Startled
Wham! Bang!
Last night I reached down to pick up a log for the woodstove.
The log slipped down to the floor–unto my sock-covered big toe. OWWWWW!
You know how you’re tempted to curse the log and life and, owwww, does that toe hurt!
But yesterday was one of those kind of days. I was so happy and filled with joy and gratitude (see yesterday’s post about the 30-day gratitude challenge.)
My second thought–after acknowledging the pain of the log on the big toe–was “I am grateful that log didn’t hit the whole foot!”
And then I started laughing.
Guess what, dear reader? I think the laughter or gratitude may have changed the entire outcome of the scenario. Because–ten minutes later–the pain was completely gone. It never re-surfaced. This morning the toe looks like a normal pink toe. It doesn’t even remember the crazy log which tumbled off the pile.
Stranger things have happened with an attitude of gratitude!
Lone chickadee in snow
Day 2. I am grateful for the power of gratitude.
I am grateful that 28 people shared yesterday’s blogging link on Facebook. That 15 of my friends decided to take the 30-day gratitude challenge! That one of these friends–Susan D–had 12 of her friends dedicate their month to gratitude. (And whether our friends continue or not–it doesn’t matter. One moment of conscious gratitude is better than no moments!)
I am grateful for this exquisite feeling of joy which keeps soaring through my day.
I am grateful that this practice keeps my mind focused on the gifts of what is. How easy it is for us to notice what isn’t–and continually yearn for something else–instead of acknowledging what we do have.
OK, what else am I grateful for right now?
Some of you may think I am a big dork, but I rented the movie “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.” Watched it last night–to Barry’s great dismay–he decided it was an opportunity to retreat to the garage. This morning I am re-playing the movie simply to listen to the tunes.
I wore my coat, with golden lining
Bright colours shining, wonderful and new
And in the east, the dawn was breaking
And the world was waking
Any dream will do
What else am I grateful for? I am grateful for my connection with the divine, the sacred, God, Allah, Jehovah, the Universe–whatever you want to call it. I am grateful for the gift of awareness. For our human potential to realize our divine potential. That we have inner guidance leading us to our ultimate potential–if we listen and act.
A grandfather apple tree
I am grateful that the divine coalesces into form and we can be filled with delight as finches and chickadees flit in the spruce tree. As old apple trees wear blankets of snow. For Donny Osmond as Joseph. (ohmygoodness, did I just type that I was grateful for Donny Osmond?) OK, you, too, Marie.
I am also grateful for everyone reading this blog because their inner guide lead them here. (And I am grateful for those not reading this blog–because their inner guidance is leading them where they need to go next.) And this has been a big one for me to learn!
Don’t you love it that there is so much for us to learn?
Go, go, go Joseph you know what they say
Hang on now Joseph you’ll make it some day
Don’t give up Joseph fight till you drop
We’ve read the book and you come at on top!
(Barry, you can come home now. The movie is over. lol!)
P.S. Anyone who wants to leap into the gratitude challenge can at any time this month. What are you grateful for? (Or, in a more grammatically correct way: For what are you grateful?)
Lake Superior Spirit 
I’m so sorry you smashed your toe. I’m glad the pain went away quickly.
I like your gratitude list. I write one in a notebook every day. Gratitude can and does do amazing things. It’s had a major impact on my life.
Take care of that toe. It may not hurt, but there could still be some damage.
Good morning, Motherkitty. I like it that you write a gratitude list in your notebook every day. We have so much to be grateful for! I will keep an eye on that toe. 🙂
Wait!!! There is a LINK to post? Sigh…
giggling madly now…
I am grateful to those who wonder at my computer technical abilities and then laugh outrageously as they have to provide me with simple links, right under my nose and About page helps!
roflmao
I am grateful it wasn’t my toe and that I didn’t need that sort of toe smashing reminder of Life! 😀
Hi, Elisa. There are links all over this here Internet world. Smiling…it’s mid-afternoon and I need a few napping moments before we go up to Houghton where Barry has to cover a high school basketball game for his newspaper. Glad it wasn’t your toe, too!
Laughter and gratitude are such healers! So glad your toe doesn’t remember and that it remains pink! I confess to laughing about the toe incident (because it doesn’t remember) as I recalled being trapped in Andrea’s basement behind a massive onslaught of tumbled firewood – in fact, both Andrea and I were trapped between the basement wall and the battalion of logs. We laughed, and laughed some more. I don’t even remember digging our way out … Laughter is a miracle worker, I tell you!
What a delightful blog! So full of joy and fun! And such wonderful pictures! The deer shot is stunning! And I just want to hug Grandpa Apple Tree. He’s so noble. Love your excerpts from the movie, too! Wise! Have a wonderful rest of the day, and may more delight continue to grace each moment!
Hi Susan D! Smiling about you and Andrea and your battalion of logs. How funny. I can just picture the two of you in gales of laughter! We are headed up to Houghton–Lake Linden–soon. Must take a nap first. A 20 minute nap works wonders. (I’ve had such fun writing these last two blogs…)
Kathy – I’m grateful that I did 15-minutes on a piece of equipment at the fitness center this morning that simulated sheer-face mountain climbing and my heart didn’t actually explode! I then moved on to equipment that didn’t whup my buns!
Ohhhh Laurie…..I should some over to Centegra and you could be my coach!!
I love to do it, just the hard part is talking myself into it!
FYI
I did bring home my mom’s bike asnd helmet!!!!!!!! Maybe in the Spring!
