Counting my Blessings TopazOwl Mon Jan 1 23:00:02 2001 I know that it's far more popular to read about misfortunes, and it seems many times that it's even far more popular to speak of one's own misfortunes. I know that I am one who spends a great deal more time bitching about trivialities than thinking about how wonderful my life is. Perhaps this is something everyone can recognize in themselves at times. Life can get to you, and even blessings can sometimes seem bittersweet.*p* Nevertheless, my life is very blessed, and I'd like to spend some time now thinking about that.*p* I am blessed to live in a very nice house, a house that I designed myself to suit me and which the love of my life built for me just the way I wanted it. I am blessed to live on a farm in the country and be able to grow and tend to some of the living things of the world. I am blessed to not be hungry or cold, to have money when I need it to buy things, and a roof over my head in the bad weather. I am blessed to be able to offer these things to others now, whatever species they are. I am blessed to be able to give my critters a wonderful home.*p* It wasn't always like that. There were times in my life when I struggled just to stay alive. There were times when all I had were the clothes on my back. So I appreciate what I have now, and thank the Gods for it, but probably not often enough. These days, in my material world, I have abundance to share, and that is certainly something I know I must count as a blessing.*p* I am blessed to have a few special good friends. Nothing in the world can replace what a good friend can give you: comfort, joy, happy times, a shoulder to cry on, a ride when you need it, another helping hand when you're in a pinch and over-faced, and even a scolding when I deserve it -- someone you can count on to always be there, no matter what, someone who helps lighten the load and keep you on course. I love my good, special friends with all my heart, and I intend to always make sure that they know this from now on. I admit that I have previously been lax in that department. It's sometimes hard to express to those we love exactly how much they mean to us. I'm not sure it can ever really be done, but by the Gods, I intend to try.*p* I am blessed to be loved by some very special people. I am blessed to be loved by some very special animals. I am blessed to have known in my life the ones who are no longer in this realm, and I am blessed to still have the ones that are. Every one of them has been a teacher, and I am blessed to have learned some valuable lessons in their presence. I am blessed to know that my time with them is precious and rare, and so I must make the most of every day, indeed, every minute that they are still with me.*p* I have also been blessed to have learned some very worthy lessons from those who don't love me. I appreciate them, too, each in their own way, for teaching me what *not* to be.*p* I am blessed for having a life where I could get all of the bullshit, the baggage, the karma, what-have-you, out of the way early, leaving me plenty of room to grow and become the person I was meant to be.*p* I am blessed to have been saved from myself those many years ago.*p* No, things haven't always been easy, but the trials I have overcome to get here have made me who I am, and I wouldn't change a thing.*p* I am blessed to be happy. :-)*p*Leigh*br*