50 Gratitudes

I am grateful for . . .

1. This moment.

2. Anyone reading these words (or simply scanning the first few lines and pretending to read it).

3. Each breath. The ins and the outs. Truly. I’ve seen what emphysema does to a person.

4. My husband + our two sons, my nucleus (n. the central and most important part of an object, movement, or group, forming the basis for its activity and growth).

5. My original cell body—mom, dad + sister.

6. My larger tribe of family: aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, in-laws. I have the BEST!

7. My grandmothers + grandfathers. Their sacrifices, wisdom + hopes.

8. My besties. Each of whom honors and uplifts me in the most singular and amazing way.

9. My chosen family. You’re MINE!

10. My friends—each one at any given time a grounding force, a beacon of light, a healing salve, an uplifting wind, or a good slap in the face.

11. My community—my quirky, queer, beautiful, sacred, funky and alive river community.

12. Spirit, in all its forms—the divine of one’s own understanding, a feeling in the heart, the quiet of your mind, the majesty of the trees, a consciousness of the stars.

13. Opportunity.

14. Perseverance.

15. Transformation.

16. Self-knowledge.

17. Shared insight.

18. Kindness.

19. Honesty.

20. Clarity.

21. The perfectitude of imperfection.

22. Bags and shoes! ...and scarves and bangles and necklaces and earrings and big colorful coats, billowy pants, feathered hats and kimonos, boot socks, infinity scarves, fingerless gloves, red shoes, chunky belts … #aparigrahafail #stillworkingonthatyama

23. motHER eARTh.

24. Clean water. Mni wikoni. Water is life.

25. Words, language, expression in all its forms. Books. BOoks. BOOks. BOOKs. BOOKS!!!!

26. Writing and office supplies: paper, pencils, pens, paper clips, pink erasers, binder clips, folders, stickies, highlighters, onion skin paper, typewriters, white out … #nerdyandiknowit

27. Whole-child, earth-based, community-centered education. #villagecharterschool

28. Emergent strategy. http://tiny.cc/etknez http://adriennemareebrown.net/

29. Generative conflict. I’m most grateful for zero conflict, but since the struggle is real and necessary, wouldn't it be nice if a butterfly were the end result?

30. My yoga. My practice. Every aspirational limb. Every day.

31. Change. — “All that you touch you Change. All that you Change Changes you. The only lasting truth is Change. God Is Change.” The Book of the Living, Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler

32. My jobs, my coworkers, my badass bosses—creative folk, motivated folk, entrepreneurial folk, gay folk, yoga folk, techie folk, caring folk, conscious folk.

33. Social activism.

34. Sexual pleasure.

35. Reproductive rights.

36. Poetry. Any and all epic dances of language.

37. Greta Thunberg and my kids’ generation.

38. My grandma’s hot sauce.

39. Lavender, sage, thyme, rosemary … All the smells + medicines.

40. Rosemary Kaesemeyer. Granddaughter of a Wisconsin governor, performer, piano teacher, card player, cigarette smoker, Scotch drinker, wordsmith. A lifetime of her grandmotherly presence, tutelage, and influence helped shape me into the big-hearted smart-ass grammar-snob I am today.

41. My animal babies, all the feathered, furry, slimy, scaled beings, past and present—cats, dogs, goats, goldfish, snails, chickens, sea monkeys.

42. Cannabis.

43. Tacos. Specifically, my family’s tacos. (see also #38)

44. Coffee. Black.

45. My body. All that is does. All that it can’t do. All that it is capable of doing.

46. Patience. Learning that to be patient takes the most patience.

47. Mindfulness. Mind fullness.

48. Unicorns.

49. Rainbows.

50. My feet. Particularly my toes. Thanks, mom.