Realizing so much of life is just showing up for the things you want, and going through the motions. You might not always feel amazing or chipper or even remotely glad to be there, but when you keep showing up, day after day, magic happens- and by magic, I mean: what you truly want comes to pass
The sparkle in children’s faces
Giving and giving and giving when you know that’s what someone else really wants
The power of knowing what you want
Flowers, always flowers, may I be forever surrounded by flowers
Yesterday, my daughter needed stitches. I am reminded of this:”Fred Rogers often told this story about when he was a boy and would see scary things on the news: “My mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’ To this day, especially in times of disaster, I remember my mother’s words, and I am always comforted by realizing that there are still so many helpers — so many caring people in this world.”
The man who was standing near us and went immediately to get tissues and a bandaid
The EMTs who showed up quickly and were so calm and kind
My husband, who took the afternoon off work and got to the hospital before we did
And held my hand, strengthening me as I held my daughter’s, while she was in the worst parts of it
The wonderful crew at the hospital who love kids and did an amazing job
And again for my husband, who stopped on his way home to get a balloon and a teddy bear and playdoh
To God, that she is okay, and we had access to everything she needed to get help quickly
To my daughter, for her strength and courage and sweetness
The way the Earth stays on that perfect path around the sun, year after year
The cooler temperatures of the tilt-side
My mom, for birth and everything after
My dad, for holding me always
My grandparents- a photo of my grandpa carrying me and everything he’s taught me, my grandma who is my heart within my heart
All the times I’ve been rescued by family- when I knew it or not
Including tonight, when I overloaded the wood stove and the “too hot” alarm sounded- Mark walked me through it on the phone
My husband, who I love more deeply than I knew possible
My daughters, who teach me everyday, who I love more than I can ever comprehend
My friends. I am a billionaire in the wealth of friends. From business friends, creative friends, moms, homeschool moms, old friends, new friends, I am honored to be in such amazing company
For my work in the world, I am humbled I get to do work that is so life-changing and helpful, and fun
For the cat, who has become my little shadow and a joy in my day
For this amazing house, which I gratefully didn’t burn down tonight (knock on wood) and which is cozy and beautiful and peaceful
For the years life sucked- to make the contrast this much better
For understanding now that even if everything was lost, I’d still be capable of having peace and happiness
For all the teachers who led me here
For all the teachers who share what they know, to everyone who needs it
For books and resources
For the internet, which opened more worlds to me than I can fully comprehend
For Ohio- my new home, a place of opportunites and possibilities, of amazing people and places
For Montana, my forever home, for her beauty and ruggedness
For the stepping stones along the way – everything that taught me the slightest thing
For intuition, which never leads me astray
For creative ideas, fast typing late at night
For the technical skill to execute them
For my heart, which reminds me so quickly if I’m on the right track
For Wordlessness, which allows me to connect with my heart
For the family life we’ve created, and continue to create
For taking care of myself, exquisitely
For the open spaces and great unknowns of the future, where something better than I can imagine can come in
For God, who’s in us all, giving us this experience of life
For options, and the awareness to see them
For obstacles, which propel us forward
For this: gratitude, openness, moments of reflection and joy
Brilliance of these women and men willing to go deep
The bravery of those who shared, and cried
Linda, whose help, support, compassion, joy, and wisdom is unparalleled
Mid-session delight thanks to Carol’s silliness
My MIL and babysitter A, who both went out of their way to help with the girls for the long stretch
Taking everyone through an exercise that reduces stress- and therefore we spent the day recharging our batteries instead of draining them (thanks Martha Beck!)
Testimonials that made me nearly cry with happiness- everyone who got what they needed so deeply
Kathy, who not only attended but helped with the building and directing traffic, a wonder and a joy