Online Gratitude Journal

[Heidi]

I am grateful for the realization that Life is truly about the simple joys and pleasures of family and friends.

I was delighted by the look of pure pleasure on Sumo Toddler’s face yesterday as he rode a pony at the village corn roast - though, looking upon his hunched and unbalanced mounted figure, my too-smart daughter observed, “hey, he rides like Hap Hansen!”.

Should we venture into a world war, our material possessions will prove to be meaningless but our children’s health and happiness, the love of our friends, will be our lasting legacy.

I am grateful for my husband who remains my best friend, without whom I’d feel utterly incomplete.

My parents and their steadfast, unconditional, and bountiful love will forever inspire me. My grandmother, though at the age of 90 suffers from a diminished short term memory, remains the wisest person I know.

That we have owned wonderful, forgiving, and occasionally goofy horses has been a privilege; that our lab, Bear, provided us with the first laughter of the week, as he wandered out from a swim in the pond, encrusted with algae, covered in burrs, a sheepish look on his face, reminds me that animals are truly a (wo)man’s best friend.

I am grateful for this BB, and my BB friends, for enriching my life with friendship and laughter.

I am thankful to be a citizen of Canada who has enjoyed the luxury of travel, education; and the freedom of choice.

And lastly, I am hopeful that we as citizens of democracy and freedom will somehow, and some day soon, reclaim our capacity for joy.

[Maria]

I am grateful for those that came before me. Those that have given me the life I have today. Thank You Dad.

I am grateful to those who will preserve that life.

I am grateful for the honor that has risen from the ash in America.

I am grateful for my husband, who crawled under the house to replace water logged insulation after our washing machine burst a hose this past weekend. He also puts up with me, unconditionally.

I am grateful for my daughter, what a wonderful hope for the future she is.

[GW1]

I am grateful to be a part of the community I belong to. On Saturday, my family hosted a pig roast for the research group in which I am a graduate student. Many of our colleagues are international students. The Chinese, Iranian, Syrian, Egyptian, Kenyan, Canadian and American children all playing together without regard to one another’s skin colour or religion was truly wonderful. All the kids wanted was a ride on a horse. A mosque was bombed in our city and perhaps if the perpetrators had seen what I saw on the weekend, they would realize that we are all just people and Muslim does not equal terrorist.

[Bethe_Mounce]

to be alive today.

[Fred]

I count my blessings instead of sheep…
it’s an old song, but one which I frequently sing to myself and to the horses.
I too, I am grateful to be alive and everyday acknowledge how lucky and fortunate I am to have what I have - not just the material things - but I strong family who loves me, a husband who would walk on fire for me ( and never says a peep when I buy another horse), friends who drop by just to check up on me and who I know would help me anytime anyplace. I am lucky to live in Canada, to have been born priviledged. I didn’t do anything to earn that - again it was just lucky. I look at the sky everynight and the beauty of the stars; every morning I wake up (even though I creak and moan) I am grateful.And as I walk to the barn, I look forward to seeing those lovely faces, and I hum that Cat Stevens’ song, Morning Has Broken.
And every single day I thank God for my horses, even though the work and expense of looking after them is often overwhelming. I know I have been fortunate to have bred such wonderful animals. I don’t own them, they have been entrusted to me.

I am also grateful for the kindness and support and generousity of many of you on this BB. It truly is a community too. thank you all.
and thanks Heidi for starting this thread.

[artienallie]

I’m grateful to have a fiance who understands me as well as he does.

I’m grateful to have a sister who drove over an hour on Tuesday to make sure I was OK, since the phone wasn’t working.

I’m grateful that I was able to know all of my grandparents, and have the connection of the generations that I have been given.

I’m grateful for the calm and relaxation of turning our horses out and watching them graze in peace and contentment.

I’m grateful for the honor, dignity and strength this country has shown in this terrible time.

[Coreene]

I am grateful that we can all find strength in times of crisis

AND I AM PROUD:

I am proud of New York City. I am proud of the Pentagon. I am proud of each and every soul lost in this unspeakable event, and I am proud of those who died in a crater in Pennsylvania in order to save innocents on the ground.

[Indy]

I’m greatful for this entire nation and it’s incredible strength.

I’m greatful for my friends and family, without whom I wouldn’t be able to function.

I’m greatful for every girl I live with, and knowing that there will always be someone here to talk with, to laugh with, or to cry with.

