Stories on Life, Love and Inspiration
Grateful For All Life Has Given
Life Gives Us So Much To Be Grateful For!
Simple and True: ‘Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can’. Arthur Ashe
I shall pass through life but once. Any good, therefore that I can do, let me do it now. Let me not defer it nor neglect it. Etienne de Grellet
Creativity is an eternal element, born of the moment, but intangible and lasting, a fundamental life force. Renee Phillips
There is always something good in every day. For me, it’s all about the little things. Like seeing a beautiful butterfly in the garden when raking up the leaves. Like saying hello to my neighbour’s dog and seeing her tail wag madly. Like staring up at the uncountable stars on a clear night and knowing they will be there for me another night. Like the gentle rain after another hot day here in Moree. And all the other countless ways I am blessed with the “little things.”
And, I now will speak of some of the important things in my life for which I am grateful.
Like, all Australians, you probably appreciate the freedom living in our grand nation she grants every citizen. Perhaps you will allow me to shout how I have been blessed by simply being a member of its numbers.
I am honoured to rise each morning, free to pursue my chosen career. To love my family, who are safe from soldiers lying in wait. Daily news bombards me with headlines I cringe at. The mere sight of children huddling in fear and parents at a loss on how to protect them.
You are different from me. Yes of equal value! Different and yet the same. You start your day in your unique fashion. Valuing what is personal and exceptional to you. Stepping out to face new challenges, rewards, people and places that make your life valued and valuable.
If you are indeed Australian. Do you feel pride in this word? Do you ever stop and say “thank you” for the freedom this nation has permitted you to be You? The very special you that you are! At the end of the day, a moment of gratitude for achievements accomplished. Family and friends met, just permitting you to Be in freedom. A moment of gratitude and appreciation!
As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them. John F. Kennedy
At the close of each day, I allow myself a few prized moments to thank God for the blessings showered on me. The painting continued, the story drafted, a friend popping in for a chat. Yes, I am truly blessed. Sometimes I wonder why. I am no one special, just me.
You and I have a great deal to be grateful for. We do not have everything we need or want, but we have our freedom. A gift beyond measure. A legacy won by soldiers unknown. I, for one, want to say “thank you.”
Do you have a specific offering you may use when gratitude and appreciation are needed?
Do you print out a greeting card that you designed for yourself online for a friend — for just being your friend?
A beautiful bunch of flowers for your wife on your wedding anniversary saying “thank you”— for the many years of being together.
Or, perhaps a special meal in a favourite restaurant for your parents telling them you — remember all the special times.
There are countless ways you have shown gratitude. Only you know what these intimate statements were and how — you shined your light into another’s life.
Like you, I have ways of showing my gratitude to family members, friends and other people I come in contact with. I do have ways of shining my thankfulness on people. Others have given my life true purpose and meaning.
But, I have at times, and more often than I am comfortable with, I have not shown my gratitude. I feel they are unaware of my appreciation and gratitude. I am a jovial person by nature — but — rarely show my deeper more intimate side.
One way or another, you all have a way of showing your gratitude for your daily blessings. You all view your lives through the lens of past experiences and interactions with others. You are the ‘sum’ of the people who you love and the things in your life you are extremely grateful for. I am not speaking merely of material possessions. But places visited, meals with friends and family, moments shared you will always remember.
The sheer freedom of expressing myself, as I am now, is not available to many women in some other nations. How do I express my gratitude for this sheer yet glorious freedom?
Freedom consists not in doing what we like, but in having the right to do what we ought. Pope John Paul II
The simple freedom to rise each morning-have a coffee and plan each day as I wish. How do I express my gratitude for this simple freedom? Freedom was fought for by unknown soldiers.
The freedom to have coffee in my favourite cafe with a friend and linger longer than we should. How do I express my gratitude for this simple pleasure?
Freedom, in my old age, I benefit from the Australian high-quality health system ensuring I am healthy. Able to live a content and satisfying life. How do I express my gratitude to the medical staff and the political system?
You might have noticed. I do indeed have a great deal to be grateful to Australian society for. And how precisely am I going to express/show this appreciation you may ask. One way, a new way for me. Is in my writing, and my storytelling here on Medium.
You too have people in your life who did and do continue to make a difference. You too have a unique and special way of showering gratitude on them. Now, all I ask is a moment's gratitude for the blessings showered upon you by this one-of-kind nation-Australia. She deserves no less.
Imagining my life anywhere else but Australia, not for a second! The chorus of my gratitude is the theme of today’s story — if you haven’t guessed yet.
My parents and I migrated from England when I was eight years old. Australia provided my parents and I with home, work, education and freedom for which I will be forever thankful.
I do not remember much about my childhood, family or England. At times I am sad about this. I do have fond memories of times with my grandparents and my cousins on family picnics on castle grounds. Yet, England itself is a complete mystery to me. I do recall the intensity of loss when we first settled into our adopted home. It took many years for this loss to completely pass.
Out of profound gratitude for my adopted country, I can only say that I would like in this land to live and die, and while I live to help other people as much as possible, believing that only in service to other people can I possibly express my gratitude. Peter Marshall
There were many times when prejudice and unwarranted discrimination brought bitter tears and regret. But the love of my parents and the acceptance by new friends was the salve needed to soothe raw nerves.
The freedom given to growing into a person of value in this incredible nation soon erased bad memories. Now I never have a moment of regret for leaving my home country and making Australia my forever ‘home’.
I have travelled quite extensively over Queensland and NSW. I have compared their exquisite beauty with documentaries and books about other countries. For me, Australia has and always will win Hands Down!
Wait a moment here! I have put my heart and soul into creating aesthetically pleasing and beautiful original seascape and landscape oil paintings. But it has been quite some time since I have sold one. How can my paintings show Australian art collectors how much I love Australia’s natural beauty if visitors do not purchase a piece of my art?
Wait a moment here! I have poured my soul into forty-two published here on Medium. What, Oh! What am I missing here? I do thorough research both for each story and on how to improve my storytelling. What, Oh! What am I missing here?
Indeed, I’m not yet a World Renowned Master Artist or an Amazon World Best Seller. But I have poured my heart and soul into my art and writing. For me, that is all the confirmation needed.
Now I will settle down with a ‘cuppa’ let my website take care of promoting my artwork and Medium to fly my stories to the world.
Contrast my life to that of the billions who have nothing and I am without a doubt blessed and I am grateful.
As I have suggested. We each have our approach to expressing gratitude and appreciation. It’s also true that each of us is adept at saying “thank you” in our unique fashion.
I have and will continue doing so — Join me!!!
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