GRATITUDE

Gratitude is one of the most important things in my life.  As I’ve looked back over my life, I made a list of the things in my life for which I am most grateful. 

EDUCATION:

I’m thankful for my education.  I’ve had some really amazing teachers, many of whom I am a friend with today in some way.   Long after I have left their classrooms, they continue to influence my life with their friendships.   Perhaps one of the greatest things that my parents ever did for me with regards to my education was to have me held back a year in the 2^nd grade.  Not only did it provide me the opportunity to have a teacher who is now one of my friends, but I believe it gave me an extra year to prepare for life. I’m also thankful for the financial sacrifices of my family for my education.   I don’t know for certain, but I suspect that my grandparents paid a great amount of the expensive tuition for my private college education, and I know that my parents did as much as they could possibly do.   I only had to get student loans nearing the end of my final year of college.   I don’t take that for granted. I know I have been blessed with a wonderful education.  

FRIENDSHIPS:

I didn’t have a lot of friends growing up.  However, as I got to college, I was blessed with many wonderful friends, and in my adult life, I’ve also been blessed with many amazing people.   I have a lot of acquaintances, but I am grateful for the handful of people with whom I share a close friendship.   You can’t put a price on friendships and people who love you in spite of yourself.

MUSIC:

I cannot imagine my life without music.   Music has given my life purpose, meaning, and a medium through which I can touch other people’s lives.   Music is my refuge when I can’t find a place to hide or can’t find peace.   I am grateful for my skills as a musician, the teachers and people who have influenced my artistry.

BRACES:

Ok, so it may seem like one of the craziest things for which to be grateful, but over the last few weeks, I’ve been looking at childhood pictures and am reminded of the horribly bucked front teeth I had as a child.  I’m grateful for the sacrifice that my parents made to have that corrected.  This may very well be one of the best things that my parents did for my self-esteem as a child.   I am proud of my beautiful teeth and grateful for the two years and one day that I was under orthodontic treatment.   My braces came off one month to the day after my senior pictures were made, but I wouldn’t trade the results for anything in the world.

GRANDPARENTS:

I was blessed to know all four of my grandparents and three of my great grandparents.   My maternal grandmother, at least in my eyes, was the personification of grace, class and beauty.   Although she dropped out of high school just six weeks before she graduated, she was an extremely smart person and she cared for me like nobody I’ve ever known in my entire life.   My maternal great grandmother and I spent countless hours together in my childhood.   I think in many ways we were there to watch out for one another.  From her I learned so many things about our family history I would never have otherwise known, and many things I’ll probably take to my grave with me.   My paternal grandfather was my after-school care provider.   He and I were probably as close as any male I was ever close to as a child. My paternal grandmother and my maternal grandfather both played significant roles in my life, but to a lesser degree than any of my other grandparents.   I’m grateful that I was able to know these people, for the examples they provided me, and the love they showed.

FACEBOOK:

Yet another perhaps trite thing for which to be grateful, but without facebook, I wouldn’t be in touch with many of the people with whom I grew up or people from my past in general, and even people who are in my life today.    I’m grateful for the connection that facebook provides.

QUIETNESS:

I enjoy moments of quiet and solitude.   I’m grateful for the renewal of life that silence can provide.   It’s like a balm for a weary soul. Sometimes the quietness of just listening to my spirit is just what I need.

WHO I AM:

I am grateful for who I am. I am grateful for every mistake I have made, because they have provided opportunities for me to learn about and better myself.   I’m grateful for my sexual orientation.   Let me be clear-my sexual orientation does not define me.  It’s just a part of “who” I am, as much as the fact that I am white, I am a pianist, I am an American, I am Catholic. However, I am grateful for the gift of my orientation because I believe that had I not struggled to learn who I am and the struggle to acceptance.

Here’s my confession:  By and large, life has been good to me. I am blessed beyond my wildest imagination.   I have had people in my life from the very moment I took my first breath until this very day who have loved me and helped me to become who I am.   I am grateful for every broken heart, road, and dream.  Expressing gratitude is one of the most important priorities in my life.