Healthy Reflection on Monday

On By AngeliaIn Better to be a blessing, In my heart forever & ever

Because Sunday I just couldn’t, and I really need it today – something healthy to reflect upon that is – how about you?

When eating a fruit, think of the person who planted the tree.

– Vietnamese saying

Expressing everyday gratitude

How often do you remember the people that have made little things possible for you? It’s easy to take our privileges for granted. Today, be more aware of your surroundings–everything from your shirt, house, food, and car–and who has made them possible for you. Who has made it possible for you to experience such wonderful things? One way to let someone know that you truly appreciate their efforts is to send them a quick note or return the kindness in your own way.

Brought to you by SPARKPEOPLE.
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Happy “short” week of the holiday! Can I thank the pilgrims? Thank you for making this holiday possible. Can I also thank all the turkeys out there? No, not your ex-boyfriends. The bird! No, not “Let’s all do the bird”, dance with Morris Day and the Time, or THE BIRDS by Alfred Hitchcock. I, totally, just dated myself.

I mean Turkey, and dressing served on platter. Yes, Yum! Happy Thanksgiving! I am so happy, and thankful – I swear it’s not just the extra days off (I think?).

This post is really about everyday grace, and not just the time of the year. My first thought that comes to mind is my mom. Hey, she wasn’t perfect by any means, but she PLAYED with us. She instilled manners, respect, morals, and fun. She is still fun, and she STILL plays. I love her! My delightful child-like mother, who encouraged independence, love of children, and animals, forever in my sentiment. Thanks mom for being you.

I am thankful for my health, and my limbs. Yes, that is what happens when you are raised by a handicap father. Suddenly, having healthy working legs is a BIG deal. How easy it is to take our mobility for granted. How quickly it can be taken from us.

Having and keeping a job in this economy. Can I just say, “WOW!” I never worried about my job during the Gulf War. I never worried when airlines stopped paying commissions to travel agencies, and the owners flipped their lids, and we had to start charging fees.

I was not even concerned when the internet arrived with Orbitz, and Travelocity, and the airlines following close behind, this book your own moxie. Why use a travel agent? But I knew not everyone would, especially larger corporate companies, which was my specialty. We were still needed.

Then, the devastating blow of 9/11 sucked the soul out of us, but not the heart. In spite of all that, NOTHING has compared to this last year in the travel industry. Nothing. So thank you, dear job, I am so grateful for you.

My sister, no we don’t live close. We are not close in age. I barely remember her living with us growing up. She was more of a little mommy than a sister. But oh, she is my livelihood. How I adore her, and look up to her, even now that I’m grown and can see, she actually has flaws. She will always be my big sister, and my best friend. God made us sisters, our hearts made us friends. That saying is so true with us.

My dear Jason, far and above, the most paramount man, I have ever met or known, besides my step dad. The thought this man puts into every single thing, a quiet responsible purpose of pursuit, with patience and utter endurance, just to offer the best of himself to those he loves.

Yet, he is always willing to listen to my flash bulbs of babbling brilliance. They pale in comparison to his “bigger” picture brain and burn out just as quickly in light of his deep embers. I can’t imagine a more fitting complement than what we are to each other.

Out of 9 MILLION people on Facebook, I found you, the one, and only you. How small I am compared to the grander illustration painted for both of us.

My daughter Sydney, you amaze and entertain me. Your quick wit, and non-typical teenage antics. By far you are more stylish than I ever could, would, or should be in this lifetime. Thank GOD, you know which shoes go with what. I will forever embarrass you with the wrong outfit just so you can say, “Mooooooommmmmmm, no.”

There are so many others, the scope of which encompasses to an eternity, and I hope you know who you are, because I don’t have enough words to attribute.

I hope I show my kindness to each of you in return. I hope you know how much you mean to me. I hope I express it, not just in words, or deeds, but in every hug, and in every email, text, or comment. I know where my appreciation comes from. It comes from YOU. It comes from your heart. It comes from where YOU came from. What a blessing you are. I am overjoyed to be in your life.

Graciously, I go into this wonderful week with you. Please share your gratitude with me. I’d love to hear it. And I know it will make you feel good (besides, I bet you have already typed it out, HA).

19 thoughts on “Healthy Reflection on Monday”

  1. Angelia,

    I am grateful for what is right in front of my nose, always.
    The rest I forget until it is right in front of my nose.
    Now you are right in front of my nose, so I am grateful for you being you.

    Lots of love and a great thanksgiving, we do not have thanksgiving here so have double fun.
    Wilma xox and are ‘they’ doing the dishes in your house on that day?

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  4. I thank the Father Almighty for a wonderful day with you. I’m grateful for everything, big and small, that God has created for mankind. Isn’t it great to be alive to tell you, “Friends forever”? Thank you.

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  5. blissbait

    so perfectly named:
    angel i a! YES! you are!!!
    thanks for being here

    And for always, all~ways speaking your love and gratitude and journey crystal clear and outloud! Sparkly woman!

    I’m grateful for SOOOOOOOO much. For ALL on my very centered days! 🙂 Am brewing my Thanksgiving post…so it’ll be up over there when I spill my beans!

