Sometimes just giving thanks for the mystery of it all
brings everything and everyone closer,
the way suction pulls streams of water together.
So take a chance and openly give thanks,
even if you’re not sure what for,
and feel the plenitude of all that is living
brush up against your heart. --- Mark Nepo

Today I am grateful for a good night's sleep.

I am grateful for books by Mark Nepo that lift me up and challenge me to see life in new ways.

I am grateful for a few days of overeating just because I can.

I am grateful that it is mild enough and I am feeling good enough to take a walk with Suzy.

I am grateful for a few hours of solitude while Jeff is doing errands.

I am grateful for Dr. Belanger.

I am grateful that I have a lot of work to do today.

I am grateful that the ice cream I ate yesterday has me really congested right now.

I am grateful for my journal.

I am grateful for Melody Beattie.

I am grateful that Minnie likes to sit on my lap.

I am grateful that Raj let me pet him this morning.

Today I am grateful for slower energy even tho my mind/spirit is awake and alert and growing.

I am grateful for the fact that Jeff can give Suzy a bath in the back yard one more time before it gets too cold to do so.

I am grateful for a whole afternoon of rest and quietude.

I am grateful that I had enough energy to go to the grocery store this a.m.

I am grateful for the turkey soup on the stove and that I had good energy to make it.

I am grateful for the fact that I can't take regular morning walks any more.

I am grateful for Suzy's company and Minnie's company and Jeff's big love.

I am grateful that Sasha is still with me in spirit.

I am grateful for Kimee and Kate's help with KSoul.

I am grateful for each and every Kindred Spirit Member.

I am grateful to have such meaningful work and that I am making a difference in the world.

I am grateful for the lessons I am learning in surrender and letting go and living from Love instead of Fear.

I am grateful for my journal.

I am grateful that I am hearing the call to create art again.

I am grateful that I am hearing the call to journal again.

I am grateful for how I have never been alone on my Journey.

Poem by W. S Merwin

This poem seems to me to be so much of what Melody is writing about in her book.
It is lush and beautiful and so so powerful.

Listen
with the night falling we are saying thank you
we are stopping on the bridges to bow from the railings
we are running out of the glass rooms
with our mouths full of food to look at the sky
and say thank you
we are standing by the water thanking it
smiling by the windows looking out
in our directions

back from a series of hospitals back from a mugging
after funerals we are saying thank you
after the news of the dead
whether or not we knew them we are saying thank you

over telephones we are saying thank you
in doorways and in the backs of cars and in elevators
remembering wars and the police at the door
and the beatings on stairs we are saying thank you
in the banks we are saying thank you
in the faces of the officials and the rich
and of all who will never change
we go on saying thank you thank you

with the animals dying around us
our lost feelings we are saying thank you
with the forests falling faster than the minutes
of our lives we are saying thank you
with the words going out like cells of a brain
with the cities growing over us
we are saying thank you faster and faster
with nobody listening we are saying thank you
we are saying thank you and waving
dark though it is


~W.S. Merwin

Today I am grateful for a healthy, abundant Thanksgiving.

I am grateful that I couldn't eat even half of the things that were on the table yesterday because of my wonky stomach.

I am grateful that I never felt overly full yesterday.

I am grateful for the good food that I did eat.

I am grateful that Stephanie and Allison did all of the work.

I am grateful for Keith and Jeff who cooked the turkeys and did the stuffing.

I am grateful that I had a two hour break from socializing in the afternoon to sit with Minnie and read a good book.

I am grateful for what I am learning about myself.

I am grateful that I don't like social events, even if that social event is family.

I am grateful that Janice got to come here yesterday.

I am grateful that I had enough energy later in the day to make turkey soup.

I am grateful that Jeff didn't go out last night to any Black Friday sales.

I am grateful that insurance is paying for my wig.

Today I am grateful that I woke with lots of energy but it is waning after 5 hours.

I am grateful that Raj came for breakfast even though he has now disappeared.

I am grateful that I don't have to do anything for Thanksgiving except clean out the dining room.

I am grateful for a house full of silence.

I am grateful for Jeff.

I am grateful for rainy November afternoons.

I am grateful that Joe and family are coming tomorrow.

I am grateful that I have meaningful work that I can do on my own time schedule.

I am grateful for Kate and Kimee.

I am grateful for good food and beautiful music and sweet smells.

I am grateful that I don't have chemo today.

Today I am grateful that I skipped two days of this list.

I am grateful that my wonky stomach is back.

I am grateful that they still make Kraft mac and cheese.

I am grateful that my husband is gone for a few hours and I have the house to myself.

