How I survived myself

I read the news today and across its pages flashed images spanning the globe of pain, of destruction, of war. Of broken hearts, broken spirits, broken dreams. I read the news and want to paint over its print. Want to set the world in brighter colors. Where there is hatred, reach in with my brush, dipped in the color of love, and erase the darkness. Where there is discord, draw in a little harmony. Where there is sorrow, sketch a picture of hope. In the shadows, I want to paint a little light. I read these stories and feel helpless that I cannot hold all these heavy hearts in my arms and carry them with me to my little corner of the world. For in my little corner of this earth there is so much beauty. So much love. So much to be thankful for.
In this home filled with people I love, in this city by the sea, in this heart, there is peace. There is kindness. Generosity. It is a safe place. A free place. A warm place. A place filled with laughter. There is food. There is forgiveness. And I am filled with gratitude so deep it runs through my very bones. Gratitude running through time in the hearts of my ancestors, right through to me. And I will carry it forward. Each moment I paint, a collage of all these blessings. Each new day a chance to create a little more love, a little more joy, a little more light.
Today and everyday I have such gratitude that I have had the chance to swim in the sea and taste the wild air. That all my dreams are within my sight and that I am blessed with people in my life who will lift me up to reach them.
Today I stand in gratitude for all the sunshine in my life. And ask that I may gather up a little of its brightness and give some to you. So we may share it.