Happiness is...

FIVE THINGS.

From Crazy as a Loom

Sounds strange, doesn't it?
But maybe you remember, about 13 years ago, Oprah had a program about it. I don't remember who the guest was, but the gist of the program was that you wrote 5 things in a notebook every day, 5 things you were grateful for.
At the time, I had just returned from a family trip to England. We had been there for three weeks, my mother returning to her homeland, with me and my three daughters. My then husband, since deceased, so I can talk about him, was drunk the whole time I was gone. It was evident when we walked through the door.
It wasn't the first time, and I knew it wouldn't be the last.
It was one of the hardest things I have ever done, but I said I was done with it.
And I started, on the day he left, to write in my little notebook.
5 things.
At first, it was hard to find 5 things. I was hurt, and disappointed, and even a little afraid of the future. And even though it was ultimately for the better, and I was pretty confident of that, change is always hard.
I was always grateful for my family, my children, my mother, my father.
Then I was thankful for my little house, and my yard, and my flowers. I was thankful for my dogs, and my cats, and thankful for the worn and loved books on my shelf. I was grateful for my stash of fabric, and yarn.
Then it was a cup of hot tea, or a Fresca (my favorite drink at the time, not any more)
And the days began to pile up, and the pages filled up in my little notebook.
There were rhubarb pies, and mac and cheese, chocolate chip cookies, quiet evenings, my favorite TV show. Hooked rugs I finished, flowers that filled the front yard with fragrance.
Day after day, the list grew. Things I was grateful for, things that nurtured me, held me together, made me happy. And lots of days, repeats appeared.
My kids,my mother, a job, food on the table, being together, being loved. Peace. Quiet. The absence of drama. Hope for the days to come.
I think 5 things to be grateful for grounded me, in a world that was shifting, it made me focus on the simplest, and ultimately, the best.
Many, many times I repeated to myself, 'gratitude is the attitude'. And one day at a time, I made my list.
Not long ago, I was rummaging through a drawer, and there it was, the little notebook. As I flipped through the pages of a year of being grateful, I was reminded of how little effort it really takes to change direction. A simple quarter turn of your footprint on the ground. That's all.

I didn't plan on writing about this, not at all. But as I opened the 'new post' page, my fingers started typing it out.
I just came along for the ride.
And in case y'all are getting sick of loom shots.
Well, I apologize.
But I'm not gonna stop any time soon.
Thanks for visiting.......I do love all your comments.

From Crazy as a Loom

Tomorrow....porch pics! I promise!!

From Crazy as a Loom