I appreciate my body! It works in so many ways! Let me list some here: my eyes that see, my hair that curls, my lips and tongue that speak, my skin that feels like a baby in some places, my arms that can carry, my hands that can type, write and play instruments, my voice that can sing, talk and laugh, my ears that can hear, my nose that can smell the sweet flowers of summer, my breasts that gave milk during my child-bearing years, my knees that can bend, my elbows that can also bend, my feet that ground me, my toes I can wiggle, my legs that move, climb stairs and get me places, my neurological system, my digestive system, my reproductive system, my low blood pressure, my brain that thinks, my smile, my teeth that help chew food, my curves which make me feel sexy, my fingernails that I can paint, my ankles for their support, and my heart that is the epicenter of my entire being. Thank you, heart, for always working, for feelings and for receiving and giving the energy of love. You are the jewel in the treasure chest of my body! I appreciate my body!
Tag: appreciation
I Appreciate Raindrops – Day 36
I appreciate the close-up beauty of raindrops on the surface of a flower, a leaf, grass or any living plant. The formations are unique and when I look closely I am reminded of that life-giving force that connects us all: water. Raindrops give life to growing things and while rain can sometimes change plans for our outdoor events, I do appreciate rain and the drops that are left behind onto a living plant for their beauty and life-giving qualities. 
I Appreciate Summer Flowers – Day 35
I love flowers and summer flowers especially! The summer landscape is pretty in pink!
I Appreciate Clean Water – Day 34
I really appreciate clean water and don’t take this basic necessity lightly. I love living in a place where clean water is readily available to me, for both drinking, cooking and bathing. I appreciate that I can just turn on a faucet and have clean water at my disposal, as opposed to hauling it miles away to my home on a daily basis. There are those in the world who don’t have clean water and I know I am blessed to be in a place where it’s readily available. Clean water is refreshing, soothing and invigorating to my body and overall health, so I really appreciate that!
I Appreciate Air Conditioning – Day 33
Humidity, hot temperatures, and the hot sun are situations that make me really appreciate air conditioning! While I’m not always a fan of it, (and really like using fans to cool down), I do appreciate it after several days of this simmering, hot summer weather. It especially feels good to sleep in a comfortable room that’s been air conditioned, too.
So today I’m really appreciating air conditioning and this modern convenience that I don’t take for granted!
I Appreciate Musicals – Day 32
I just love musicals. This one just brightens my day. This song and dance number from Singing in The Rain is one of my all-time favorites. It makes me smile and it’s so uplifting!
I Love The Summer – Day 31
I love the summer! Whether I’m at a beach or just outside enjoying the longer days, I love the feeling of summer. I don’t have one of those jobs where I get the summers off, but I do get seven weeks of 4-day work weeks in the summer, so the 3-day weekends in the summer feel like mini-summer breaks.
I can remember the feeling of summer as a kid: the excitement of having the time to go out and play all day, take family vacations, ride my bicycle everywhere, walk barefoot in the grass or just sleep in. Yet I wasn’t sad when summer ended and I went back to school because that meant seeing my friends who lived in the country.
Summers mean play, vacations, wearing shorts, being casual, sun, heat, water-related activities, and a thriving vegetable garden. The summer feels free to me. I just love that feeling and wonder how it might be living in a place where one doesn’t experience the contrast of the seasons as much. I prefer the four seasons as they provide a change in my environment: some of which I love and other parts not so much! Either way, the contrast of these seasonal changes help me to appreciate each new season. And right now I’m in the middle of the summer and I love it!
I Appreciate Laughter – Day 30
Oh, do I love to laugh! And often! Laughter truly is the best medicine – it raises our joy, reduces stress, has physical and psychological benefits and helps to create a happier life. It’s playful and fun! It feels really good. That’s why I became a Certified Laughter Yoga Leader.