I am grateful that I am able to continue my SoulCollage/KaleidoSoul work even tho I'm not 100%.

I am grateful for my returning energy.

I am grateful that I wasn't laid flat out like I was last weekend.

I am grateful for clean water, good food and warm shelter.

I am grateful for a comfortable bed.

I am grateful for all the tears I still shed over Sasha.

I am grateful for the acute ache in my heart when I think of her.

I am grateful that Minnie is still here.

I am grateful for the Carolyn Myss book.

I am grateful for what I am learning about healing.

I am grateful that Jeffrey gets to spend time with Jordan and Jason this week.

I am grateful for Jeff's generosity.

I am grateful for the fact that I am more deeply connected to others during this go-round with cancer treatment.

Today I am grateful that Raj showed up for breakfast and that I could feed him.

I am grateful that my stomach is wonky again.

I am grateful that the chemo is working.

I am grateful for the healing session with John Corsa yesterday.

I am grateful that it is so cold out this morning.

I am grateful that I already know how awful I will feel tonight and tomorrow.

I am grateful that Minnie ate some breakfast this morning.

I am grateful for the times she sleeps on my lap.

I am grateful for the deep ache of missing my Sasha-Girl.

I am grateful that I have enough money for the bills I need to pay this week.

I am grateful for half.com where I can buy books and save money.

I am grateful for spending sprees.

I am grateful that I paid off all those credit cards this spring.

I am grateful that Stephanie is taking over my chores this Thanksgiving.

I am grateful that I am alive and well on planet earth.

I am grateful for this strong, strong body I am living in.

I am grateful for the author of The Shack which I just read yesterday.

Today I am grateful that I am feeling well.

I am grateful for nutritious chicken soup.

I am grateful for my arms and legs and eyes and ears.

I am grateful for my mind and spirit and everything that makes me ME.

I am grateful for my creativity.

I am grateful for new journeys.

I am grateful for the anguish of missing Sasha.

I am grateful for how much love she gave me and for what she taught me about mothering.

I am grateful for what I am learning about JOY.

I am grateful for this comfortable home and couch and bed and for all the beauty that surrounds me here.

I am grateful that Keith and Connie live next door.

I am grateful that I am halfway done with my chemo.

I am grateful for the lovingkindness exemplified by the nurses in the infusion room at Lahey.

Today I am grateful that I am halfway done with the chemo treatments.

I am grateful that there is enough money to buy the supplements I need and to pay the insurance I need.

I am grateful that I slept a solid 8 hours.

I am grateful that I can email Dr. B with questions.

I am grateful that I can listen to my iPod while I am in "the chair."

I am grateful that I DON"T WANT TO GO to chemo today.

I am grateful that X-Factor is on tonight, an excellent distraction.

I am grateful for organic chicken that is easy to cook and eat.

I am grateful for peppermint chocolate.

I am grateful for good novels and good friends.

I am grateful for Rita who made the nest and shipped it to Marti.

I am grateful for Marti and Elaine.

I am grateful that Jeff came home safely from the bus trip yesterday.

Today I am grateful for more diarrhea.

I am grateful that tomorrow's chemo will mean I am HALF done with it.

I am grateful for the second opinion visit yesterday at Dana Farber.

I am grateful for the nice people at Dana Farber.

I am grateful for the new Beverly Dog Park because I couldn't walk Suzy today but she could still run and play.

I am grateful for Ellie.

I am grateful for Suzy.

I am grateful that Jeff can go away for a day and have fun at Foxwoods.

I am grateful that 15 people have signed up for the June retreat!

I am grateful for something to look forward to next year. Many things!

I am grateful for good novels.

I am grateful for good magazines.

I am grateful for the silence and solitude I am experiencign today.

Today I am grateful that I am feeling better than I was yesterday morning.

I am grateful that I felt like crap on toast yesterday.

I am grateful that it's only 10 a.m. and we already did the grocery shopping.

I am grateful that I had enough energy today to do the grocery shopping.

I am grateful that I am so crabby when I don't feel well.

I am grateful that I don't really have the flu.

I am grateful that my fever went down.

I am grateful for a working television and a husband to watch tv with.

I am grateful for the comfort that Suzy and Minnie and Raj bring me.

I am grateful that I don't have to do anything about Thanksgiving this year.

I am grateful that Stephanie volunteered to cook for me on Thanksgiving.

I am grateful that I cried yesterday when Merri came over and asked me how I was feeling.

I am grateful that I am crying now.

I am grateful for this experience of physical weakness.

I am grateful for the many people who are out there in the world connected to me, praying for me.

