GRATITUDE 01.29.10

As I sit down to type this tonight, the sound of silence surrounds me. I’m feeling as though I’m in a peaceful, happy place. As I reflect on my life in the silence of this evening, the thought comes to me that there are quite possibly no greater gifts in this life than love and friendship. I’m grateful and humbled to have both in my life.

I have just come home from a great evening with Christopher and Grant at the opera. What an amazing evening of laughter and friendship. I’m grateful for the friendship with Trent, Gray & Kyle. I’m thankful for Lee & Jane. I’m grateful for the people who are part of my day-to-day life. I’m grateful each morning that I check my email and there’s a most often a message from Trent and another from Gray. These quick little messages mean so much to me.

I’m grateful for group of men who come together to form our men’s chorus. The chorus is a family, and it is a blessing to be a part of such a positive group of men. If I look back over the last two years of my life, my biggest step in growth came from accepting the challenge to walk into the doors of that first rehearsal. My life is forever changed for good because of it. I shudder to even imagine what my life would be like without my choir family.

I’m grateful that each day is a day of new beginnings. I’m grateful for my cats who share their love with in the way that only know how. I’m grateful for the grace and joy that surround me and the steps of hope in which I trod.

Here’s my confession: Life is about attitude. Over the time that I’ve developed an attitude of gratitude, it has made me appreciate the people and things in my life. The lyric to one of my favorite songs says “Simple truth will keep you going; simple love will keep you strong. There are questions without answers and flames that never die, and heartaches we go through are often blessings in disguise”.
It is so true in my life. The simple things in my life really are the things for which I am most grateful. It’s the people who love me for who I am, the people who accept me for who I am who I am, and see the man I’m going to be. That’s what I’m grateful for this week. And, it’s this gratitude that keeps me strong when it feels like everything else in the world is crumbling around me.