Thank you for resilience.

Thank you for meals that cook in the time it takes to boil noodles or pasta.

Thank you for these garlic chili noodles.

Thank you for Peaches’ episodes dissipating. Either the medicine is easing symptoms or her body is recovering. 

Thank you for healing through healthy lifestyles.

Thank you for rescue dogs and the people they rescue.

Thank you for Verbena the Dracaena’s new leaves.

Thank you for repeated efforts to be present.

Thank you for half-Lebanese sisters embracing our backgrounds and each other.

Thank you for Sister C’s pomegranates and Sister A’s lemons. 

Thank you for the feel of wind on faces and its sound against ears.

Thank you for the magic of new growth whether it’s sprouts in a mason jar or hair on a head or leaves on a plant or perspectives on a challenge…

Thank you for focus on growth encouraging it to continue. It would be useful for me to remember that what I focus on, I get more of.

Thank you not just for lessons learned but ones committed to memory, because a lesson is more impactful when retained. Thank you for mental notebooks for reference.

Thank you for a splash of rose water in a berry smoothie. Yum!

Thank you for when we are able to pursue the long view: we eschew the quick fix of short-term options. We invite pain and welcome truth. We trust. Then, instead of it crippling us, it graces us with the foundations for contentment. 

Thank you for visions and dreams. Please have faith in yours.

Thank you for Br Phap Huu on The Way Out Is In podcast (episode 42) saying that learning to be still is an art. Thank you for Jo Confino sharing, “If we let go of control, then we allow life to show up.” Thank you for spiritual leaders like Thich Nhat Hanh who promote stillness.

Thank you for when we cooperate with our better selves by surrendering to life. I’m not sure how the surrendering works exactly. I think it involves releasing personal agendas and following where we’re led. That one, too, is fuzzy. It could mean living not based on worry, fear, desire, etc., and instead simply doing what seems right at any given moment without consideration of consequences. I often trick myself about what seems right. (Deep down, part of me knows.) Of course, there can be multiple rights. But there are also definite unhealthies. With less fear, with more trust, with mindfulness, I won’t trick myself as often. The inner voice (truth) will start to sound louder. Is that what surrendering means—letting go of the static so the wisdom comes through?

Thank you for quiet nights safe and warm inside. Wishing you comfort, peace, and safety, too.