Gratitude Journal

At lunch today I sat at a local park and ate while reading my book. It was a perfect weather day... not sunny but definitely not cool either. A little bit of a breeze blew through the park and rustled the trees which made the last few winter leaves rain down quietly on the ground. The sounds of the nearby traffic along with a mower running across someone's yard created the musical backdrop. I love moments like that when I can just breathe and be in the midst of the day.

Today I am grateful for:

• Spring and that feeling of renewal that I always get this time of year.
• Budding trees. Every year I pick a few trees with beautiful buds on them. I love watching those white and pink buds each day and am constantly amazed that they turn into leaves so quickly.

• Tulips. This is the time of year when all the tulips poke their heads up out of the ground. It is always a pleasant surprise to see what color they are going to be. They are all the more awe inspiring because they are so short-lived.

• Finally, wisteria. Of all the gifts of spring, I think wisteria is the best. It is so unruly but I think that is where its beauty comes from. It is definitely a favorite.

Mostly I am grateful for how spring seems to make time stand still just for a few minutes. Everything is new again for just a short time. It makes you stop and take it all in. It is built-in gratitude.