Autumn is Falling
30 x 36″
Acrylic on Canvas

I awoke this morning and started preparing the stuffing for the turkey. By eight, the bird was in the oven and the potatoes were on the boil.

I am grateful for the abundance that fills my home. For the love and laughter, the shared times and memories, the graceful joy of knowing, this is my home. My refuge. My sanctuary.

My youngest daughter, C.C. and I, along with a couple of friends, are cooking Thanksgiving dinner today for the veterans living at The Madison. The Madison is a 15 suite apartment that provides housing and support for formerly homeless veterans in our city. I am grateful my daughter and friends are joining me in creating this meal. I am grateful the residents welcome us with such grace. I am grateful.

Yesterday, I awoke and began to prepare an appetizer for Thanksgiving dinner at my sisters. I realized I was missing an ingredient and decided to use the opportunity to walk Ellie, the wonder pooch, to the grocery store. On our way, we crossed through our neighbourhood off-leash area and I stopped to clean up dog poop someone had missed. Or maybe they didn’t care. Or maybe it was dark when they ran their pooch and didn’t see it. Whatever the reason, mine was not to judge but to take the opportunity to be of service to my community and pick it up with a loving heart. I always carry extra bags for just such opportunities.  As I picked it up and then walked it to the garbage can at the edge of the park,  I was grateful that so many dog-owners are conscientious about cleaning up after their pet and sent a prayer out to those who don’t inviting them to open their hearts to the benefits of supporting one another in keeping the park clean. I know I can’t change the behaviour of those who don’t clean up. I also know I am responsible for how and what I send out into the world. Let my offering be harmony not discord.

I am grateful today for dinner last night with family and friends, for the laughter, a table groaning with abundance that my sister lovingly prepared, and all the gifts of an evening spent cherishing the family ties that bind us.

This morning, when I pulled a card from the deck of ‘Daily Practice for Maintaining Spiritual Balance” that sits on my desk, the card was, “May your heart sing and your soul rejoice. Experience the wonder of life.” It’s message was to ‘celebrate all that is good and blessed about your life, realizing that gratitude is a powerful remedy. Appreciating your blessings increases the vitality of your life force.’

My life feels vital today. I feel alive. I feel complete with the wonder and awe of this day where the sun shines brightly, the birds twitter at the feeder hanging from the crab apple tree in the back yard. I delight in the autumn colours festooning the trees, the leaves blanketing the lawn in golden hues and the late autumn flowers still blooming in the planter by the front door. I celebrate all that is good and blessed in my life, cherishing the breath that fills me up with Love and joy and gratitude.

I am grateful.

It is Thanksgiving Day in Canada. Happy Thanksgiving to my fellow Canadians. Happy Gratitude Day to all.

namaste.