Gratitude

A few of my writer friends and I spent the year just past contemplating gratitude in our daily lives. It was such a great learning experience; one that taught me a lot about perspective.

Today's post was originally my very last entry at our Year of Gratitude (YOG) blog. If you enjoy this topic or ever need a boost, feel free to hop over there and browse round for further thoughts or a dose of inspiration.

By spending so much time writing/thinking about, and steeped in being grateful, I hope the attitude has become an ingrained habit that will rest on my shoulders like a soft beautiful shawl for life. No matter what comes (and especially if it's bad, hurtful or sad), I think the lessons I've learned will continue to take away some of the chill.

I'll leave you with these thoughts, as I once and for the last time publicly count blessings brought about by a year of focusing on being grateful:

• Above all, I've realized life is all about how you choose to see things.
  Rain will inevitably spoil the parade now and then, but grateful, joyful thinking makes one heck of an umbrella.
• Gratitude is contagious.
• Gratefulness is not only a state of mind, but a way of living.
• When things are at their worst, a dose of gratitude can change things around, or at least assure you that tomorrow is definitely a new day.
• Gratitude begets more gratitude.
• Focusing on the goodness of life increases joy and health.
• Thankfulness can bring people who have nothing (or very little) in common together.
• It is just as easy to be glad as sad.
• Perspective is an awesome and powerful thing.

I will always remember 2008 as the Year of My Gratitude. Thank you, Barb, Kathryn, Patresa and Nannette, for sharing your company and thoughts with me.

May all we've learned by concentrating on gratitude never be far from our hearts and minds.

Mug Love

I'm sharing a true Christmas story that happened yesterday and is posted at our Year of Gratitude (YOG) blog where I first wrote about my coffee mugs, if you have time to stop by. (Hint, it has to do with a half-naked Santa appearing out of the blue.)

Now, on to today's topic of mugs, because my house has been so full of comings and goings and company (some will be here until tomorrow) that I didn't have time to get my Sharpies out and draw another edition of Ledbetter Lunacy...

Bad Ode to Vessels

Oh, coffee mugs, coffee mugs, I love you.

Without you here, what would I do?

*Smile* and good morning to all you coffee or tea drinkers this day after Christmas. If you have a collection of favored mugs like I do, you'll understand this post. If not, just come along for the ride anyway.

I love each of my mugs for different reasons, but like my children, I love them all equally. Let me introduce you to my seven favorites: Senorita is the cup with the fish handles my daughter brought home from her senior cruise to Cozumel in appreciation for helping with her trip. Muscle Gal comes from one of my sons' trips to a Boy Scout National Jamboree to NY. He said it reminded him of me -- "Mom, it's a little cracked from the journey, but still got good life in it." (How's that for a teenage boy's attempt at symbolism?!) At least the chip doesn't come near my mouth as I swill my coffee!

Now, Big Gulp (the green upside down mug) I love because I rescued him from the trash heap at the end of a garage sale. What a bargain at just .10! Atop him sits The Black Lion. I treated myself to this beautiful, shiny treasure at the Hotel Monteleone in New Orleans while attending the Pen-to-Press Writers Conference. Next is Choo-Choo, the cup I purchased to commemorate a trip taken a decade ago to Colorado when we visited the Silverton-Durango coal-powered train. I love that cup because it's so unique; when hot liquids are poured inside, the blackened windows of the depot open to reveal several train engines. Then they go dark again when the liquid cools.

The big one to the right with all the faces of literary masters? That's B&N, named for the bookstore chain where I found it. I love it for obvious reasons including its depths and ability to limit my trips back to the coffee pot. Last but not least is The Graveyard. The place we all finally wind up. It reminds me to carpe diem, encourages me to keep writing, and represents an actual friend's book -- Deborah Leblanc's Grave Intent.

Before you call me a complete nut, think about this: each of my "mugs" is completely different in size, shape and description, yet provides me with key elements for healthy survival -- gifts from their interiors! These gifts for which I am daily filled with gratitude are good memories, inspiration, comfort, continuity, and the essence of all that is good in my world.

Yeah, you guessed it, the mugs are just like my dearest flesh and blood friends. And as trite as my ode and the following saying are, they are nonetheless true: My cup runneth over.

And to you ~~ I love your mugs, inside and out!

{Photo by Angie Ledbetter}

Hey, Buddy, Can Ya Spare a Tip?

It's Thursday, therefore it's time to open the floor to questions, thoughts, whatever. Since this is a new topic for me, I'm going to solicit help from my blogging friends to get started.

Send me ideas...wait, scratch that. Please leave comments on what you consider your best blog post ever. What was it about? What sort of reader reaction did you get? Did that post lead to bigger, better things for you? Know up front that I may be "borrowing" your best ever ideas in the future, and if I can figure out how, I'll link back to your original post. C'mon, help a blogger out! *smile*

Regret Less

[In case you think you're seeing doubles, don't worry. I'm using this same post for our Year of Gratitude blog and this one today because I'm tired and my eyes are googly. Been a long day of football fundraising, cooking for others, and helping take care of Mom. ;)]

Sunday, the traditional first day of the week. I wonder what today will hold? My two sisters and I are taking our mom on a short trip as she’s been very ill for almost a year and has been itching to go somewhere. She’s always loved nothing more than cozying up to a poker slot machine for hours and hours, so we’re going to fulfill that wish for her at a large casino and spend time just the four of us for an overnighter. We’ve got the meds, supplies, wheelchair, and insulin packed up and our don’t-leave-home-without-it Bag O’ Snacks that has always accompanied us on every journey.
After so much bad weather lately, we’re hoping for sunny skies with maybe just a light sprinkle or two. I’m grateful for this time and for this getaway. Three people close to me have lost a loved one suddenly in the last week, so I know what a blessing it is to have as many good days to spend with those you care most about as possible. When the time comes, I won’t have as many shoulda/woulda/couldas and regrets hanging over me as some people do. That is a blessing I truly am grateful for.

All this pondering about time and loss of loved ones and regrets got me to wondering if there are things we can do to minimize those dark cloudy feelings, besides the obvious one of doing today what could be put off until tomorrow or later on. How do you live more fully each day pursuing the things, people and plans most important to you?