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Friday, February 14, 2025
BlogThoughts on gratitude

Thoughts on gratitude

Nothing makes you grateful for what you have like something being taken away. As I sit here, hacking up a lung with two kittens nestled into the bend in my legs, I am grateful for my general overall health. I’ve made deals with God about never taking the clear nasal passages that I enjoy 350 days of the year for granted, if he’ll just take away this sinus problem I’m dealing with. But, I guess God has bigger fish to fry today. 

Blurry-eyed and feverish, I take stock of the general state of things. Here’s what I can come up with to be grateful for: I have access to medicine that I need to help me feel better. As I mentioned earlier, I have two soft kittens in the crook of my leg. There is an overflow of novels, pens and papers on my coffee table that indicates that I have healthy, happy, albeit disorganized and chaotic, children. The tiny pen with baby foster kittens to my right is reminding me of joy and filling me with reflection of all of the comfort and laughter these playful little friends have offered my family over the last year. The stack of dishes in the drying rack makes me grateful for the way my family works together to create a warm and functional home. Out my window I see the sun. The beautiful Milpitas hills. The neighbor’s window. I’m thankful for my neighbors and their big shaggy dog. For their warmth and hellos when we see each other on the sidewalk in the morning or in the evening. On the stairs is the sweater of a friend that came by to see the kittens last Friday. Her father is the pastor of our local church. I’m thankful for our church and all faith communities that come together to promote kindness, charity, and love. I’m thankful for my diverse friend group who offer unique perspectives on what it looks like to be human and understand the world around us. I’m thankful for Trader Joe’s gluten free sea salt chocolate chip cookies. For poinsettias and the warm feeling they give me. For my husband and the work that he does to provide for the family. For our local elementary school and the teachers that spend extra time making after school programs like badminton and cooking classes. 

Anne Lamott says in her latest book Somehow: “Eighty percent of everything that is true and beautiful can be experienced on any ten-minute walk.” And it’s true. I know life sucks sometimes and it’s hard and gross. Sometimes you fight with your spouse over things that really do matter or you lose someone you love and it doesn’t feel fair. Or you don’t have enough money or time and you feel like your head is going to explode. But, the truth of it is, in spite of all of that, there is still the breeze. There are still trees and flowers and hummingbirds and egrets. And we can still marvel at them.

The other day, I was about to get up from the couch where I was reading quietly beside my children, to clean up yet another mess in the kitchen. The never-ending cycle of making and cleaning up food for my family gave me a gross feeling all of a sudden. I groaned. And then I thought, There’s got to be something to be thankful for here. So, I said out loud, “I’m so thankful that I get to serve my family. This is a way that I get to show love.” When I said it, at first, it felt like a fraud. But by the time I was done saying it, I felt choked up and the feeling of thankfulness shook me to my core. I went over and hugged each of my kids right after, told them I love them, and happily went on to clean up the mess. 

You can’t have gratitude without showing love. It’s almost impossible. If you want to make the world a better place, start with recognizing how beautiful life is and the outflow will happen naturally. 

Happy Thanksgiving.



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Vanessa Dueck
Vanessa Dueck
Vanessa Dueck is a Milpitas resident and local muralist. Find her work at: @vanessahardedge

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