Thankfulness

[netpositive]

I know and accept that
a gift can come to me
in many forms.
I choose to look for the gift
contained in all things.

I cherish my family and friends
and I am able to thank them
for the gifts that they are.

Ok, I can't say having the flu is fun.

However, the experience of being this sick
has reminded me of how lucky I am overall,
and how much I have to be thankful for now,
both personally and in general, such as:

my usual state of good health;

the terrific person who ran out at 6:30 AM
on a Monday morning to get me flu medicine;

no one else in my household has the flu [yet];

the current management at my workplace is pretty
supportive of people working at home on occasion;

my new (laptop) computer arrived here the week
_before_ I got sick - i.e, just in time to be
set up enough so that I _could_ work from home;

the wonderful person who's been patiently doing
his best to help me figure out Debian's Linux
[with a minimum of "Would you just let me install
a distro that _works_ already?" complaining ;) ];

my coworkers are doing their usual stellar job
of working along with me [not to mention sending
get well wishes... and the latest office gossip,
of course] to meet this insane project deadline;

our pantry always has _lots_ of soup in it;

this summer we replaced the refrigerator with one
that has a working water/ice dispenser;

our four adorable cats - World's Most Photogenic,
Excuse Me I AM A Princess, Fluffy Bundle of Love,
and What Particle Accelerator? - checking up on me.

During the holiday season, it feels like there is
a lot of focus on what we are "supposed" to feel.
Expectations from others, or from ourselves, seem
to get in the way of any sense of enjoyment, or of
connection. Idealized memories - or wishes of what
could have been - interfere with reality, what is.

I choose to enjoy my life, and to accept what is.

I give myself permission
to enjoy the holiday season
in my own way.

I am truly grateful for
everything that I have
now.