A goal I am thankful for…

I am thankful for the goal of growing, learning, changing, expanding, deepening.  I never want to think there’s nothing left to learn or no reason to strive for changing. 

A friend I am thankful for…

So many.  My high school years – Elena and Nancy and Judy and Renee.  My 20s, Maryann and Judy and Betty and Laura.  My 30s – Linda and Vera and Marisa and Terry and Shelly.  My 40s – Terry and Amber and Sonnie and Pam.  My 50s – Suzanne and Judy and Kaye and Melissa and and and and …. and now, turning 60 – my daughter/friends are so important. 

And my sister – through all the decades.  The lifetime friend. 

An animal I am thankful for…

I don’t have any animals but have fond memories of Charlotte – the dog of my childrens’ childhood.  And Tess – the special friend of my daughters. 

They were special animals.  

A challenge I’m thankful for…

 I’m not usually thankful for challenges.  Wait – I’m never thankful for challenges.  

Maybe the most challenging thing I’ve experienced was becoming a nurse and that first year.  So I am thankful I made that journey, because it brought me to doing what I do now.  A job, vocation, hobby, most rewarding daily activity of supporting moms becoming moms.  

A promise I am thankful for…

that we will remain faithful to each other.  

A teacher I am thankful for. . . 

One of my nursing instructors told me that I am indeed a leader since I had a family I was leading.  (when I denied that I was a leader)  

Another teacher I’m thankful for – at Germanna (finishing my BSN), I took a class I thought was about the history of philosophy, but ended up requiring consideration of what I thought about philosophical concepts. The course was so enjoyable and I enjoyed getting to know the instructor, too.  

Thanksgiving:  A moment from today I’m thankful for…

seeing family together, having my parents still here.  Siblings together.  Grandchildren.  People.

A treasure I am grateful for…

I tend to “treasure” time and words from people I love,  more than objects as treasures.   Yes,  do like things, too – but try to remain aware that things are just things.

 

A tradition I am thankful for…

Spending time with family on holidays, since (in our case) the gathering does not tend to be filled with drama or awkward conversations.   (Enneagram Nines abound…)

A book I am thankful for…

Three books come to mind.

Reviving Ophelia by Mary Pipher – caused me to say yes to the idea of my daughters homeschooling in middle school.

Men are From Mars, Women are from Venus (John Gray)  — I know – it’s a little embarrassing at this point – caused me to understand certain qualities in my husband better.  Hey – it did the trick at the time.  (There are better relationship books but this was enough for the season in which I read it.)

Outlander – by Diana Gabaldon.  Because that’s where I met Jamie and Claire 27(?) years ago.  Sometimes book characters become real people and these two did for me.