With thanks...

SEPTEMBER 2009
I am grateful for new ideas, new energy, new books and my beautiful love...

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With thanks... Tuesday September 1...
Today I am grateful for the rainbows spinning around my little office as the early morning sunlight streamed in and bounced off the pretty crystal in the window...
I am grateful for a productive day at work, and a return to the slightly calmer environment of the past...
I am grateful for being able to watch the most stunning sunset from our 20th floor kitchen and its ground-to-roof windows, the sun a rosy ball of molten fire as it slipped down behind the distant hills beyond the city...
I am grateful for a brisk walk home through the gathering twilight...
And I am grateful that my love was finally allowed a day off work to recover, and I could look after him, make him dinner and cups of tea, and soothe his pain away a little...

With thanks... Wednesday September 2...
Today is Indigenous Literacy Day, and I am so grateful that I was able to learn to read when I was so young, and had the privilege of the education I received, which has empowered me to create the life I wanted. Sometimes we take for granted the blessing of what we know, yet in many countries - including our own - there are people who aren't fortunate enough to have access to basic education, and will never know the pure joy of escaping into a book, or have the foundation to make the living they want to.
And I am grateful for a day off with my love, after a morning of updating my website, and reading on the couch, and cooking up a pot of soup, and watching Numbers (now there's a guy with an education!), and making pots of tea, and revelling in lengthy discussions about life and the universe and and friendship and bad metal :-)

With thanks... Thursday September 3...
Today I am grateful for the cooling, soothing rain, which gently fell outside as Cutes and I snuggled on the couch...
I am grateful that my love is starting to feel a bit better, although sadly I am not...
I am grateful for hot vegie soup to soothe my sore throat - and the fact that we're both not well being used as an excuse to allow ourself some naughty cheezels :-)
I am grateful for my new Dreamweaver book, which is unlocking a little more of this new language to me...
And now I am grateful for bed - to sleep perchance to heal...

With thanks... Friday September 4...
Today I am grateful for a beautiful morning with my love – drinking tea, having lunch in our favourite cafe, perusing book stores, talking about belief and myth and magic and the moon – beforeI had to drop him to work...
I am grateful for my walk down to Broadway while I waited for some documents to be bound, through a swirl of autumn red leaves, so strange (but pretty!) for spring...
I am grateful for my visit to the ducks, and their ability to make me smile even through a bad-head-haze. They were so cute, especially the four who were in a different part of the lake, all in a row, with their heads on backwards as they attempted to sleep. So sweet...
I am grateful that one of the shops in Margaret River that stocks my books paid a big invoice, and that the distributor also paid their account...
I am grateful for the bubbly phone call from my sister and my two nieces, who were about to get on the plane to France, and surprised (and touched) that Lily said she was both excited and sad to be going, the latter cos she'll miss mum (her nan), and me...
I am grateful that, despite a bad head, I forced myself out for the sunset, and I'm so very glad I went. I slowly climbed the hill in the park across the road from us (my own mini Tor!), breathing in every golden moment, laughing at the scampering dogs and standing on tiptoe to peek over the tree tops on my way up. It was so beautiful, the old brick works silhouetted against a flaming sky, and the huge ripe moon rising fairly fast from the east, peeking through the scattered clouds as it made its way into the sky. In the west, the fiery red sun was setting, the sky ablaze with gorgeous pink-rose-lavender-honey-gold streaks, and the lake down below, with its swans, ducks and swamp hens, reflecting all the sparkles of light and magic back as twilight fell around me and I breathed in the beauty and magic of the night... Full moon blessings to all!

With thanks... Saturday September 5...
Today I am grateful for hot brewing tea and strong brewing ideas...
I am grateful that this sore throat and sniffly cold hasn't hit me *too* hard, and is more annoying than anything else...
I am disappointed my knee was too sore to go to yoga, but grateful that this meant I could pick up my love from work and head down to Broadway, where we visited our duck and swamp hen friends at their pond, and watched the sunset colours fade and the twilight deepen, and the water rippling as the ducks chased each other across its murky depths, squawking playfully and making us laugh, except for the big meanie ducks who looked a little menacing...
I am grateful to the guy who handed me a pile of unhusked sunflower seeds to feed to the ducks, although they seem to have become a little suburban, preferring white bread and muffins to bird seed...
I am grateful for hot chai, yummy dinner and a crisp green apple when we got home...
I am proud of my love for taking the next step to pursue his dreams, intrigued by a swirl of new ideas, and appreciative but slightly bemused by Paulo Coelho's latest book...
And I am grateful for a night of snuggling on the couch with my beloved as the golden moon shone in through our window...

