I’m thankful for things I never thought about before.  It could be the economy that has us more thankful for what we do have, or in my case, losing one beloved parent and in the process of losing the other that makes me see things differently than I used to.

I walk outside for a fresh breath and see a perfect sky and the gorgeous leaves this time of year.  How could anything be wrong when you see something that beautiful?  I don’t yell at my teen as much as I used to.  She supported me during a time of tremendous loss and has spoken words of wisdom when she sees me folded over in tears, due to my father’s illness.  How could anything be wrong when you’re surrounded by something so beautiful?

I’m not as impatient as  I used to be, and I’m thankful for that too.  And even though I have always thought of myself as a kind person, I am even more so now, because the world needs as much light and kindness as possible.

We all have worries, fears, and thoughts we shouldn’t have.  It is a sign of the times.  I walked to the backyard and was greeted by a family of 9 deer who did not run when I got within 15 feet of them.  Instead, the timid deer allowed me to slowly approach, and I crouched down only to observe how graceful they all were.  How they all remained together to stay safe, warm, and graze.  Their big eyes and ears were always on the alert, but they were inquisitive as well.  The mother had an injured leg (not life threatening), and she was slower than the rest, but they never left her behind.  They stayed together like family should.

It was a “God” moment.  Just me and God and his incredible creatures.  In that snippet of time, all my worries and troubles were gone.  All was right and my mind was “in the moment.”  So that’s what it feels like not to have any worries, I thought to myself.  I need to do this more often.  And so I shall.

My mom used to say you can see things from any angle you choose; you can be mad or glad, happy or sad.  It’s all in how you look at things.  I’ll start thinking more like that too.

I’m finally beginning to get the picture.  Fifty years into this thing called life, I finally get it.  Be appreciative.  Tell people how you feel.  Fix your wrongs.  Treat others well.  Do the right thing.  It all goes back to everything we learned in kindergarten; only somewhere along the way, life got in the way and we may have forgotten.

Let this be a reminder to us all to be more “in the moment” with an appreciative heart, as we enter this holiday season and a new year.

© 2012 Julie Hall