A Sprinkle of Gratitude

Today I am grateful that the earthquake I felt today was just a shake and nothing more serious.

Today I am grateful that the boys racing Cunningham Classic raced safely and that Troy Hawthorn came first and got the King of the Mountain!! I am grateful that the boys didn’t run over David who was supplying them water in the feed zone.

Today I am grateful that our good friend Lionel Torrens has only a broken bike and not any broken bones after his crash at Nundah this morning. 

Today I am grateful for online shopping. Today I have managed to plan our meals for next week and I have done a shopping list.  Tomorrow I hope to do the shopping from the comfort of my lounge room. 

Today I am grateful that all my family is home safe and sound from all their activities .

Today I am grateful that Karen Anderson visited me yesterday. She is an exercise physiologist who is passionate about improving people’s quality of life by helping them exercise within the parameters of their pain, fatigue and muscle weakness as a result of their illness or injury. She talked to me about how important it is to recognize the enormous amount of energy it takes to heal and she has given me a plan of exercise for the next month. I am so grateful she took the time out of her day to come and visit me and help me . 

Today I am grateful for the bodies amazing ability to heal. I am amazed and in awe of how complicated our bodies are and how incredible it is that such a complicated organism can heal. I have had some bruises come out this week and it is eight weeks since the accident. I think I am still healing from the inside out.

  
 
Today I am grateful that I have a brace still on my arm. I was given the option of having a plate put in my arm early on. If I had a plate put in I think I would have been driving and doing normal activities much sooner. Having a longer recovery time I think is giving me a better chance to heal more fully. It is also allowing me to appreciate more fully how wonderful life is.  

 Today I am grateful for old friends. Today I was visited by my school friends Naomi and Lyndal. It was so lovely to see them and catch up on all their news and to hear all about their children. I was also visited by the lovely man who married us, christened our children and renewed our vows for us 2 years ago. 
  
Today I am grateful I was able to sit cross legged in my usual meditation spot. 

Today I am grateful for people who are passionate about what they do. I watched Inside Story this morning about  Gordion Fulde – the doctor in charge of Saint Vincent’s Emergency Centre. He is passionate about what he does and has helped to make very significant changes to the lockout laws in Kings Cross. These changes are making a huge difference to saving the lives of young men and reducing the occurrence of alcohol and drug fueled violence killing young men. I came across very passionate clinicians at the Royal Brisbane Hospital who have made changes to emergency practices and are decreasing the fatality rate of people with emergencies who are coming through our hospital system. Today I am grateful that people like this exist in our world and make a difference. 

  
Today I am grateful that I have a beautiful view from desk and that I am actually well enough to spend some time sitting at my desk. 

Today I am grateful for my rainbow maker that makes rainbows dance around the kitchen in the morning. 

  
I am also grateful that as a child I read Pollyanna – Pollyanna always tried to play the glad game. I think she was a trail blazer for being grateful. 

Today I am grateful for old friends. My friend Lisa Brown dropped in to see me today . We have been friends since our oldest children went to Kindy together. We have shared so much together. I am grateful we are still able to share our lives and those of our children . 

Today I am grateful that I cooked dinner last night for the first time since my accident.

Today I am grateful that the dinner I cooked last night was delicious.

  
  
  
Today I am grateful that all my roses are having their annual haircut today. They will all be sticks by the end of today ready for new growth in the spring.

Today I am grateful that Nicholas got home safely last night from his weekend at Spendour in the Grass. He is still asleep so I am unable to find out just yet how he enjoyed his first music festival. It will be interesting to find out how he enjoyed it as I have read numerous accounts of people who renamed the festival Spendour in the Mud. 

Today I am grateful that Jen Cowle and Carolyn Shelberg are still training to do  the Peaks Ride ( which is the ride I was also training for). Both girls rode 200km yesterday. What an achievement for both girls. 

Today I am grateful for technology. I have just found a journaling app that I can use until I can again write with my left hand.

  
Today I am grateful for another short outing. I went to the Gap Farmer’s Markets this morning for a little while. I had a beautiful fresh juice and a delicious crepe.

Today I am grateful that David didn’t ride this morning. It means I will have his company all day. 

Today I am grateful that our local pet shop delivers dog food. I didn’t have to get David  to get it when it ran out. 

Today I am grateful that we live so close to bushland. We have so much bird life to listen to. 

Today I am grateful for taxis. I am still not able to drive  but I have been able to out this week a couple of times on my own. Being able to get places by taxi has given me a little bit of independence. I am very grateful that people are very happy to drive me places but is also very nice to be able to go places independently. 

Today I am grateful that with my new brace I am able to put my clothes on over the  brace instead of having a big visible cumbersome brace over my clothes.

  
Today I am grateful that my girls have new curtains in their bedrooms. It means if we get more cold weather they won’t have such cold rooms. 

Today I am grateful that I loved cycling so much. Even though I am quite a while from getting back on a bike the cameraderie, fitness and adventure I experienced while riding gives me something to aim for again in the future. 

  
Today I am grateful for having breakfast with the MB cycling crew this morning. It was lovely to see everyone, breakfast was delicious and I felt very loved by everyone. 

Today I am grateful that I have a new brace on my arm. It is much lighter and smaller than the last one. Hopefully it will mean I manage to sleep better at night because it will be easier to move around in bed and not have to sleep in the one position all night.  

 Today I am grateful that my lovely friend Nicci is getting better too. 

Today I am grateful that I had a coffee in a coffee shop before coming home from my appointment .

  
Today I am grateful that I have heard from Nicholas. He is at Spendour in the Grass with I think, all the youth of Brisbane. 

Today I am grateful that I had half a glass of wine with dinner last night. It tasted lovely and did not upset my tummy. 

Today I am grateful for my amazing Mum and Dad. Mum has been incredible driving me around and looking after me. Dad has been available to answer endless questions and offer very rational, sensible advice.

  
   
 
Today I am grateful that I will have a new smaller brace on my broken arm tomorrow.

Today I am grateful I walked up and down our driveway by myself.

Today I am grateful I have been able to do some singing. 

Today I am grateful that I am actually starting to think about cooking a meal. I am not sure what I will cook first. It will have to be something easy – something I don’t have to stand too long to prepare or to have to cut too many  ingredients . I might try on the weekend .