With thanks... Sunday September 6...
Today I am grateful that it's time for bed, and grateful for an early night, relative though that is :-)
I am grateful that I solved my website issue, although not that I spent all day fixing it, and grateful to a friend for noticing it... I am learning more about how to create sites with each update I make, book I read and mistake I deal with, and although I will *never* understand code, or be fluent in this wholly foreign language, I'm starting to pick up the basics (I can say hello, my name is and thank you, lol)...
I am grateful that, although I feel pretty crappy with a silly cold and sound all husky like Melissa Etheridge, I am not worse...
And, on Father's Day, I am grateful to my dad, for always being supportive and encouraging of my dreams, and for being such a fine example of living your passion. Right now he is up north, near Gnarloo Reef in WA, surfing every day for three weeks and camping out under the stars with two friends, following his heart and his soul's calling, at one with the ocean. He is living his perfect life, which is all we can ever want...

With thanks... Monday September 7...
Today I am grateful to my beautiful love for meeting me after work so we could wander through the softly falling rain and have a dinner in town that reminded us of England...
I am grateful that I made it through the day, despite being a sniffluffagus with a bad head, and managed not to breathe on anyone...
I am grateful for an interesting offer...
I am grateful for hot soy milk and Law & Order...
And now I am grateful for bed (the early night last night was a farce - lay there all night grimacing at my nasty head. Better luck tonight!)...

With thanks... Tuesday September 8...
Today I am grateful for the beautiful midnight moon shining in my window as I type...
I am grateful that I successfully pitched some stories, which will be fun to write...
I am grateful that I was semi-productive, and did a bit of book promotion...
I am grateful that a rather large invoice was paid for books sold in WA...
And I am grateful that my love finally got home, after a 13-hour day at work, and we got to cuddle up on the couch, swap stories of our day, crunch into crisp green apples and drink strong tea, and watch some Law & Order :-)

With thanks... Wednesday September 9...
Today I am grateful for sunshine and rainbows...
I am grateful for sweet notes from friends...
I am grateful to have plunged into a new story, and to be able to reminisce about the sights, sounds, scents and spiritual adventures of Brasil... I remember balmy nights illuminated with golden light, the scent of exotic cooking, women in traditional costumes, laughter, warmth, music, cacheira, dancing, singing, market stalls, fairy floss - all senses being assaulted, in a nice way :-)
I am grateful for the time my love and I spent together, after his rehearsal and my work, and cups of tea and snuggling as we still try to shrug off this silly sickness...

With thanks... Thursday September 10...
Today I am grateful that I'm feeling a bit better, and that I remembered it's okay to not feel completely enthused and productive when you're sick :-)
I am grateful that I did a little more work on my next story...
I am grateful that an old friend got in touch...
I am grateful that I found the water dragon in a fairy friend's garden, and someone found mine...
And I am grateful for a cute night in with my love, spent reading together on the couch (Paulo Coelho's latest book, slightly odd though it is), watching an episode or two of Law & Order, drinking cups of tea and having a long discussion about ethics, morals, spirituality, family, forgiveness, hypocrisy. life and the universe :-)

With thanks... Friday September 11...
Today I am grateful that there are so many inspiring people in the world, who are so passionate about the things they believe in, and put their heart, soul, time and even their lives on the line for the causes that are dear to them. Paul Watson, Aung San Suu Kyi, Harvey Milk... just a few I was thinking of today...
I am grateful that I managed to get a lot done on my website through a painkiller haze. Freakin' migraines...
I am grateful for lovely messages from lovely friends. I miss you Natalie and Nolita, and hate that you're so far away, but you are in my thoughts and my heart...
I am grateful that Spellcraft magazine is out, with my story in it, although I couldn't find a copy today – will have to look further afield tomorrow...
And I am grateful for a night on the couch with my Cutes. It's strange but lovely that he's been on normal work hours this week!