    Cheers and Namaste. 🙂

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  6. Angelia,
    I’m grateful for you, with so many blogs out there I’m honored you take the time to read and comment on mine!

    I’m grateful for the 11 Hispanic children I tutor for reading! They keep me grounded in my blessings with their joy.

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  8. I try to be grateful each and every day, even for a few brief minutes before I get seriously pissed off about something. =] As you know, I am truly grateful for all of the new friends I have made via the internet, which includes you my dear! I’m thankful for my family (be they ever so annoying) my semi health and the sense of humor that allows me to glide through my life without serious bouts of depression. Lol.

    Happy Thanksgiving!
    ♥Spot

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  9. Ahhhh Angelia, you are such a good, gentle soul. I am thankful we bumped into each other on this giant ride of interwebs. Its really cool when you think about it. =)

    I am thankful for a ton of things. Its just hard to think about them cause I’m a little sad/grumpy/annoyed right now. But I am Thankful, I promise.

    Have a great day with your family. You deserve it!!

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  11. Daughter

    awh:)

    &
    MOOOOOOMM I’LL ALWAYS HELP YOUR SHOES MATCH UR OUTFITT!!
    HECK, YOU BORROW MY SHOES ANYWAYS!!
    ( OR TAKE AND NEVER GIVE BACK,!! OR TAKE AND GIVE BACK WHEN I ASK WHERE THEY WENT AND THEN THEIR ALL STRETCHED OUT AND I CAN’T EVEN WEAR EM NEMORE??)

    anyways, so
    YEEEAH WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCEEe????

    🙂
    hahahahah

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  12. What a beautiful, beautiful list of blessings!
    Thank you so much for sharing and also for stopping by to take the time to actually read my blog. I’m thankful for you and that your name is spelled the same as my daughter’s or else I might not have ever found you.
    God bless you, dear Blog-friend.

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  14. Wilma-Thanks for the love! I will have extra just for you. This will be my first Thanksgiving with Jason’s family, so not sure how they do dishes. Maybe we will draw straws. 🙂 xoxo

    Heather-Friends on the internet are rare finds indeed. When you think of how BIG cyber space is, to how small we are, and we find just the right person to care about. It really is something. Health is also something to be grateful for, even semi-health.

    my kashi-I love that answer. EVERYTHING! I’m very happy for you. I can’t imagine moving, a baby, and all that stuff you got going on.

    Senior Debutante- What humbling gratefulness you offer. Thank you for such a blessing!

    Bliss- You are a million stars. I’m grateful for you too. You bring light to my being.

    Tess-Thank you! I am grateful for you as well, and your far reaching wisdom in this blog land. I love that you tutor and get such joy from it. That is what true teaching is about.

    Peggy-Me too! Me too! I keep repeating, you are a God send to me. Serendipity smiling, cheering, and jumping.
    xoxo

    Spot-You never fail to make me laugh. Your wit is a gift I, personally, am grateful for in my life. Very proud to call you friend!

    Peedee-I know you are thankful for sno balls, yes? 🙂
    It really is cool, especially finding another black lab adorer, who understands why I’m such a softie with my baby.

    Tammy-Thanks Tammy! It really is humbling when you consider everything around us was someone else’s hard work and design. It sure puts the little things in perspective.

    Dearest Sydney- Have I said a SINGLE word about my black flats, that you didn’t even steal, but just claimed as your own? I stole shoes you don’t wear. They were in your closet with DUST on em! Now you, you take my brand new shoes. Right on.

    Weezer- I still can’t believe your daughter has the same name. That is sooo AWESOME! God Bless you too, dear friend!

    Carrie-Thanks for the invite! The party is jumping in gratitude. Lovin it!

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  16. Tanya

    Ange,
    What a wonderful way to express your gratitude!! I loved reading this and it humbled me. I guess I’m grateful for anything that takes me by surprise, like this, and makes me stop and remember the beauty of words and other forms of creativity. We don’t truly EXPRESS ourselves as much as we NEED to, and I like what you and other people have done here, with your inspiring Blogs.

    I’m most grateful for the life changing event of finding a truer and more compatible love in my life. Grateful that I got through a very tough year and that my loved ones are growing, despite some tangles and snags, and grateful that I was born to be very compassionate and patient with them all.

    Finally, I’m grateful to have tapped into your spirit again and shared this tiny moment, across the miles, and that eDiets and Sparkpeople are links to such awesome, indescribable friendships.

    Love and happiness to you and your family, during this Thanksgiving weekend — mwah, mwah!!
    Tanya

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  18. Jen– Loved your gratitude post! Thanks for coming by.

    Tanya-You are a gem. It’s great to see you here. You have been such a dear, sweet friend. Only in today’s world could we make such long lasting friendships in cyberspace. What a treasure!

    Mindy-You are very blessed. Love fills up and spills over from your beautiful family.

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  19. Thanks so much for linking this up to our Gratitude Party. I love your quotes and outlook on life! It sounds like your daughter is a gem, and I look forward to the day my toddler can give me fashion advice!
    ~Carrie

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