GRATITUDE - warmly or deeply appreciative of kindness or benefits received; very thankful. [Gratitude Week begins here. Click for this week's Bliss Initiatives.]
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| Image from the Positive Imperative Website The Positive Imperative Driving the World to Positivity! Positive Imperative Mission Statement A Legacy concept to educate people around the world on the distinctions of Positives, Negatives and especially the Neutrals and once achieved, challenge people to take on the responsibility to “BE THE positive CHANGE” at all levels and with all things. |
OK then, gratitude week is officially over but I thought I should give you a little denouement! I'll follow this post with the kick off of romance week.
I spent the past few days at my mom's house in the town I grew up in. It always a bit of a surreal experience when I go there. All the growing up memories are floating around at the at the surface, waiting to be acknowledged if I let them. It is really tricky getting out without a few regrets.
I went to a high school friend's hair salon while I was there. She is/was a girl I always thought of as a cool and and VERY straight forward. We weren't especially close growing up. If I am t be truthful, and at this age why bother with anything but the truth, I was a little afraid of her when we were growing up. She always seemed so sure of herself to me and the friends she hung around with were all very unapproachable and surly not interested in knowing me.
As we spent the ninety minutes it took for my hair to be competently and more attractively coiffed then a decade's worth of stylists had managed, I learned so much about the fabulous woman who styled my hair. When we were in the sixth grade her father died and she subsequently played nursemaid and protector of her fragile mother. A tale I had a vague recollection of but spent our childhood without full understanding. Her "cool" and tough exterior was hiding the tender sadness and I never knew.
Her tale reminded me of a boy I had pursued at the time. Coyly stealing his mittens so he would be forced to follow me from school, never knowing at the time that his cries of "Please don't! I'll get in trouble." meant he'd be beaten and forced to bed without supper because I caused him to be late. I am at once grateful and aggrieved that I personally had a better luck of the parent draw. Yes, there are things I would never repeat with my own daughter but my upbringing was so much less scaring then either of my two friends.
My mom was also easy to be with this trip and my little Sweets was on very good behavior. My sister, fresh from her personally shocking divorce, was available to join us and I got to enjoy the good company of people who know and love me. My Sweetie completely relaxed and my girl was thrilled beyond compare with all the attention. On a few occasions she declared we could go home but she would be staying at Nonnie's. The trip was short but completely cemented the gratitude this week was all about. Everything about my life, both now and in my high school past is filled to the brim with fabulousness. I only need to be reminded and the gratitude is there, ready to flow and offer it's good grace.
I am a lucky and grateful woman. I will give myself a 7 on my 10 point scale and 3 bliss boosts since being reminded how easy and lovely my life has always been will help keep the gratitude alive.
I hope you have had a week for which to be grateful as well. Starting with gratitude always make everything better!
Next post: Kicking off Romance week!