Attitude of Gratitude

I do not think I have ever dedicated an entire post as an attitude of gratitude. I should do it more often.

Firstly, I am thankful that I have what I need: air in my lungs, food in the cupboard, clothes on my body, and a roof over my head. Ya know, back when I was first told that my housing contract ended before my course, I was very worried. My point is that having sleeping on the floor with pillows and blankets is better than nothing at all. In fact, it's somewhat like camping for 6 weeks...and camping is fun right? RIGHT! I have what I need for the remainder of my stay here and I have what I need to finish polishing my dissertation.

Secondly, I am thankful for my family. They have cheered me on from the beginning and this hasn't been an easy year for them either. I am almost done with my masters degree and I owe that degree to them. It is not just mine. I did not earn it alone. I had people behind me pushing me back up when I fell.

Thirdly, and this one may sound completely random, I am thankful for what rain brings. Sure it helps plants grow and makes the grass greener and the streets shinier, but rain has a very therapeutic quality. One of my favourite things is to relax with candles, a book, or a game while it is pouring rain outside, especially in the winter. Everybody knows I have a special affinity for the harvest season (including Thanksgiving and Christmas) because it is a time for family. The music is pretty good too! What does that have to do with rain though? Rain reminds me of these times--time for cold-weather clothing and bundling up in blankets and quilts, time for the whole family to gather around a table to celebrate thanks for the past year, time for log fires and for the falling rain to freeze and turn into snow.

Fourthly, I am thankful for candles and log fires. At home, Mom is a candle nut and has loads of tealights, pillars, tapers, and big chunky tri-wick candles. I think, I too, am becoming a candle nut. Scented candles are nice, but I love equally the non-scented ones. The smell of a burning wick and log fires again remind me of the harvest season. At my house in Mississippi, we have a large brick fireplace of which the family makes great use of during colder months. To me, a log fire represents security. A fire's job is to provide warmth for a house hold or possibly cook food. It essentially provides. This is what a family does for each other. At the house in Georgia, we have multiple log fire places, a true sign of country living. :)

Fifthly, I am thankful for one of my housemates. I have said in the past that I wasn't thankful for him and that I was suspicious of him because of his past deeds. He doesn't have the most likeable personality and likes to tease, but he did something for me a few days ago that somewhat opened my eyes. I was on the search for my suitcase which contained non-holey socks. My feet were freezing. Now, both CC and I were homeless at this point. I walked past his temporary room, greeted him, and he asked what I was searching for. I told him that I had a pair in my suitcase, but he thrusted a pair of men's black and rainbow striped socks at me, telling me to take them. At first I refused because he was giving his socks away and I had a decent pair in my suitcase anyway. Knowing CC, he did not let me leave his room without those socks in hand. I thank him for that and also for helping me with meals this entire summer. Who cares what he has done in the past? Some of Jesus's disciples in their former professions were some of the most dishonest people you could meet. What matters is what he is doing now. The past is the past. Let it remain in the past and I apologise for making close friends aware of his past deeds.

Sixthly, I am thankful for instant grits. Annie sent me a tube of them during the first term. Between the middle of August and September, I consumed that entire tube. I'm not a big grits eater at home unless I make them myself for I am picky about their consistency and texture. Pipin hot cheesy, buttery, peppery grits in the United Kingdom is a big taste from home.

MWAH!