Petals of Gratitude Drifting over my Heart
Sunshine, soft breezes, soothing petals.
They all abound as I lie down under the cherry blossom tree,
gazing up and around at the beauty that surrounds me.
The blossoms…each one of them is a memory,
of love, care, kindness and support I received from others:
friends, family, strangers, colleagues, customer service reps, cashiers,
the list goes on, as do countless blossoms that are swaying in the gentle breeze,
the breeze that brings them down on my body and mind.
Every time a soft petal falls on me, a feeling comes up:
Belonging: a neighbor that invited me, along with other neighbors, to a potluck.
Desire to give back: a friend who offered to come repair a plumbing leak in my home, making me want to reciprocate and volunteer at a local food shelter.
Thoughtfulness: a friend who dined with me at a favorite restaurant for my birthday.
Faith in kindness: the stranger who lent me his phone for a call, after I told him I’d misplaced mine.
I gather all the petals, one by one, and place them over my heart,
letting them nourish, soothe, and strengthen it.
It knows how to soak in their beauty, how to thank them for their presence in my life,
so I just lie there, grateful and blessed, motivated and at ease,
letting them drift over and into me.
