I want to share a beautiful poem that I came across last week called ‘Three Gratitudes’ by a singer-songwriter Carrie Newcomer.
Every night before I go to sleep
I say out loud
Three things that I’m grateful for,
All the significant, insignificant
Extraordinary, ordinary stuff of my life.
It’s a small practice and humble,
And yet, I find I sleep better
Holding what lightens and softens my life
Ever so briefly at the end of the day.
Sunlight, and blueberries,
Good dogs and wool socks,
A fine rain,
A good friend,
Fresh basil and wild phlox,
My father’s good health,
My daughter’s new job,
The song that always makes me cry,
Always at the same part,
No matter how many times I hear it.
Decent coffee at the airport,
And your quiet breathing,
The stories you told me,
The frost patterns on the windows,
English horns and banjos,
Wood Thrush and June bugs,
The smooth glassy calm of the morning pond,
An old coat,
A new poem,
My library card,
And that my car keeps running
Despite all the miles.
And after three things,
More often than not,
I get on a roll and I just keep on going,
I keep naming and listing,
Until I lie grinning,
Blankets pulled up to my chin,
Awash with wonder
At the sweetness of it all.
My gratitudes
I particularly loved the part about the song that make me cry always at the same part no matter how many times I hear it. I do that too with pieces that I play. No matter how many times I play a certain piece, it always penetrates my soul.
As much as I brush my teeth per day (which is actually more than 7 times for sure), I wish to remind myself to strengthen this gratitude muscle of my soul daily. Small, big, ordinary, extraordinary, significant, insignificant, every facet of my daily life. I am certain that the more we practice, the easier it becomes for us to savor every moment of our gift called life.
Right now these three things came into my mind.
· a fresh blueberry scone from my favorite bakery with lavender tea while I type this.
· A sound of garbage truck loading in the early morning, sensing the morning energy
· The first 3 notes of La plus que lent by Debussy..
What about you?
What does it come to your mind? What makes this very moment of yours so wonderful?
Jeeyoon
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