With thanks... Saturday September 12...
Today I am grateful for fun and exciting plans – sharing a stall at the Mind Body Spirit festival with some super lovely, super talented and super gorgeous friends. Hooray!
I am grateful for an interesting day at a writing course, interesting information and an interesting author (Amanda Hampson, who wrote the sweetly engaging novel The Olive Sisters). Despite seeing the day through a haze of painkillers and feeling disengaged and far from bubbly, I took a fair bit in - and took lots of notes as backup :-)
I am grateful for the beautiful sunshine, even though the sky was hazy (or was that just my head?), the lunch break spent under a tree in the beautiful grounds of the writers centre, and a pretty pink galah (thought of you Michele-lee!)...
And I am grateful for a night at home with my love...

With thanks... Sunday September 13...
Today I am grateful for the unfolding of plans, for triple goddesses – us three! – and the inspiration, encouragement and support of beautiful, talented friends. Thank you Lucy, Anita and Michele-lee – I can't wait to share our awesome adventure...
I am grateful for a sunshiney day, for a long, brisk, slightly sweaty walk up hills and down dales, searching for shade, as I ventured off to see the cute new Disney movie Up (so cute! and also kinda sad/touching in bits), for my hat, for little birds hopping around in the parks I passed, and a slightly slower walk home.
I am grateful for the giggles I got from the funny lizard perched on the wall downstairs, right next to the security tag beepy thing, who must have startled quite a few people with his inquisitive little face...
And I am grateful for a night in with my love (I can't remember the last time he had this many day shifts in a week!), for little vegie pizzas and salad, for snuggling and plans and love...

With thanks... Monday September 14...
Today I am grateful for people with grace... for all those who know that sharing the spotlight doesn't diminish them, it makes everyone shine brighter. At an awards show today, teenage singer Taylor Swift won a gong, but attention-grabbing fool Kanye West stole her thunder, walking on stage as she was starting to say her thank yous and rudely cutting her off, ranting that Beyonce should have won and making her feel tiny and undeserving. But later, when Beyonce won her own award, she gave up her time in the spotlight and brought Taylor back on, because she remembers how important such things are, especially as a new artist, and wanted her to have her moment. It was surprisingly touching, this unselfish act of grace, and Beyonce gained new respect, while losing nothing in doing it. It was a nice reminder that there's room enough for all of us... We don't need to feel insecure or possessive or worry that there isn't enough for us – the more we achieve, the more we share, the more we help other people achieve their dreams, the better the whole world is and the more light can spill out and illuminate us all...
As Marianne Williamson says: “Your playing small doesn't serve the world. There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, and as we let our own light shine, we give other people permission to do the same.” So dream big, shine your light, and encourage others to do the same :-)

With thanks... Tuesday September 15...
Today I am grateful for the amount I squeezed into my day - posting out books before I left for work, research for my new project on the bus and in my lunch break, and a busy day with Thomas the Tank Engine and Winnie the Pooh.
I am grateful for the sight of the sunset from the 20th floor, a huge pinky-red ball dramatically sliding below the horizon, and the beautiful sky all pale musky pink and lavender, which faded slowly to black (how Metallica!) as I walked home in the gathering twilight, cool breeze on my face, colours graduating so prettily in the distance :-)
I am grateful for fairy friends watering my garden, and the stolen moments with my love when he finally got home from work just now...
And now I am grateful for bed :-)

With thanks... Wednesday September 16...
Today I am grateful for being grateful :-) Research by Robert A. Emmons, professor of psychology at the University of California, found that gratitude makes you healthier, smarter and more energetic. He also found that people who practice gratitude daily (like me I guess!) reported higher levels of alertness, enthusiasm, determination, attentiveness and energy than those who didn’t... Tomorrow I will be grateful if any of those appear to be true! I had a bad head today, which made me depressed, although I am grateful that I got a referral to a neurologist - maybe some solutions will be discovered...

With thanks... Thursday September 17...
Today I am grateful for cups of tea...
I am grateful that I was fairly productive (until I got lost in Fairyland and couldn't find my way out), and got some work done...
I am grateful for the arrival of some books I'd ordered...
And I am grateful for the slightly cooler breezes that came in my window as twilight fell, after a hot and muggy day...

With thanks... Friday September 18...
Today I am so grateful, and so touched, by the beautiful comments I've received from people about my books or articles. It means so much to me to know that they've helped people access their own inner wisdom. I've had a few moments of doubt of late (I know, it's all part of it), but it's nice to know this journey is worth all the challenges...
I am grateful for Pauley Perrette and all the others who speak out against injustice and oppression...
I am grateful to my beautiful love, who bought me the cutest little blessed bee, which was part of Buzz Day, raising finds for diabetes research...
I am grateful for a long yet productive day helping out on one of the other mags in the "kids" stable (which was quite an eye opener - I can't believe Miley Cyrus is only 16!)...
I am grateful for the long walk home in the dark, for the cool breeze on my face, for stretching my legs and moving my body after a long time sitting down at the computer...
And I am grateful that my love is finally home from his day (night) at work... Now to sleep perchance to dream...

