I awoke this morning and jumped out of bed. My first thought was COFFEE! Sitting here, in my writing chair, enjoying the fragrance of my freshly brewed cup, the thought occurred to me that I hadn’t even noticed that I am awake, alert, healthy and happy. I didn’t even stop long enough to jump into my Santa slippers. I rushed past the Christmas tree, turned on the fire place and came in here to write my Love Letter. And I wonder, were the lights on?  Were they blinking and twinkling and lighting up the room?  Was the fire in the fireplace as beautiful as it was effective?  I mean, I feel so good this morning….and I hardly even noticed. How is it that all of these miraculous things have happened in perfect sequence and I was oblivious to them all?

I, usually, stay beneath the covers for just a moment…and think of things for which I am grateful.  The fact that I’d be awake and stringing thoughts together would always be a great place to start. It only takes but a moment to gather the things for which I am so very grateful.  There are so many! They float around the room and wait for me to gather them in.  Warmth, the feeling of being loved, my friends and family, our beautiful home, our pets, my glass studio and all of the people that I’ve met and taught to create stained glass art. I’m thankful for this strong and resilient body that has been so dependable and so willing to carry me around…without much thanks or notice.  The list creates itself.

I remember days in 2010, when my efforts to string together things for which I was thankful seemed an arduous task. It was all that I could do to complete the exercise. It started with, “I am thankful that I have a comfortable bed and I am warm.”  “I’m thankful I have a shower and clean towel.” And as I walked, I remember saying “Thank-you” through tears of sadness and despair. I knew that being grateful would be the best tool that I could use to attract what I wanted and needed in my life. So, no, it’s hasn’t always been a cake walk. I’ve had to guard and guide my thoughts and wishes. It’d have been far easier for this human to wish bad things upon another. But that’d have been a fool’s errand. Sending revenged thoughts will always come back to the sender. And I felt bad enough as it was. So the only thing to be done was to notice any and everything good to be thankful for. In the darkest days of my life…what began as a strained effort became an endless list of miracles.  What I feared would be an empty and loveless life has become a shining love-filled creation of light.  It’s the soul that lives in me that celebrates another day.

So, I begin this day again. I went back to look at the lights.  They’re so beautiful! Thank-you!!!  I am alive and awake and it took zero effort to walk back to my chair, climb on and begin this letter. Thank-you!!!

This coffee, in my cup, filling every one of my senses…Thank-you!!!!  My kitchen is clean, the house is clean---enough. Everyone is fed here and I have lots of work/play to do in my studio today. I am so thankful!!! 

Wow, what a great way to start this day. Retracing my footsteps, but doing it right.  I decided to create the day that I want to enjoy. And it’s so simple. Repeat after me, “Thank-you, Thank-you!!! THANK-YOU!!!”  When I begin the day with feelings, so steeped in love and possibility, what could possibly be wrong???