It’s that time of year again, the season of giving thanks. You might be compiling a mental inventory of blessings and privileges, jotting down ideas for Facebook statuses, or sorting through pictures for Instagram posts that proclaim gratitude in the most authentic way possible. It truly does a heart good to take stock, no matter how you do it.
If you haven’t seen it yet this year, you might remember the Thankfulness Challenges that filled up social media feeds during Novembers past. If you ask me, the best thing about these posts is seeing little things and everyday stuff from real people. So on behalf of parents everywhere who haven’t been on a vacation in years and are forever grateful that their child passed algebra 2, I’m going to get things started. In no particular order, here are eight things for which I am incredibly grateful.
Waking up. When he heard people complaining about birthdays and getting older, my father used to say, “It’s better than the alternative!” He left this earth fourteen years ago, but thanks to his attitude of gratitude, I try to take a minute every day to appreciate what a privilege it is “to be alive on this fresh morning in the broken world,” as poet Mary Oliver wrote. And yes, I do think of it as a privilege.
My fall porch. Several years ago, I found the perfect handcrafted plant stand at Arts Around the Lake at the University of Richmond. After trying to talk myself out of spending so much money on something for myself, I bought three and gave the other ones to my mom and my mother-in-law for Christmas. When my mom died, one of my older sisters re-homed the plant stand. Now, we all find the perfect plants and gourds and arrangements to put on our porches so our very artsy plant stands don’t look under-dressed.
Custom shoe inserts. When the pandemic hit, I gave up working out at a gym and began what I call wogging. I love getting out in the neighborhood – even on rainy or cool fall days. About a year into my new exercise regimen, my fifty-something-year-old feet began to rebel. What began as mild and self-diagnosed plantar fasciitis morphed into searing pain with every step I took in every shoe I tried. When I finally went to a podiatrist (after delaying because I was convinced I was either unfixable or headed for major surgery), the answer was custom shoe inserts and the relief was immediate.
Working from home. It’s not an exaggeration to say my family was built for a pandemic. The public health crisis was weird for almost everyone and tragic for many others, but for the Schwartzkopfs – who had been working from home already – the “stay home” directive was business as usual. I was grateful then, as I am now, to have the privilege of working from home with my real-life partner for so many years.
Elmo. Not the furry red monster, although he gets all due respect! For the past few years I have been trying to eliminate grass around our home. In the spring of 2021, my husband and I had to take pickaxes to a section of our front yard to create a broad and shallow hole that was also deep enough for our new tree’s root ball. Within a week of planting Elmo (can you guess what kind of tree it is?), it was home to a luxury penthouse nest built by some very talented robins.
PBS NewsHour. We ditched cable for good a year ago, which I knew would be great for my mental health. Recognizing that, I’m also something of a news addict, so when I need to find out what’s happening in the real and complicated world, I am very thankful for Amna Nawaz and Geoff Bennett.
NBA basketball. There is a certain irony in a vertically challenged, white, middle-aged mom having an obsession with NBA basketball, but there it is. I have always appreciated the pace of the game and the grace, creativity, and athleticism of its players – which you can actually see because they are not wearing helmets and covered with layers of padding. Sorry football. Best anniversary present I’ve ever received? A League Pass subscription from my honey so I never have to miss my beloved Miami Heat in action.
The family gift list. I don’t know about you, but after decades of trying to come up with perfect presents for people I love dearly, gift-giving was starting to feel more stressful than satisfying. That’s why we started a family gift list using the Notes app on our phones. Everyone can edit and view the list, and each of us keeps it updated with items and experiences we actually want to receive. If someone received a gift for a birthday or other holiday, or they caved in and bought it for themselves, they delete it from the list.
So there you have it. Eight things I’m grateful for – actually six things and two broader concepts, but you get the idea. If you have some time this holiday season, I highly recommend doing an inventory of your own. Making a list of silly things, serious things, or a mixture of both might help you get closer to realizing the meaning of gratitude. And thanks to my father, that’s one more thing I can be thankful for every day!
