Flowers, Gratitude, Will, Choices

Dear Will napping on tulips.

All I need to do to feel blessed each morning is open my eyes. The moment an eyelid flutters, Samwise turns from where he is studying the birds and the squirrels through the window. Then Emily's monkey tail begins to thump, thump, thump on the bed.

"Good morning," I say while taking a quick inventory of my body. It's a habit forced on me from my past health struggles.

Emily insists on being pet, and she relishes it, closing her eyes and tilting her head back regally.

They are my first reason for gratitude. That I am here and present and breathing, feeling, thinking is number two.

Today, anticipation is number three. I'm feeling excited about the prospects of the day. There's much to be done, but first, a bowl of chocolate-cherry steel-cut oatmeal. That breakfast, along with a mug of orange tea, is number four. There are so many who are hungry in this world, and I get to choose what and when to eat.

On and on, I counted until I listed ten reasons to be thankful. …