Dear Tom,
Happy New Year! It seems like I’m already a week behind, and it’s only January, but not really. I think for many of us the year 2012 snuck up. The week between Christmas and New Years was so compressed, with weekends, birthdays, visitors, etc., that there was no time for the quiet reflection that we needed to start afresh. So last week I got my book off to my agent, got the thank you’s in the mail, wrote a few long e-mails to friends, and even cleaned out my closet, office, and bookshelves and meditated on what was in store for me this year. Then on Sunday, I had the pleasure of attending baby Rebecca’s christening and this morning visited my doctor, who continues to give me a good outlook regarding my health.
The last two items are more related than they may first seem. At baby Re’s christening the priest reminded us of our own baptismal vows and the importance of baptism is in our lives. We are given a new beginning. My visit to my doctor also was a reminder of the new life I’ve been given. Both served as reminders of the wonders of the gift of life, and how important it is to approach each morning with gratitude. I usually begin the new year with a long list of resolutions of major things I want to accomplish. This year I’m taking the opposite approach. Each day, I need to be a little bit more thankful, a little bit more grateful, a little bit more aware of the glories of my surrounding, and a little bit more appreciative of the love I receive.
Too often I wanted to accomplish more, to acquire more, to climb more, and the list continued from there. The only thing I wanted “less of” were pounds. The dramatic awakening I received, enabled me to see more clearly that I only needed to appreciate more – I had plenty of blessings. I needed to count and enjoy more of what I had. God had already given me a sufficiency.
I also have become aware that we receive reminders all the time of how fragile and precious is the gift of life. You don’t need a transplant or a life threatening illness. The near miss crossing the street, the plane cancellation, the hundreds of times we experience near misses, are nothing but “nudges” reminding us to enjoy and be grateful for all the gifts we receive daily if we just become aware.
So dear friend. I’m grateful for your friendship, for the moments you pause to read my rambling because when you do you encourage me to think and write about what a fortunate person I am. I look forward to 2012 and look forward to writing you often. Webb
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