I am grateful

I am grateful.

I am grateful for life. Mine and that of all the animals, vegetables, and minerals that preexist us here on Planet Earth. For the elements of the four sacred directions: earth, air, fire, and water. For the seasons. For the ebb and flow of tides. For vibrancy and dormancy. For the renewals of living matter. 

I am grateful for the wisdoms of the many cultures that enrich the wisdom of my ancestors.  For the tapestry of differences that stir my curiosity. For the awe that draws us onward. For the fears that keep us safe.  

I am grateful for the kindness of strangers. For the capacity of family and friends to be present for the joys, the agonies, the mundane moments that often go unnoticed. For the relationship repairs after their inevitable ruptures. 

I am grateful for the opportunities to hang on and to let go in this unique year 2020. For the shifting of perspectives in their various graceful and horrifying forms.

I am grateful for each day and night with an ally at my side. For the sights and sounds, smells and tastes, and feelings inside and out that fill my awareness. For another day to practice kindness amidst all of this. 

I am grateful.