Lately, gratitude for undeserved blessings has been on my mind, as has the realization that so much of what I enjoy in my life is due to the unearned good fortune and privilege of where in the world I happened to be born.
I tried to express some of my thoughts in a Facebook status update this weekend, saying, “Spent a lazy morning under the covers finishing a re-read of one of my favourite cozy feel-good winter books, and am now sitting in my warm office enjoying a hot mug of coffee as huge fluffy snowflakes fall, soft and silent, from the sky. Peace. Beauty. Contentment. I did nothing to deserve these moments, and am grateful to be so blessed.”
I hope and pray that I never take this goodness for granted… and that it gives me compassion for those going through undeserved hardships based solely on where in the world they happened to be born.

In no particular order, here is my own gratitude list for this moment in time. I hope that after reading it you’ll go on to write and share your own!
- The roof over my head and a house full of comfort, sustenance, enjoyment, and love.
- Hot water for showers, sweet-smelling products to cleanse, and soft towels for drying off.
- My love of reading, nurtured since childhood, and the opportunity now as an adult to revisit some of my most beloved (but long-lost) books in an electronic format.
- Being taught further skills at another great drawing class this week.
- Living in a safe, peaceful country.
- New album releases by favourite musicians.
- Our wonderful friends at our favourite diner, who just celebrated their fifth anniversary of being in business.
- Getting my (free!) flu shot, and having to deal with relatively mild effects for only a short time (far better than not getting the shot and possibly having to deal with the flu).
- So much free time to read, draw, blog, nap…
Now it’s your turn!
How to get involved in the Gratitude Linkup
Note: This linkup will be open for the entire month, so feel free to add as many gratitude posts as you choose to write in November!
- Write and post a gratitude list in your own blog.
- Click the “add your link” button below and share your gratitude post.
- Click “get the InLinkz code” below and add the linkup code to your post.
- Visit and comment on some of the posts listed in the Gratitude Linkup.
P.S. – Here’s some background on why I started the Gratitude Linkup.

Twitter: howelltracks
November 22, 2015
The beauty of the snow covered trees against a blue sky this morning.
Hazelnut coffee and flannel PJs.
Great phone conversation with my Dad.
A great dinner and now settling in with my awesome husband to watch our Sunday night shows.
A job to go tomorrow.
Kathleen Howell recently posted… 10 Books of Pre-Christmas!
Twitter: alphabetsalad
November 24, 2015
What a wonderful list, Kathleen! Thank you so much for sharing. 🙂
Laurel Regan recently posted… Tangled Tuesday No. 69
I have tons of things to be grateful for, most of all that I’m still alive.
Twitter: alphabetsalad
November 24, 2015
That is indeed a blessing!
Laurel Regan recently posted… Tangled Tuesday No. 69
Its so nice to read your post Laurel and I like the word undeserved blessings, so true agree with you; for peace, contentment, quietness and for the very basic necessities, reminded me to be grateful too…. often I think of those persons who are guarding the borders and our state so that we and our family can sleep peacefully, feeling secure and undisturbed and uninterrupted to be able to rise afresh to welcome the new day… thanks for sharing your post !
G Angela recently posted… Gratitude is a Positive Energy
Twitter: alphabetsalad
November 24, 2015
We so often take them for granted, don’t we? Thank you for sharing your thoughts!
Laurel Regan recently posted… Tangled Tuesday No. 69
Twitter: mahathi_ramya
November 26, 2015
Laurel.. I am glad to join this gratitude linkup every month. I learnt not to take good things for granted and to be grateful for every small good that happens.
Mahathi Ramya recently posted… Gratitude list – Nov 2015
Twitter: alphabetsalad
November 26, 2015
So very important, isn’t it?
Laurel Regan recently posted… Happy Thanksgiving to friends in the US!
Trackbacks: