Tag Archives: #grateful

Grateful That Beauty Hunts The Beast

Recently I spent nearly two hours in an MRI Tube at the City of Hope. Fortunately, I listened to music while in the large, tube-shaped magnet and tried to imagine the persons who created such technology. As I listened to the various tones and noises within the tube, I thought about movies I had watched where 3-D images were built using water molecules and radio waves, creating aligned atoms to form cross-sectional MRI images. With each noise, I tried to think what bodily organ was built as I was rolled a little bit in, then a little bit out repeatedly. When the frequencies sounded low, I believed my bones were being examined and the density of the bone required lower frequencies. Of course, I really have no idea what was happening in terms of the actual technology, but it gave my mind something to do, so I would not become afraid.

Somewhere during the midpoint of my experience, the song “Beauty and the Beast” began to play. I paused and felt extremely happy. I felt such joy that I had the opportunity to be in that tube – the BEAUTY of science. In the old days, doctors had to perform exploratory surgery to learn of hidden tumors, bleeding, and various health problems. My gratitude overflowed to have Medicare pay for me to have the opportunity to have an MRI. Around about that same moment – I visualized the BEAST that was the cancer cell that was sneaking and lurking within my organs, and vessels. Again, my gratitude overflowed that Medicare was helping me find these beastly cells so that we may remove them from my body.

It was such an interesting moment in life. I am grateful that Beauty Hunted The Beast on that particular December day. Find Gratitude each day in all that you do!

#gratitudeultra

I’m Grateful for Slurry Sealing

It seems that all too often we take ordinary city services for granted. Recently, my city Engineering Division performed “slurry sealing” on our city streets. It was fun to watch the drivers, walkers, bikers, dogs, baby buggies, and, of course car drivers work around the slurry trucks to try to slurry our city! In the end, everyone worked together to beautify our community. Note: other communities may call this “sealing streets”.

After this experience, I have a new appreciation for traffic control barricades, and City Project Managers who kindly managed everyone to complete this improvement project! Be grateful and give gratitude for city services. They have a tough job of “people control” to lay the rubber down, seal cracks, and improve the pavements on which we drive daily.

Give thanks today for “Slurry Sealing”!

#gratitudezero

Grateful For Thankfulness

This is a wonderful day. The sun is shining in Southern CA, my son is visiting me from the Midwest, my friends call me regularly and invite me to dinner or some fun event, and I watched Judge Jackson give a speech after her Supreme Court confirmation.

This morning I felt especially thankful for my life, my family, my little buddy and doggie who is always by my side, and my friends. As I reflect on this day, I remind myself to express thankfulness for all that I have.

I think too often we are quick to complain when we are unhappy or disappointed in life, but I believe we need to remember to be quick to be thankful each day for all that we have and experience. As I try to walk the path to gratitude I want to express thankfulness as often as possible. How ’bout you?

#gratitudelite

Grateful For Caregivers, Caretakers, And Helpful People

During the holiday season, I observe so many thoughtful and helpful people all around us. Typically we learn helpfulness from our parents, especially our mothers, who create magical moments for us as children with visits to colorful locations, cooking our favorite foods, decorating our homes, giving presents, and preparing us through their models to be kind and giving individuals as we grow up.

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A Day For Gratitude

Today is Thanksgiving – a day for Gratitude! This is typically a memorable day for all because of time with friends and family and, THE FOOD. The various parades, and runs, and shopping beginning for the holidays, new movies, lots of photos taken, and generally great times happen on this day each year.

As I reflected on this day for all of us, I paused to reflect on why each day can not be like this day? Is gratitude seasonal? Gratitude should be practiced each and every day don’t you think?

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Gratitude For Health

Yesterday morning I felt fearful to visit a new doctor. As I drove to Santa Monica in the early morning hours, I found this artwork on the side of a building next to a Subaru car dealership in the Los Angeles area. I stopped and took a photo of “Gratitude” in a bed of roses. Seeing this art, I knew my fears were not warranted. I was gonna be OK.

Nearing the 4.5 year mark from several tumors, multiple surgeries and other health treatments, I was worried that my doctor referred me to a Pulmonologist to check out nodules in my lung after a recent CT scan. With the pandemic, of all the health issues I did not want to face, I was concerned about breathing, my lungs, and a painful biopsy during this particular time. Fortunately, I met a talented doctor who opted to watch the nodule as opposed to continue with an “invasive diagnosis” at this time. Oh Happy Day!

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I’m Grateful For Serendipity And Synchronicity in Life

Today was a great day. I picked up business cards I had made for GratitudeSquared.com and as I was leaving Office Depot with the cards, the very clerk who helped me asked if I liked my cards, and I said “yes” and I wanted to give her my first business card! She accepted my simple gift of the card to her. She exclaimed how negative sometimes life seems to be these days, and appeared so happy to see the positivity from the name of my site. I felt happy that she became happy when she saw the word “gratitude”. It’s a nice, warm, fuzzy feeling to make people happy. She said she was going to “check it out”! For those of us who post, it is always nice when someone reads what we write. We do sincerely appreciate the time you give to us.

Later I had my blood drawn for labs I need for my doctor’s visits next week, and I thanked the nurse who did a good job with a pediatric needle by handing her my business card with GratitudeSquared. She also had the same response as the clerk in Office Depot. It seems that people are nearly depressed by their jobs, and a brief moment of “gratitude” is just the medicine they need. In fact, I took a photo while at the Quest lab today. See the photo below. As I was waiting in the Quest lab, I wondered why in the world they would have to post on their office door about guns! How the world seems to be changing these days!

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Grateful For This Sacred Day

Today my Facebook reminded me that 10 years ago today was my father’s last day of life! Tomorrow will be his 10 year death anniversary. I miss him so.

Rather than be buried in the usual stress of my own life, I devoted this day to those memories of my father. He was a minister 100%. He always was in a suit, tie, jacket. I remember one year on vacation he even rowed a boat in a suit and tie. We sometimes had to cancel our own vacation plans because someone in the church was in the hospital, or was dying, or needed him.

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I’m Grateful For Sunglasses

I love to people watch at the beach as often as possible. But, the California sunshine is sometimes too bright so I have to close my eyes. Lately, I solved my problem with these sunglasses and hat.

Thank God for this discovery. Now I can continue to people watch all day long!

Even dogs have gratitude!

#gratitudezero