I’m greatful for my Buddhism professor, who makes us all laugh on a regular basis, especialy last week. And thanks to him, I know what the word ithiphalic means…my life is now complete.

I’m greatful for my e-pal in NZ, who has allowed me to poor my guts out to her this past week.

I’m sure there’s more…I know there’s more, but I’m not good at thinking on my feet these days.

[Fred]

when I wrote the earlier post, I was just echoing the comments of earlier posters. When I said that I was grateful “to live in Canada”, I certainly did not mean Canada as opposed to the United States. I meant Canada (so stereotypically boring and staid that it is the butt of jokes on shows like Letterman and the Simpsons) as part of our western world.
Even though I fully understand that poverty and homelessness is a huge problem in many of our countries - Canada, the US, Britain ( I can’t speak for European countries), we are all, relatively speaking very privileged and affluent. Our children go to school, instead of working 16 hr days in sweat shops, or being sold to brothels so that the rest of the family can survive. Our children can play outside, we can ride across fields, without ever worrying about being blown up by hidden landmines. Although all our countries have experienced terrorism, more or less,( Britain has been living with it for decades, we had the FLQ) we still live in SAFETY. We can vote for whom we wish, or not, go to the church of our choice or not, and all of us have the incredible luxury (even if we go without in order to pay for that luxury) of owning and riding horses. I didn’t mean to sound smug - only hugely grateful.

I too feel great sorrow, and am deeply moved by the enormous loss, suffering, and incredible courage of all of those involved in this terrible tragedy.
I sincerely apologize for any possible misunderstanding.
Gail

[Cactuskate]

I am grateful for many of the same feelings stated in previous posts.

I am grateful for the idyllic moment I had yesterday. To sit in total peace and quiet, against a tree, with the only sounds being a bird chirping and my Bud, rythmically chewing his hay. I cherished that moment of true “peace”.

And I prayed that others might someday find that peace.

“The older I get, the better I used to be, but who the heck cares!”

[Canter]

I too am grateful to be alive. And to have so much while so many others have so little.

[Heidi]

I am grateful for the realization that Life is truly about the simple joys and pleasures of family and friends.

I was delighted by the look of pure pleasure on Sumo Toddler’s face yesterday as he rode a pony at the village corn roast - though, looking upon his hunched and unbalanced mounted figure, my too-smart daughter observed, “hey, he rides like Hap Hansen!”.

Should we venture into a world war, our material possessions will prove to be meaningless but our children’s health and happiness, the love of our friends, will be our lasting legacy.

I am grateful for my husband who remains my best friend, without whom I’d feel utterly incomplete.

My parents and their steadfast, unconditional, and bountiful love will forever inspire me. My grandmother, though at the age of 90 suffers from a diminished short term memory, remains the wisest person I know.

That we have owned wonderful, forgiving, and occasionally goofy horses has been a privilege; that our lab, Bear, provided us with the first laughter of the week, as he wandered out from a swim in the pond, encrusted with algae, covered in burrs, a sheepish look on his face, reminds me that animals are truly a (wo)man’s best friend.

I am grateful for this BB, and my BB friends, for enriching my life with friendship and laughter.

I am thankful to be a citizen of Canada who has enjoyed the luxury of travel, education; and the freedom of choice.

And lastly, I am hopeful that we as citizens of democracy and freedom will somehow, and some day soon, reclaim our capacity for joy.

[wombat]

Canter, I could not have said it better myself.

[Everythingbutwings]

All last week I realized how NICE manure smells!

I have a lot to be grateful for and I very much appreciate living in a society that allows me to disagree and still have the same privlidges (sp) as those I disagree with.

[Duffy]

Bless you all. What a wonderful thread. I, too, am grateful to be alive and that none of my loved ones were physically hurt this past week. (It will take a much longer to get over the emotional trauma.) It’s too bad that sometimes it takes something awful to happen to make everyone appreciate what really matters in one’s life.

[dublin]

Right now I am especially grateful for my wonderful husband, for truly the best years of my life. Our 12th wedding anniversary was yesterday, and I know I appreciated it more than I ever have before.

What a wonderful topic, heidi!

[AHC]

I too am grateful to be alive, grateful to have so many incredible, caring friends who helped me cope last week, grateful for my family, my wonderful horse, for every day the sun shines, etc. I am also gratifed by the huge number of random acts of kindness and courtesy I have seen and experienced in New York City over the past week… and hopeful they will continue for a long time.