Sunday, October 10, 2010

"We Are So Lucky."

Lately, I've been thinking a lot about gratitude. I have a lot to be thankful for these days, and I want to make the conscious decision to keep gratitude for these things at the forefront.

I'm not sure she knows this, but I have a friend who is my inspiration in this area. Lou lives in California, as does her daughter Elsie, who is also my friend. I've never met either of them in real life; we became acquainted via an online scrapbooking website. Lou also writes a fantastic blog, and it's here where I often read things that make me teary-eyed when I consider their importance.

Lou hasn't had any kind of an easy life. She has faced trials and tribulations that would overwhelm a lesser person with aplomb and grace. She struggles even now with events that are not completely in her control, but again...her head is high, she shows resolve and calm, and she gets done what needs to be done.

I don't think she has any idea that I draw so much inspiration from her, or that I want to be just like her when I grow up.


One of the stories Lou has told is that she and her mother often shared a refrain in which the call would be "We are so lucky," and the response would be that yes, they were. I want to model this in my life, every day: to focus on the positive aspects, of which there are many.





  • Andy and I are so lucky to share a deep friendship that predates our and almost even supercedes our romantic relationship. I've never been in a relationship where I'd been friends with the person first. It makes a huge difference. I used to think snide thoughts about people who would say that their spouse was their "best friend." Now, I understand.


  • We are so lucky to have 3 healthy and relatively happy kiddos. (I say "relatively" because we must keep in mind that one is a teenage girl, and therefore incapable of consistent happiness.)


  • We are so lucky that, although money is tight and we can't always run right out and get whatever we want when we want it, we have enough to cover all the "needs" and some of the "wants."


  • Emily and I are so lucky to have weathered the storm that almost overtook us in October of last year.



  • And last, but certainly not least, we are so lucky to live in a place where we are surrounded by natural beauty, and so lucky to have eyes with which to see it.

19 comments:

Lou said...

The shot of the two leaves against the wood? --a knock out, quality.

Thank you, Amy. You already know that I love you and way you run at life.

Elsie said...

Aw...Amy! This made me get teary-eyed. I want to be just like Lou when I grow up too. :-)

Your photos (as always) are just beautiful! And so are you.

Nicki said...

amen! Gorgeous photos and very lovely tribute to Lou and her way of thinking. I too have to stop myself every now and again and remind myself of all I have to be thankful for.

Angela2932 said...

These photos are beautiful, and your writing is inspiring. . . and a tribute to Lou. . . and, really, a tribute to you too!

pookiepea said...

Your photos are beautiful and I am thankful you chose to share the inspiration behind them. It is amazing how we can become so close with our cyber friends and sometimes thoses relationships are stronger because we don't know them with our eyes but with our hearts.

Anonymous said...

Those photos are lovely and your words are so sincere sounding. Lovely post to read :)

Lou said...

tap tap tap

Is this thing on?

Lou said...

And here we are at the doorstep of 2011.

Rachel Neil said...

I especially like your photo of the up close maple leaf. The colours are so beautiful.

Stephanie said...

That's great, actually better than great. I liked the tree picture..and..well all of them. Those are the kind of pictures that should appear on the cell phones background. Great job!

nieuniknione said...

Wow. Beautiful pictures. amazing.

Ron Stark said...

Hi Amy just found your comments on my Blog, thanks I do like your style as well and hope this gets to you. regards Ron

email: ronaldstarkftpl@hotmail.co.uk

Unknown said...

nice pic...awesome


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Nikki P said...

This was a really cute post. Makes me want to go tell my friends how important they are to me. And fall is the perfect season for this type of stuff--it's extraordinary.

Div Nr said...

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Unknown said...

Lovely post! :)

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http://whitsblog.com/chuck-norris-meme said...

We are all truly lucky to be alive, deeply! I've been thinking alot about gratitude lately too, and how lucky and blessed I am, and we all are! Never take anything for granted. Great post!

Samadrita Ghosh said...

I don't really know Lou...but after reading your article, I've been inspired by both of you! I see that this article (the most recent one) was published during 2010...and I happened to stumble upon it 5 years later!...only wishing that you'd write more often. :)