With thanks... Saturday September 19...
Today I am grateful that the Platinum Brunette gig went so well and rocked so hard. And I am grateful that I could help my love in a small way (hair and make-up, getting him back to work straight after, being the sounding board with a new problem, like he has been so often for me), because it's always so inspiring to see someone following their heart, fighting against the million obstacles that would make most people give up, pursuing their dreams no matter what, because that is all we have...
I am grateful that I wrote a fair bit today, albeit some of it on beer coasters and scraps of paper while the first band was on...
I am grateful for the Divinyls, who are blasting around my little office as I write, and whose music moves me as much now as it did in 1982. I wanted to be Chrissy Amphlett when I was a kid, and marry Boy George. There's a beautiful kind of poetry to how that turned out :-)
And I am grateful that my love will be home from work soon, and we can snuggle on the couch, drink tea and talk into the night...

With thanks... Sunday September 20...
Today I am grateful for all the choices I have ever made, and the life I have created. I didn't always pick the easy way, but it has always been interesting :-) Every moment, every action, every decision we make, we are creating our present and our future. I'm very aware that one small choice made differently, one tiny fork taken in the other direction - from missing the bus to choosing a different university or a different friend - would have taken me somewhere completely different. It intrigues me, the possibilities, and yet I wouldn't change a single thing, even the so-called bad stuff. I am grateful for where I am, and who I am.
I am grateful that I chose to travel instead of buying new shoes and expensive dinners (like an old flatmate who then wondered how I could afford to go OS), and that I have been able to see, feel, taste, dive in to and crash up against so many strange and beautiful experiences. Today I was writing about the strange magic of Brasil, and remembering some very scary moments, but I am grateful for all of them.
And I am grateful to my love, who loves me for me, and allows me to be...

With thanks... Monday September 21...
Today I am grateful for my cute husbee, and our anniversary eve celebration that has become our own ritual. I am grateful that he came into town and met me after work, and we had a cute dinner, and wandered home together hand in hand, and made each other cups of tea, and talked and laughed and gave each presents and cards with mini novels of love and appreciation written in them...
I am grateful for four years of marriage, filled with fun and laughter and adventures and growing and nurturing and support in our battles and love and tea and honeymoons and second honeymoons and devotion and tears and joy and challenges and dreams and magic...
And I am grateful for the enchanting beauty of the tiny golden crescent moon that's smiling down at us, and the faint shadow of the whole moon that could be discerned more clearly than usual. "I pictured a rainbow, You held in your hands... I saw the crescent, You saw the whole of the moon..." I loved that song :-)

With thanks... Tuesday September 22...
Today I am grateful for a beautiful day with my love, celebrating our fourth wedding anniversary... I am grateful for the time together we can snatch, and every moment of the beautiful life we have created together... I am grateful for the beautiful memories (and sweet photos) of our magical Mabon wedding ceremony in New York, and our Ostara celebrations ever since... I am grateful that I capture special occasions on film, cos we had so much fun looking through the photos today...
I am grateful for all the sweet messages and well wishes from our lovely friends...
I am grateful for a morning of sunlight streaming in through my window and rainbows dancing on my office walls, and cooling rains and amazing thunder and lightning at night...
And now I am grateful to log off and spend more time with my love...

With thanks... Wednesday September 23...
Today, the day of the spring equinox, when night and day are equal and the earth is in balance, I am grateful for the balance in my life, for my ability to combine paid work with my own writing, and for time with my love (there's not quite enough of that, but we make the most of every moment)...
I am also grateful for the energy of Mabon, because when we got married in the northern hemisphere on this day we melded the two sabbats together, in an alchemical meeting of magical energies...
I am grateful for the mysterious, eerie beauty of this morning, when I awoke to a strange orange glow pouring in the window – what looked like the precursor to an electrical storm (how U2!), but was in fact the biggest and oddest dust storm ever recorded in Sydney. I thought maybe it was a pre-storm mist, but it was DUST! (How Philip Pullman!) You could taste it too, once outside, and even now, at midnight and after a shower, I still feel like I'm coated with it. A friend suggested it was a blessing blown in from Uluru, which I like, although someone else said it came from the outback mining town of Broken Hill! It was so amazing/ominous/beautiful/weird/mystical/threatening/pretty/apocalyptic... and tasted awful :-) I'm grateful that I was running a few minutes late and decided to get the bus instead of walking, since I found out later that would have been a little hazardous... Even at 7pm, when I walked home in the cooler twilight, I was eating dust... So strange :-)
I am grateful for a productive day at work...
For a long chat with Dad, just home – to WA – from his camping trip :-)
And for a cute night with my love...

