waiting for us to go to bed.
We've tried all the tricks: citrus, scented oils, thyme sprigs, coffee grounds, etc. The nights we put out sticky pine cones and run the sprinklers seem to work the best. But the cat always comes back.
We've resigned ourselves to cleaning out the "litter box" every other morning or so.
During the school year, Dan makes me a latte every morning. He calls it a "Latte With Love." I should probably appreciate those more.
This tradition doesn't extend into summer break, however. I'm on my own latte-wise.
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