Basic Gratitude

photo by Steve Frank

I've never been so happy to do the dishes! 

I have been without running water for a little over a week now and nothing makes you more grateful for the things we take for granted like having to be without them! 
The hose for the water going into the Beach House busted and the hot water heater decided to call it quits as well.  In all fairness, it was over thirteen years old, so it had every right.... however...
I ordered the necessary parts thinking that they would be here in two days (I mean that's why we pay the extra for Prime, right?) only for it to take five days.  Ugh.
Do you have any idea how difficult it is to function with no access to water?  No bathrooms, no showers, no clean dishes, no coffee, no cooking, cause you can't rinse your dishes, (it IS sugar ant season and they are everywhere here in the South!!), no drinking water, no washing your hands.  

There were times I would absent-mindedly still turn on the faucet expecting magic to happen... 

Today, my hose came in.  I hooked that sucker up so fast and turned on all the faucets just because I could... and water came out.  It was a miracle!  I heated some water up on the stove and set about doing my dishes.  Such a glorious task that I will not complain about ever again!  (Okay, at least for a week or so...)

This got me thinking about all the things that we take for granted.  Being grateful doesn't have to be for something amazing or life shattering!  Sometimes I think that we need something short of a miracle to remind us to be thankful.  And then we chalk it up to luck.  But life, in general is filled with uneventful days sometimes blending one into another.  And yet, in the midst of our complaining and trudging through what feels like mundane lives-even on the worst days- we wake up in the morning, and our eyes take in the sights around us.  Without any extra thought or effort from us.  We take in the inside walls of our home.  We're surrounded by "things" that bring us joy, comfort, security.  Our heart is beating and directing our insides that serve us the best that we can.
And when we get out of bed, our legs support us and keep us upright.  We flip the switch and darkness becomes light.  Pushing a button gets the brown, flavorful liquid of life bubbling and gurgling away.  
Take in that deep breath... because you can.  
Feel the rain on you skin.  Close your eyes, hear the birds sing their songs.
What are some of the things that you are thankful for that you take for granted?
The love of a faithful pet?  The sweetness in your children's faces? (No matter how old they are.) A best friend? A key that turns the motor over on your vehicle?  Tastebuds! A well-prepared meal.  Money enough to cover the bills.  That hidden money in a coat pocket. A reliable job.

Everything might not be where you want it to be at the moment, but there is SO much that you can be grateful for every single day.  Every. Single. Day.  I mean, I still don't have hot water, and I probably won't for a while until I can afford a new hot water heater, but life is still good.  
Life is so good.
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Don't let a day slip away without taking notice of those things that make your life just a little bit better. 
​What are you grateful for today?  Right now, in this moment?

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