Gratitude Month - Who are you grateful for in your life?

The month of November I spend in the Action of Gratitude. Each day I take moments to go out and thank the people in my life that I am grateful for. They have touched my life in a special way - some in positive, life changing ways. I add their name to my gratitude tree and most days I write a blog post sharing why I am grateful for them in my life. For the past few days I have written posts and decided intentionally not to make them public reading; but rather, to pick up the telephone and call the people involved. It has also been my tradition that the week of Thanksgiving to call one person a day for the week and three people on Thanksgiving Day itself, to share words of personal gratitude with them. I wanted to share the experience of Gratitude in Action and the ripple effect that it can have.

Well, as it seems it always does, the couple of people that I have called this year had a similar response as in past years. The conversation goes something like this.

"I just called to say how incredibly grateful that you are in my life and grateful that this year we have had the chance to be a big part of each others lives."

"What? Oh. Well I love you too, but what is really on your mind? What is going on?"

"No really I am just calling to say thank you and I love you."

"Your serious? Who does that? I love you but you are so weird."

I was struck again by this conversation. Why is it that in society today everyone is astounded at gifts of gratitude? Of calling up a close friend to just say thank you with no expectation of getting something in return? While the people I called are not the sort who would read my blog and are not what any would call a typical "spiritual" person, they are most definitely spiritual beings who would take the shirt of their back if they thought me or any one of their friends needed it.

See to them gratitude, humility, and love are rarely expressed in anything other than action. They express gratitude by getting up off the you know what and going out to help someone move homes yet again or fix a truck that is broke down yet again. They ride 'bikes', talk rough, and look rougher. But their souls are the most giving and loving that I have been honored to call friend.

Back to my gratitude for today.

So am at the post office and get very excited as I open my small box to find four keys to large parcel boxes. One of these tough ones happen to be in the post office at the same time as I and offer to help. We get the boxes and the packages over to a counter and I have to open one when I see the name of the sender. It happens to be a gift from a dear soul sister of mine, Sylvie Olivier. I read the card and tears flow. My tough friend shakes their at my emotional reaction. Finally asking, "ok I give someone die?". I have to laugh and share that this friend of mine sent me a heart touching card and presents of love. "You are joking right?" (referring to why I am crying).



We spent some time after in a conversation about why I am so grateful for the small things in life, my journey. I then shared my friend Sylvie's thoughts. My "tough" friend wasn't so tough after all.

So today I celebrate in gratitude my soul sister Sylvie for being part of some actions in gratitude; by sharing her gratitude in action with me and my not so tough friend. MWAH Sylvie I love you. Who are you grateful for today?