Today I am grateful that I just scared Raj (cat) away from the porch chair by trying to give him a blanket.

I am grateful that I love animals so much.

I am grateful that I don't understand Raj at all.

I am grateful that Raj comes here for food and drink and the shelter of our fine porch.

I am grateful that I have food to give to him.

I am grateful that I like to take care of things and people and animals.

I am grateful that I am sooooo tired right now and it's not even 11 a.m.

I am grateful that I have another dvd of the Gilmore Girls to watch all afternoon.

I am grateful that I always have exactly what I need.

I am grateful that it will be cold soon and I am already worried about where Raj will go to stay warm.

I am grateful for the love and comfort that Sasha gave and still gives to me.

I am grateful for this gratitude practice.

I am grateful that my life is slowing down.

I am grateful for the bright golden leaves outside our living room windows.

Today I am grateful that I am almost halfway through my chemo treatments.

I am grateful for my wonky stomach.

I am grateful for Dr. B who helped me with ideas for foods to eat and avoid.

I am grateful for Dr. B who is helping cancer not make a home in my body.

I am grateful that it is warm enough to have the windows open.

I am grateful for this gratitude practice.

I am grateful for the fact that these treatments are making me SLOW DOWN.

I am grateful for days on end with no appointments and no set agendas.

I am grateful for the mythos journey I am on with Cat Caracelo's help.

I am grateful for the SoulCollage community.

I am grateful for ideas and dreams and new possibilities.

I am grateful for my tears.

I am grateful for good books to read and the poems that are finding their way to me.

I am grateful for my business.

I am grateful for my loving, generous husband.

I am grateful for renewed ties with old friends.

I am grateful that I could help the woman who had questions about cancer after-care.

Today I am grateful that marriage is such hard work.

I am grateful that I have to have freakin' chemo again this week.

I am grateful for a glimpse of "normal" before I go back to unwellness.

I am grateful for a warm day in the middle of darkening fall.

I am grateful for no hair to wash and style every day!

I am grateful for this laptop.

I am grateful for my community of SoulCollage and other support.

I am grateful for my imagination.

I am grateful for Whole Foods store.

I am grateful that I am losing a little weight out of all of this.

I am grateful that I went on a binge this weekend in response to days on end of being able to eat nothing but saltines and jello.

I am grateful for saltines and jello.

I am grateful for good television and good projects to keep my mind active.

I am grateful that they squeezed me in for a Wed. appointment at Lahey this week.

I am grateful that I am still so sad about Sasha's dying.

Today I am grateful that I have overeaten for two days in a row and haven't gotten sick.

I am grateful that I am struggling with issues of "enough" regarding food and money.

I am grateful for the campaigners who were out this morning in Peabody.

I am grateful for good food and good friends.

I am grateful that I am congested.

I am grateful that I am enjoying these few days of "normalcy" before my next chemo on Wed.

I am grateful that Elaine has cooked for us and is driving up here with soup and curried chicken.

I am grateful that I am feeling good.

I am grateful for my strong and healthy body.

I am grateful for a warm house to live in!


I am happy that Elaine is coming today and we are going out for Indian food.

I am happy that I can eat normally and eat in restaurants again.

I am happy that Jeff is taking out the air conditioners today.

I am happy that Hannaford had tuna salad this morning!

I am happy that Minnie has a warm safe home to sleep in.

I am happy that Raj came to the porch this week on Wednesday.

NOTE: Yesterday I did my list in my little notebook in my purse while I was waiting to see my breast surgeon (Dr. Stephen Karp, Lahey Clinic, Peabody MA) for a follow-up appointment.


Today I am grateful for a day with the house to myself, for peace and quiet and NO interruptions.

I am grateful for a healthy sleeping dog at my feet.

I am grateful that Dr. Karp is on my team.

I am grateful that I am tired already and it's only 10:30.

I am grateful that my book is still reaching people, even today.

I am grateful for a beautiful home to nest in.

I am grateful for all the interruptions and inconveniences that come with this beautiful home.

I am grateful for my writing practice.

I am grateful for the blessings of solitude.

I am grateful for my itchy scalp.

I am grateful that my stomach is finally settling down.

I am grateful for my dry and itchy eyes.

I am grateful that I might actually be able to go out to eat this weekend.

I am grateful that I can have a massage tomorrow.

I am grateful for my family- Joe and Karen, Alli and Steph, John and Maryann, Mike and Jackie, Pete and Jess and Julia. Mom and Dad and Gram.

I am grateful for Jeff's family and that they are able to go together to Uncle Vinny's funeral today.

I am grateful for Jeff's love and generosity.