I would like to share and offering I read by Jennifer Beahan, that speaks to the essence of being grateful, thankful and appreciative:

“We give thanks to Nature for all it has provided us.

For Family and Friends who walk with us throughout the years.

We give thanks for those who have touched our hearts and made us smile.

We give thanks to those who have alleviated suffering,

Who have championed a cause,

For those who have resisted unjust laws,

Who have fought against oppression and injustice, and have fought for the freedoms we enjoy.

We give thanks for those who have sacrificed their lives to make our world a better place to be.

We give thanks for those who have advanced our understanding of medicine and science.

Who have helped explain the workings of the Universe.

We give thanks to those who have applied paint to canvas in a way that stirs feelings deep within us,

Who have composed songs which make our spirits soar,

To all the people – past, present and future – who strive to better our world and make life worth living, to these people, we give our highest praise and our endless thanks.”

Hi Ed, I so appreciate your wonderful response to my story. I guess I’m busted. I see the you noted my intentional pun about “a foot doctor that lost his footing.” :-). I loved the honesty in the Seneca quote you offered up. Thank you. The “inner prompting” you speak about guides my whole life. Any trip I take or pastime I wish to undertake does not occur unless I am guided from within. I love the Rumi quote you cited as well. I have an entire shelf of his mystic poetry by Coleman Barks. It’s curious you cited the famous quote by Hippocrates. I employed him as my spirit guide in my books and cited that very quote. Thanks for sharing the wisdom you have gained from your own life experience. It affirms what we are all called to do: to awaken. In gratitude and peace, Dennis…