I’m not talking about those little smiley things. I’m talking about those little unexpected emails from online friends.
Last night I was so tired that I almost decided not to sign on. And, I certainly was too tired to write anything. Oh, don’t get me wrong. I have plenty to be thankful for… as always. But, I was just too tired to share it. This past week has been one of those weeks — and we all have them — when “the best laid plans ….”
I suppose as we get older we enjoy routines more than we did when we were younger. I kind of like status quo. But, this week was anything but… There were doctor visits. No one was having an emergency. All the visits were scheduled. But still! Running from one doctor’s office to the next isn’t exactly my weekly routing. And, of course, we all only have 24 hours in a day. Some things had to go undone. Like it or not, it was stressful.
Then there were a few other glitches. First there was the plumber who obviously isn’t on a schedule although he scheduled the time he would arrive. Then there was the little electric glitch that left us without power for a few hours while one man worked on the power lines across the street — and three others supervised.
Okay, so maybe it sounds as if I am complaining. I’m not! I am only stating facts. And, sometimes the facts do not present themselves as we wish they would. But, that’s life. My dad always said, “No rain, no rainbows.” So, the unexpected events of the week were my rain. And, to be honest they did “rain on my parade” so to speak.
There was not a rainbow in sight until last night. I got an email from Daniel and one from a friend in Kansas. Both were exceptionally uplifting. In fact, both were so filled with positive energy that I delayed going to bed — and I was dead tired.
So, while today I am most thankful for those little online smiles that arrived in my inbox when I needed them most, I must encourage everyone to make contact — email, phone, write a letter — with someone that is often thought of but most often no action is taken.
I had emailed a response to Daniel that I had not contributed much to The Gratitude Journal this week. Of course, I have enjoyed little Oliver in the evenings when he passes through. And, I have so much to be grateful for — including folks who are healthy enough not to need return visits to doctors for six months — but as I look back over the week, I must say that I am most grateful to those people who reached out to me, sent me a smile when I needed it most.
Of course, they created more work for me! I have been busy all morning sending emails, handwritten notes, and ringing up those people I think of so often, but seldom take the time to tell them that I have been thinking of them. It doesn’t take much time to send an email or to dial a phone number. You don’t have to say a lot. Just say, “I’m thinking of you.” That’s enough. And, I bet they will be filled with gratitude that someone thought of them and contacted them to say so.
Thank you, Daniel. Thank you, Alice.
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