-*-

-*-

Right now...

I truly appreciate and am grateful for the incredibly rejuvenating and replenishing effects of sleep.

Thank you.

Just, thank you.

Thank you...

...for teaching me how to surrender.

-*-

You...

...are an amazing person, and I'm grateful you are in my life.

-*-

oh boy, oh boy, oh boy!

Thank You Sun!!!

-*-

Thank you...

...body...

April 18th, redux...

Thank you, Mom, for all you are and all you do. Thank you for choosing this life to be born into. Thank you for choosing to be my Mom. Thank your for being in my life. I love you so much.

Happy Birthday.

-*-

-*-

Thank you,

for listening.

Today, I appreciate vulnerability.

Thank you.

* * *

When Love Comes

Love has to steal into hearts here on earth.
It has to be sneaky and coy
Cloaking itself in plain clothes,
So that you are taken hostage without defenses.

It has to knock on your door as if it's just the mailman
Bringing more junk for your entertainment
To toss away with a shake of the head.

But when you open that message that Love has sent
It begins to act on you without warning
Infecting your every cell
And changing your DNA.

It stuns you and leaves you wide-eyed.
It interferes with every plan you had
And it demands your full attention.
You find your feet are off the ground then,
Your head feels light and at night when you are alone
You dream dreams you had put aside,
Those sweet innocent ones when you were just a child
And still fresh from God. You begin to remember.

When Love comes stealing into your heart
You need to surrender
And give up everything you have

Let go

Allow its light to burn your house down
And then you need to ride that wild horse
Wherever it will take you.

-Kamila Agi-Mjias

Thank you,

Aloe.

-*-

-*-

I am truly grateful

for the ceaselessly shifting tides, and unpredictability of life.

-*-

-*-

I had almost forgotten...

What it feels like to have the warm breeze and sun filled air waft across my bare skin. Thank you sun, and a new season for bringing thus sensation back into my world today.

Thank you,

frustration. 

Ultimately Grateful For:

This night. Good friends. Authentic connections. Sitting, bathed in bright moonlight. Allowing feeling, regardless of how painful, difficult or awkward. Dancing loose the devil from my back.

Thank you.


* * *

Regrets collect like old friends
Here to re-live your darkest moments
I can see no way, I can see no way
And all of the ghouls come out to play
And every demon wants his pound of flesh
But I like to keep some things to myself
I like to keep my issues drawn
It's always darkest before the dawn

And I've been a fool and I've been blind
I can never leave the past behind
I can see no way, I can see no way
I'm always dragging that horse around
And our love is pastured such a mournful sound
Tonight I'm gonna bury that horse in the ground
So I like to keep my issues drawn
But it's always darkest before the dawn

Shake it out, shake it out, shake it out, shake it out
Shake it out, shake it out, shake it out, shake it out
And it's hard to dance with the devil on your back
So shake him off

I am done with my graceless heart
So tonight I'm gonna cut it out and then restart
Cause I like to keep my issues drawn
It's always darkest before the dawn

Shake it out, shake it out, shake it out, shake it out
Shake it out, shake it out, shake it out, shake it out
And it's hard to dance with the devil on your back
So shake him off
And it's hard to dance with the devil on your back

And given half the chance would I take any of it back
It's a fine romance but its left me so undone
It's always darkest before the dawn

And I'm damned if I do and I'm damned if I don't
So here's to drinks in the dark at the end of my rope
And I'm ready to suffer and I'm ready to hope
It's a shot in the dark aimed right at my throat
Cause looking for heaven, found the devil in me
Looking for heaven, found the devil in me
Well what the hell I'm gonna let it happen to me

Shake it out, shake it out, shake it out, shake it out
Shake it out, shake it out, shake it out, shake it out
And it's hard to dance with a devil on your back
So shake him off

Shake it out, shake it out, shake it out, shake it out
Shake it out, shake it out, shake it out, shake it out
And it's hard to dance with a devil on your back
So shake him off

-Florence + The Machine (Shake It Out)

Thank you,

rain.

Today

I am grateful for feelings.

Today...

I am grateful for the deep, gripping, physical pain of the worst menstrual cramps I've ever experienced in my entire life. Thank you, body, for being able to withstand this pain. Thank you, pain, for taking me out of my head and bringing me back into my body. I consider this experience (along with countless other somatic, tactile experiences) to be one of my most valued teachers.

Gratitude...

In so many forms. Today, I am deeply grateful for my partner. Your patience, listening, support, friendship, love, thoughtfulness and kindness have enriched my life already in so many ways. And I know it is just the beginning.  Thank you, Taylor, for challenging me in so many various ways. I love you.

Fear. Anger. Anxiety. Restlessness.

I am grateful for these emotions and states of being, and everything they have taught me, and still continue to teach me. I am grateful for my awareness of them, and my ability to sit with them and not feel like I must immediately react when one of these feelings makes themselves known, or steps firmly in front of my view.