Sixty-one reasons to be grateful

Never have I felt so old as I have these last six months of being 60. My failing eyesight, coupled with woolly-headedness brought upon by lack of sleep, age and stress have caused me to make some errors that have been financially significant. Then there is the constant battle with pain from insisting on exercise and physical activities my body protests very loudly against. 

I am fighting a growing laundry list of limitations and an interior struggle to deal with all these unwelcome changes. And yet, despite all this, the one thing I have not stopped feeling is gratitude. 

So here’s to celebrating my 61st revolution around the sun with a gratitude list. In no particular order, I am grateful:

1. To be alive, breathing and walking on my own, relatively sound of mind and body.
2. For my life - where I came from, and what I have made of it thus far. It may not look like much but it is good enough for Him and me.
3. For every screwup that has given me insight and taught me not to go there again.
4. For God, my loving Father and generous provider.
5. For Jesus, my delightful Bridegroom.
6. For the Holy Spirit who inspires me to goodness.
7. For Mother Mary, my role model.
8. For Saint Joseph, my hero, the silent doer.
9. For my guardian angel who never fails to guide me back to God.
10. For the community of saints, both living and dead, who have helped mould and shape me into God’s image and likeness. 
11. For family - the good, the bad and the ugly. Tyvm.
12. For the virtues of faith, hope and love, so necessary in navigating life and eternal life.
13. For good friends who embraced me even when they didn’t understand what I was about.
14. That I am an evolved feeler (thanks Ams for the compliment).
15. For all my spiritual guides who nudged me back onto the narrow path.
16. For a sense of humour that saves me from taking myself too seriously, and from pride or despair. 
17. For a tender heart that moves me to go beyond myself.
18. For marriage and motherhood - a vocation that came late in life; one I will be always amazed is mine.
19. For the Sacraments, which ARE everything.
20. For my father who taught me how to be loyal, hardworking and responsible.
21. For my mother who schools me in gentleness, compassionate acceptance and perseverance.
22. For brothers who taught me girls are meant to be kickass tough, not prissy princesses.
23. For my gem of a husband who makes me laugh even as he irritates me -a rare gift. I have to admit I catch myself laughing at times when I think back on his silliness.
24. For children who are sweet, generous, and simply good peeps.
25. For grandchildren who evoke such tenderness and joy within me.
26. For ministries and communities that have helped me grow spiritually, especially the ICPE Mission.
27. To be able to enjoy and find meaning in what I do for a living. I love my job!
28. For the gift of writing, my super power.
29. For cousins, the ones who got me when my siblings didn’t, and those who had my back. 
30. For Christmas tree worms and pgymy seahorses.
31. For pain that gives me a wealth of insight, and makes me a better teacher.
32. For the Word of God, the Bible that expounds  the Way, the Truth and the Life so fully.
33. For intuition that enriches my thinking and guides my actions. 
34. That beauty just makes my heart sing.
35. For music that makes me want to dance.
36. For inner peace, and joy, that comes from following Him and trusting Him every step of the way.
37. For an adventurous palate that has been rewarded amply.
38. For the beatitudes, especially #6.
39. For the love of gardens and what they mean to me. Thanks Mama.
40. For ice cream and J’s ice cream face.
41. For grandfathers who inculcated the love of reading; Classic comics, gumnuts and blossoms - I inhaled them all. 
42. For the Roman Catholic Church, lock, stock and barrel. So imperfectly perfect!
43. For flowers - every bloom is like a Hi there from the Creator. 
44. To be able to find myself in the sincere gift of self.  (Gaudium etc Spes, paragraph 24)
45. For inheriting my grandmother’s common sense and her folk remedies.
46. For P’s love for me.
47. That I can cook.  
48. For Hawaii and all things Hawaiian: flower leis, the aloha spirit, lomi lomi salmon, hula and spam musubi.
49. That I can hold things lightly in my hands.
50. For JP2 and his Theology of the Body
51. For my physiotherapist Elaine.
52. I mastered (and can again with some practice)  Ahi Wela on my ukulele. 
53. That I have someone in my life who is as crazy as I am about saints and shrines, and all things Catholic. 
54. I no longer sweat the small stuff or fuss over irrelevant details (well, not for long).
55. I can forgive myself, and others.
56. That I know who I am and what I’m worth - precious, priceless and wonderfully made.
57. For the treasure of divine wisdom: pure; then peace-loving,considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. (James 3:17)
58. For the ability to speak truths that are eventually received well. 
59. That I am redeemed: forgiven much, loved much, can love much.
60. For the transformative power of prayer; making possible the impossible.
61. I get to wake up tomorrow and do it all again; hopefully better than yesterday.

My journey of life continues.