Yesterday I was asked to speak on Gratitude.  And rather than spending time extolling the virtues of gratitude, I thought I would demonstrate it.  So I had someone time me for five minutes.  During those five minutes, I mentioned everything I could think of I was grateful for.  Someone was keeping count – in five minutes, I came up with 95 things.  (Afterwards, of course I thought of many more I’d forgotten.)

So, in honor of Gratitude Month and the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday, I will perform that same exercise here.  And instead of naming things out loud, I will type them here.  As soon as the clock flips to the next number I will begin.

I am thankful for:

1. this laptop
2. my  brain
3. a functioning body
4. day and night
5. my family
6. my parents specifically
7. my siblings
8. my nieces and nephews
9. my grandparents
10. my ancestors
11. my stepson
12. his girlfriend
13. my sisters and brothers-in-law
14. my health
15. that I am cancer-free
16. that I am a woman
17. my wonderful friends
18. my education
19. the opportunities I’ve had as a middle-class woman in this country
20. my teachers
21. art
22. music
23. animals – wild animals
24. our pets
25. the animals that give themselves to be our food
26. plants of all kinds
27. trees
28. medicinal herbs
29. flowers
30. fruits and vegetables
31. nuts and seeds
32. the gift of touch
33. the gift of sight
34. the gift of hearing
35. the gift of smell
36. other senses
37. sleep
38. a good bed
39. a warm home in the winter
40. cooling devices for summer
41. the cycle of seasons
42. freedom
43. language
44. children
45. elders
46. babies
47. kindness
48. mercy
49. good people
50. people from whom we learn lessons
51. color
52. beauty
53. mountains
54. oceans
55. rivers and streams
56. wells and springs
57. clean potable water at the turn of a faucet
58. indoor plumbing
59. bathtubs and showers
60. kitchen facilities
61. electricity
62. cars
63. clothes

Okay.  Time ran out.  Too bad I can’t type faster!

I’m going to give myself another test.  Let me see if I can think of 63 more things – no time limit this time (but I will keep track anyway.)

1. The ability to move and run and dance
2. Good spiritual leaders of all faiths
3. Good people in government
4. Firefighters
5. EMTs
6. Good hospitals
7. Nurses
8. Good doctors
9. Feeling loved
10. The ability to love
11. the relationships I’ve had in my life
12. the opportunities I’ve had to travel
13. Books
14.  laughter
15. Teachers I’ve had in non-academic settings
16. Challenging situations I’ve learned from
17. Girlfriends
18. Fairy tales
19. Angels and allies in non-physical dimensions
20. Miracles
21. Magic
22. The Sun
23. the Moon
24. the Stars
25. Rainbows
26. Dew
27. Rainfall
28. Snow
29. Fresh air
30. Refreshing wind
31. this beautiful planet Earth
32. the element of fire
33. Dreams
34. Lovemaking
35. Those who kindly help us take care of our elders
36. Those who work to find cures for diseases
37. Teachers who help our children to learn
38. Rainforests
39. Prairies
40. The sky
41. Whales and dolphins specifically
42. the cycle of seasons
43. those who have kindly helped me financially when I’ve needed help
44. those who have been an emotional support
45. counselors and therapists
46. good roads
47. airplanes
48. those who fight against injustice
49. those who work for peace
50. those who care about the environment
51. those who work to make the world a safer, cleaner, healthier place
52. those who offer alternative methods of healing
53. the ability to sing
54. songwriters
55. storytellers
56. artists
57. those who keep traditional rituals alive
58. work/jobs
59. the ability to feel
60. my heart
61. Light
62. hope and faith
63. my Life

Someone posted a question on Facebook the other day that I thought was extremely valuable:  What if we only had tomorrow that which we are thankful for today?  Doesn’t that make you think? 

Give yourself some gratitude goals.  Some people advocate a gratitude journal in which they list five things every day for which they are grateful.  That was always way too easy for me.  So I challenge you to the Five Minutes of Gratitude game.  How many things can you name in five minutes?  You get bonus points if you think of things that I missed!

Let’s practice being grateful for EVERYTHING!  I’m not a big fan of Paul (in the Bible) however I do love this one piece of advice he gave: “Be thankful in all circumstances.”

Exercising gratitude is one of the nicest things you can do for yourself.  It’s one of the most important of spiritual practices.

May you be richly blessed.