100 Things I'm Thankful For...

1. Caryn
2. Potok
3. Mom
4. Dad
5. Pete
6. Corrie
7. Mom-in-law
8. Dad-in-law
9. Eric
10. Judith
11. Grandma & Grandpa VanderBent
12. Grandma Navis
13. Adam
14. Adam
15. Sara
16. Sarah
17. Carla
18. Matt
19. Poppletons
20. trees
21. flowers
22. ninjas
23. crayons
24. Batman
25. Kirk Franklin
26. running
27. shoes
28. cousins
29. aunts
30. uncles
31. monopoly
32. poker
33. reading
34. writing
35. the Bible
36. formal education
37. informal education
38. hooded sweatshirts
39. hugs
40. kisses
41. chocolate chip cookies
42. cucumber slices
43. milk
44. maps
45. beautiful voices
46. dancing in the kitchen
47. something sweet after dinner
48. uniball deluxe micro pens
49. wind
50. water
51. fire
52. grace
53. laughter
54. free things
55. scalloped potatoes
56. going to bed at a reasonable time
57. good conversation
58. walking
59. that I can't do it all
60. people who put thier turn signal on when they are just taking a sharp curve in the road
61. red wine
62. green tea
63. blue skies
64. green grass
65. storm clouds
66. funk
67. belly buttons (execept for outies)
68. my car
69. juggling skills
70. speed walking skills
71. go-karts
72. slow pitch church softball
73. running into someone you know at the ice cream stand
74. Jesus
75. realizing where you are
76. the smell of the ocean
77. the Simpsons
78. eating spaghetti on Sundays
79. old friends I don't talk to anymore
80. numbers
81. budgets
82. gray socks
83. kids
84. super-powers
85. love
86. sling-shots
87. velcro
88. finger nail clippers
89. magazines in the mail
90. snickers bars
91. potential
92. wheels
93. guessing games
94. hydro-electric power
95. solar power
96. Debussy's, Claire De Lune
97. Before/After photos
98. realizations
99. sunsets
100. the universe


Happy Thanksgiving

A Poem

I haven't posted anything recently, so I thought I'd shake things up. Here's a poem I wrote last night. I'm still working on it.


I left myself beside myself
the first time when the bill
came in a greasy-spoon dive
"$17.95 for a burger and fries!"
Then, with one me beside myself
I was soon beside another me
when I reached into my
pocket and found I was
without money. I asked the
two previous mes if they had
any cash. The first one shrugged
and the second one just laughed.

I'm beside myself no longer.
I'm now beside a guy named "Phil"
my arms in dirty dish water and
paying for my meal. I don't know
where those other mes went
but if they'd stuck around
this sure would be easier.

Practicing Appreciation

I like to take a moment every day to take some time to develop my sense of appreciation. To do this all you do is take 20 minutes and contemplant a flower, or look at your hand, notice the creases and wrinkles the nails, the tendons, the tiny hairs. You could find a mirror and contemplate your face, notice what is there and what is not. Sit outside, close your eyes and try to identify as many smells and you can. Listen to a symphony or the tone of your own voice. Pay attention to the life around you. Eat one grape as long as you can and notice every taste you can.

Regardless of education, intelect, money, religion, ambition, skills, or ability, the best lives are those that live deeply. No one can take away your appreciation.