Ordinary Miracles

If the only prayer you ever say in your entire life is thank you, it will be enough.

-- Meister Eckhardt

Ah...the last post of 30 gratitude blog entries (ok, 28.  I shorted you two. Sorry about that!).  I should end with something remarkable, right?  As I was falling asleep last night, I thought about what to write today, I searched for something profound.  I replayed my day, my week, my past, trying to find something that I hadn't already written about, and I came up short.  I couldn't think of anything extraordinary.  Then I realized that an absence of a remarkable story isn't a shortfall at all.  In fact, it's exactly what I wanted.  The point of reflecting each day on my blessings wasn't just to express gratitude for the big things.  It was also a way of actualizing the wonder in my daily life.   Thankfully, daily life isn't usually all that exciting, but it is always extraordinary.  

Yesterday I had a nice morning.  Andrew slept in, so Jake and I were able to get ready for our day with ease.  Morning sets the tone for the whole day, and I am always grateful for a morning routine without any glitches!  When Andrew got up, he said he didn't feel well.  I was worried that I would have to call in sick, but after a nice snuggle on the couch, Andrew perked up and had a good day.  I was thankful that he wasn't sick, thankful for our cuddle time, and thankful that I didn't have to miss work.  Work was uneventful.  I was productive, not stressed, no drama - a perfect work day in my opinion!  Our evening was nice too.  A friend asked me to be in her wedding, which is a true honor.  That's a request you don't get every day! (For the record, I told her that I don't dress up well, and that my mere appearance has the potential to ruin her entire day, not to mention the photos she will have for the rest of her life.  I gave her an out, but she didn't change her mind.  It's off my shoulders and on hers now!).  Later in the evening I ended up at our neighbor's house with Greg and Andrew.  I had a drink and a few smokes (Don't judge me.  We all have vices) and a good many laughs, mostly at my expense...those are the best kind of laughs!  When we came home, Greg put Andrew to bed while I got a shower.  I climbed into bed and kissed Greg good-night.  His kiss lingered a little longer than usual, and well, I already told you how I love to kiss him.  One thing led to another and let's just say we both slept peacefully.  I only woke once between 11 and 430! (Note to self: alcohol, sex, gratitude = deep sleep.  Try this combination more often!)  Was that an unremarkable day?  Heck no!  It was the perfect day, and I am grateful for every single minute of it.

This is the last blog entry specifically for gratitude, but any of you who have been reading my posts know that it's a theme I come back to often.  I'm a firm believer in counting your blessings, expressing thanks and paying it forward.  We are all given more opportunities than we realize to be thankful.  I cherish my blessings, but I find that I appreciate and enjoy them much more when I pay them forward.  In the words of Sarah McLachlan, spend some time each day recognizing your ordinary miracles then "open up and find a way to give some of your own."