My goodness, Laurie! I am certainly glad your heart didn’t explode! I’m grateful that I’m the one listening to your adventure…lol.
Hi Kathy,
I have decided to get on board with your purposed “30 Day Gratitude Challenge”. Actually, it is something good to do on a daily basis. I have re-posted your Day 1 Blog on facebook with the challenge.I think there will be many friends that will do this. Hopefully they will start or end their day with that positive reflection, either way, great idea.
Jane, that is so excellent. I am thrilled that you have decided to do this, too. We need to make our own light during these long mid-winter days. It will be lovely to see which of your friends decide to participate. Fun!
P.S. It looks like 34 people have re-posted it on Facebook now. 🙂
If a log falls on your toe and there’s no one there to hear your scream does it still make a sound? I’m guessing yes.
Ha ha, Jeff. Funny! (I’m still laughing.) I’m not sure what the philosophers would say about this one…but I’m guess yes, too.
Oh Kathy…sometimes steel toeed shoes are best….!
Today I am grateful for ebing able to work from the hotel today, when there is 10 inches of snow this morning…..
Steel toed shoes would be lovely, Kim, except I stoke the fire maybe 10-20 times a day in mid-winter. Just think how many times you would have to put on those steel toed shoes! 10 inches of snow this morning? How delightful that you get to work from the hotel.
Grateful for the going away of pain, and greatful for pain too, as otherwise how would we know that having the weight of the log suddenly on our toe is bad for it? 🙂
Martha, that is real wisdom. When someone can say that they are grateful for even pain–that is a real gift. Thank you so much.
Ahhh.. I think I have much to learn from you, Grasshoppa! I’m sure I would have cursed the log! So wonderful that you don’t have a broken little piggie this morning!
Love the deer picture. Deer have been sneaking into my little suburbia lately, but I haven’t been able to grab a picture.
Grasshoppa! Love it! At different times of my life, I would have cursed the log, too. I loved how the deer was captured in his startled leaping. Hope you get your deer photo soon.
I’m grateful that I came by tonight and saw that apple tree with branches supplicating, waiting through winter for spring. I’m also very happy for your toe, Kathy. I keep Arnica on hand for those kinds of emergencies – but, gratitude could work, too!
Isn’t this apple tree wonderful, Barb? I love that word “supplicating”. Arnica & gratitude–must be a fool-proof combination!
The practice of active gratitude is wonderful! Good for you for this challenge, Kathy.
I am wondering if it will be easy or hard, Marianne. I am probably going to mostly keep it on Facebook, because I think the challenge of posting here everyday might be too much right now. Thank you for your support!
I’ve heard that Donny Osmond played an AMAZING Joseph on Broadway. Years ago I worked on the set design for a school version of the play. Although I’m thankful for that experience, today I’m more thankful that I don’t do that sort of thing anymore. It took way too much time away from my family. Sometimes we can be thankful for what’s not in our lives.
I can imagine how amazing Donny Osmond must have been. His energy in the DVD was amazing, too, but you could see that in person he would have been fabulous. I’m happy that you know so much about the play. Wondering if you found yourself humming the songs night and day?
When it’s in the background like that for so long it does sink in at a different level. The one I remember the most is Any Dream Will Do.
The only thing I don’t like about musicals is when the music gets stuck in your head and you keep singing, “Sha-la-la Joseph you’re still in your prime…” As if that has anything to do with anything! 🙂
I am grateful to have stopped by here this morning, to have read your wise words, and to admire your beautiful photos. 🙂
I am also grateful for the heat that is keeping me warm on this frigid winter morning.
Glad you stopped by, Ms. Robin. I am grateful for that heat, too. It really is cold around here tonight–near zero. How cold is it up your way?
Near zero here as well. A balmy 2 degrees this morning. 🙂
We’re two degrees this morning, too.
Kathy, may I post your photo,”Lone chickadee in snow,” on my blog? I have yet to successfully take a picture of one and I love them so much. This picture is especially sweet with the seeds scattered around on the beautiful blanket of snow…
I’m glad your toe is okay – it is amazing what positive energy can do.
I am grateful for Tim, who has had my back lately, and has been steady and patient. My anchor!
Barbara, I am sorry I didn’t get back with your answer earlier. Of course you may use it! Please! Would you like me to send the original in an email or do you just want to copy this? Let me know. I am smiling thinking of Tim as your anchor. It’s good to have an anchor like that.
It’s done – come see! Thanks so much, Kathy, for the quiet inspiration!
It looks especially lovely on your page. 🙂
Today I am grateful for morning sunshine (it has been a long time since I have seen it) and that I do not have to go out in the 20-30 below weather. I can stay in my warm house, with a cup of coffee, light a fire and watch the birds at the feeder while I correct a mountain of end of the quarter papers.
Bearyweather, I heard about your freezing weather over in Minnesota! You stay warm! Your life has a fairytale quality about it…did you know that? Or maybe it’s just me!
A fairytale quality … really? What do you see? I guess the weather could be my dragon, my house my castle … the animals my subjects (although they do not listen to me at all) … Okay … maybe a few things could be considered fairytale … However, if I am living a fairytale life … where is my shining white knight? I could really use one of those ….
You don’t need a shining white night, bearyweather! You are the Queen of your forest land, the one who is perfectly complete just as you are. 🙂
yes .. a queen of the woods … yes … beautiful forest land, great job … I have everything I need to live, that is for sure. However, life has some pretty flat spots with no one to share it with .. without love.
May you find someone to share your fairy-tale with, bearyweather…may you find the love you’re seeking.