The thing about laughter that I’ve discovered from being a Certified Laughter Yoga Leader, is that you don’t have to have jokes in order to laugh (although jokes can be funny). What’s really cool is that your body cannot tell the difference between “fake” laughter and “genuine” laughter – the benefits are the same. I’m sure you can relate to how contagious laughter is! I love that about laughter! Some laughs are just so fun that it causes us to laugh out loud, too. I appreciate laughs like that! I appreciate Laughter Yoga for its “contagious” qualities, too! hee hee
Today I am leading a VideoChat session of my version of Laughter Yoga at GoodVibeUniverity. Anyone is welcome! It’s free and only 30 minutes at 3:30 p.m. Eastern Time. We laugh on purpose to raise our vibes. I call it Giggle Fest & Manifest! You can join in HERE.
I Appreciate Extended Family – Day 29
I learned this morning that one of my aunts died on July 4th. She was a special soul who had a lot of children (14), grandchildren (34), great grandkids (53) and great-great grandkids (4)! Family was very important to her. Family has always been important to me, too. Being a mother of two beautiful daughters has been the greatest joy in my life.
These photos were taken around 12 years ago, when I went with my mom to get together with my living aunts and uncles on my dad’s side in Sutliff, Iowa. Three of my family here have since transitioned from this planet (my mom and two aunts, including the one who just passed a few days ago).
So today I’m appreciating my extended family. I use the word “extended” but it really is all about family ties that bond us: a connectedness just because we’re family. I have many fond memories of times with my cousins and aunts and uncles. I always wanted a brother or sister growing up but that doesn’t mean that I was lonely! I have 32 first cousins (and I lost count on the number of second and third cousins!) and we got together a lot during my childhood. The laughter there was really contagious! Now-a-days, there are some family reunions on one side of the family but mostly we might see each other at a funeral or wedding. Living in New York, I don’t see my extended family much.
Even if I don’t see my extended family much, I really appreciate them. Facebook has helped to re-connect me with some cousins and keep me informed of family news, such as the passing of my aunt. I appreciate Facebook for reconnecting me with family. I appreciate my extended family even more, now that both of my parents are gone.
I have so many fond memories of my extended family. I remember going for a Sunday drive and just showing up at a family member’s home. People showed up at our home, too. I don’t think that we “planned” those visits – and it almost always worked out that people were home. (Besides we had so many people we could visit, someone was bound to be home!) I love that feeling of openness that it’s ok to just pop in and say “hi.” And popping in meant that there was food and drink to be consumed. In the case of my dad’s side, there was always some games of Euchre, too. (For those who don’t know it, Euchre is a card game.) Those were definitely good times that I appreciate very much.
Today I’m remembering and appreciating my extended family (most of whom live in Iowa). I miss them and remember fondly the good times: reunions, weddings, Thanksgivings, Easters, getting together to play euchre, visits on a Sunday afternoon, and fishing at the cabin. When we do see each other, the conversations are easy, flowing and fun. There’s always a lot of laughter with my extended family. I love them!
For more about the Sutliff bridge and Baxa’s Tavern, visit Sutliff Bridge
I Appreciate Bees – Day 28
I appreciate bees for their role in our ecosystem. I appreciate that there are many fruits, plants and flowers that depend upon the bee to pollinate and cross-pollinate. I appreciate bee-keepers who take care of bees, especially in times when the population is declining. Bees are beautiful and necessary in our ecosystem. I appreciate learning about some of the foods that depend upon bees to survive. The list includes alfalfa, beets, cherries, cucumbers, grapes. peaches, strawberries, sunflowers, watermelon and more.
Bees are beautiful, even if we don’t like their sting. I remember how my dad taught me not to fear the bee: to stay still if they fly around me. It taught me to be calm in a tense situation. I have been around a lot of bees in my life but never have been stung. And that’s a beautiful thing to appreciate! 🙂
Today’s post about bees reminded me that if we want to find beauty, we must “bee” beauty: especially on the inside. And that’s a sweet thing – just like the honey that bees make, which I appreciate very much!
Appreciation Magic 