108 Things This Freelance Writer is Grateful For

Many years ago, a spiritual teacher of mine, Rev. Guy Williams, challenged a class I was in to write down 100 things we were grateful for every day.

It seemed so daunting at first. When I took on this challenge the first few days I couldn’t seem to get beyond ten or 12 items.

Finally it dawned on me, or maybe I remembered Guy saying, that little things count. So for a period of time I wrote out 100 things I was grateful for each day – being a touch typist helps. Then I acquired a mala – sort of a Buddhist rosary with 108 beads and I began just to count off 108 things I was grateful for on a daily basis.

Those practices died off as many such practices have for me, but awhile back I began creating a 100 things list every Thanksgiving and posting it on one of my blogs. Cathy Miller picked up the habit from me, and I suspect some others may have too.

This year I’ve turned out to have a list of 108 things… without much effort. I could write more… but I won’t right now.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving for those of you who celebrate it. My apologies to all native Americans, and my wishes to everyone for a world that works for each one of you.

1. Good coffee
2. My espresso machine
3. Hot water
4. Tap water that’s safe to drink.
5. My paid for car.
6. Driving only two or three days a week.
7. Electricity
8. My computer
9. My iPad
10. My land line
11. My cell phone
12. New tires on the car
13. Meditation
14. My cat – MzTiz
15. The zen center cats I feed – Ghost, Chloe, and Clarke
16. That Clarke is letting me pet him almost daily.
17. The Kwan Yin statue I can see from my office.
18. A place to meditate in community.
19. Fresh food.
20. Trader Joe’s
21. A new computer that’s finally set up right.
22. My daughter, Linda
23. My son, Mike
24. My son, Steve
25. Linda’s husband, Chris.
26. Mike’s wife, Gloria.
27. Mike and Gloria’s kids, my grand kids, Emily and Ben
28. Steve’s wife Stacey.
29. Steve and Stacey’s kids, my grand kids, Valerie and Cole
30. Seisen
31. Ando
32. Doshin
33. Cait
34. Carol
35. Cathy
36. Lori
37. Jenn
38. David
39. Living in Community
40. Kozan
41. Alan
42. Kelly
43. Sean
44. Succulent plants
45. Growing vegies
46. Writing
47. Freelance writing
48. My commute – maybe six steps.
49. Stove
50. Fridge
51. Kitchen sink
52. Big old bathtub
53. Instant hot water heater
54. Massaging shower head
55. Bathroom sink
56. Flush toilets
57. Gas heater
58. Wireless in my house
59. Electric lights
60. My comfy bed
61. Yogi Green Tea
62. Yogi Bedtime Tea
63. The Miele vacuum I scored on eBay
64. eBay
65. Amazon
66. Half.com
67. Craigslist
68. Zen center gardens
69. Eco
70. Twigg’s Coffee shop
71. Living near the ocean
72. The Pacific
73. Other people’s dogs
74. Books
75. Libraries
76. Online friends
77. My writing clients
78. JonathanFields.com (and Jonathan)
79. Lynn Twist
80. Alcoholics Anonymous
81. Narcotics Anonymous
82. Nicotine Anonymous
83. Debtors Anonymous
84. Underearners Anonymous
85. John L.
86. Stephanie
87. Barbara
88. Rev. Guy Williams
89. Dogen
90. zen
91. My living room rug – I really love it.
92. The rug in my office – I love it too.
93. World Beat Center
94. Balboa Park
95. Studio 6 in Spanish Village
96. Working with clay
97. My doctor
98. Don
99. Wishlist
100. WordPress
101. The Internet
102. This blog’s readers
103. 5 Buck Forum members
104. The 7th grade typing class I took that’s stood me in such good stead all these years.
105. The money I have
106. The money I’ve had
107. The money that’s coming
108. Breakfast!

What are you grateful for?

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