Happy Christmas: And a Grateful New Year!!

Dear Family and Friends-

Be Grateful

A grateful heart is a magnet for miracles.

As a country, we recently celebrated Thanksgiving or as some people are rightfully now calling it, Indigenous Peoples' Day, and the speculation about gratitude was everywhere. I have decided to drill down, as they say, on this idea and examine what I am grateful for. I believe when you are grateful, you are happy it is as simple as that. And, I feel very, very, very happy these days.

So what am I grateful for? I am grateful for my good health, my phenomenal family and friends, and my privileged freedom.

Good Health

Yes, I didn’t say phenomenal or unbelievable health. My health is good and it is not my body's fault. I walk almost every day, participate in yoga and pilates classes and try to eat as little sugar as possible. Am I perfect? No. Is my body starting to break down? Yes. My body is aging and I feel grateful to be in "good" health at the age of 63. I know it is up to me, in collaboration with my health providers, to work on my physical as well as my mental health. Each step of the way in the aging process will be challenging, but I know if I work hard at anything it will get better. I work hard at improving my health every day and that is all I can ask of myself.

Phenomenal Family and Friends

Yes, I did use the adjective phenomenal here. I am truly blessed to have my sister and brother and their families near to me and my four children Ryan, Lindsey, Kevin, and Kylie. Yes, I have four children now. It is not official or on any legal document, but my boys have found their life-mates, and as the kids say they are “adulting”. Ryan, Lindsey, and child-dog Winnie live in North Kansas City, Missouri, and Kevin and Kylie and child-cat Stuart live in Olathe, Kansas.

My kids all have good jobs or are in school, or both and transitioning into the world of 9 to 5. We get together often for family dinners, local theater, and extended family gatherings. On top of that, I am surrounded by a group of friends from my hometown, Independence, Kansas, and an eclectic group of friends that I have made over the years in the Kansas City area from school, church, and my neighborhood.

After a painting party (notice the berets) we celebrated all of our birthdays together with a pumpkin pie.

Privileged Freedom

I am privileged to be retired and living with newfound freedom. I am no longer a slave, as they say, to the 9 to 5. Even though I enjoyed teaching tremendously, retirement is an entirely different ball game. It truly is a gift and I so appreciate the fact that I could retire at the age of 62. I am dabbling and experimenting with many new and old passions in my retirement such as: practicing yoga, volunteering, photography, knitting, reading, writing, gardening, cooking, and traveling, in hopes of landing on two or three of these as my retirement passions. This is a transitional stage for me right now and I am trying to enjoy the experiment. I will let you know where I land.

HINT

Yoga is top on the list right now.

Several days ago, I attended a yoga class at my local fitness center, and at the end of the session during the Corpse Pose otherwise known as Savasana, the yoga instructor read this phrase as a positive send-off.

“Be Grateful: A grateful heart is a magnet for miracles”

I like this idea on many levels, but I am sending it to you today in this Christmas "card" in hopes if we all think about this and live this our grateful hearts might attract a miracle or two.

What constitutes a miracle you ask? Well, it could be something large like turning water into wine, walking on water, peace on earth, or everyone getting the COVID-19 vaccine.

But maybe the miracles don’t have to be on that level.

Maybe miracles don’t have to be miraculous.

Maybe miracles can just be extraordinary happenings with astonishing outcomes.

Wishing you many extraordinary happenings with astonishing outcomes in 2022!

Happy Christmas and A Grateful New Year!

Love,

Paula