With thanks... Thursday September 24...
Today I am grateful for a beautiful sunshiney day, for clear blue skies (after yesterday's dust, I was stunned by the clarity and cleanness of the sky), for sunlight sparkling and dancing and shimmering on the gorgeous harbour, for a walk along the shore with my love, for the cute little fishies swimming by...
I am grateful we could have lunch with a friend, and visit the gallery where she's exhibiting her work, and for passion and dedication and devotion to the muse...
And now I am beyond tired and very grateful for bed...

With thanks... Friday September 25...
Today I am grateful for sunshine and flowers...
I am grateful for a walk (while waiting for the rather lengthy car wash to soak away the dust from my aunty's car from the storm the other day) by the park, golden rays of light and pretty bird song...
I am grateful for the most beautiful wedding invitation I've ever received – stunning and intricate and elegant and amazing and classy and breathtaking... like their love :-)
I am grateful I got a lot of admin-y stuff done today (although sadly not much else)...
I am grateful for a long-awaited cheque from a bookstore in WA...
And I am grateful for a cute evening with my love – it's nice having him home at night, rather than working til midnight!

With thanks... Saturday September 26...
Today I am grateful for sunshine and blue skies...
I am grateful for coffee in the morning with my aunt and uncle, just returned from France... that the overnight dust storm (mark II) was so mild, since I spent over an hour yesterday waiting at the car wash to have their car super cleaned... and that there was only a very fine layer on the roof...
I am grateful for hot tea and naughty distractions...
I am grateful for Celia Rees's book Sorceress (the sequel to Witch Child)...
And I am grateful that I did *some* work...

With thanks... Sunday September 27...
Today I am grateful that I could spend time with my dear friend Angela, catching up on news, sharing stories, laughing, coming close to tears, being disappointed by bad chai, trying to cram the three months since we last saw each other into an afternoon/night. Pesky distance! I miss her so much, but am so happy she is creating the life she wants up north...
I am grateful that I did get some work done today, inbetween the procrastination...
I am grateful for the book Sorceress, which I thought I'd read a few pages of yesterday while I had brekkie – and which I stayed up until the early hours of this morning finishing...
And I am grateful for a walk in the sunshine this afternoon, and the brisk walk home with my love in the very brisk late night air, as the moon sailed across the sky and the cool midnight breeze blew...

With thanks... Monday September 28...
Today I am grateful for a productive day at Princess magazine :-) For debates about the name of Cinderella's horse, for research on Tiana, the new Disney princess, for cute little stories about cute little make believe worlds...
I am grateful for a perfect spring day - with a cool breeze to temper the sunshine, and keep me cool as I walked quickly home...
I am grateful that it's no longer dark when I leave work, as it was not that long ago, and I am grateful for the stunningly beautiful sky that as all lit up and golden as I walked...
I am grateful that I got a bit of my own work done when I got home - although not so grateful that it was because my poor beloved had to cover someone and do a 13-hour shift again...
And I am grateful we have the morning together tomorrow...

With thanks... Tuesday September 29...
Today I am grateful for a morning with my love, and his last day of work for a week. Hooray!
I am grateful that I got a bit of work done, although sadly not as much as I would have liked. Funny how inspiration works :-)
I am grateful that the new season of NCIS started, and we found out what happened to Ziva...
I am grateful that I could take the time to watch Aladdin – which is kind of work, since Jasmine is one of the Disney Princesses and I need to know her story :-)
And now I am grateful for bed...

With thanks... Wednesday September 30...
Today I am grateful for a fun day at work, playing in Fairyland, researching stories about Tinker Bell and the other Never Fairies, learning about their magical world and delighting in the innocence and enchantment of Pixie Hollow...
I am grateful for a beautiful walk home under stunning sunset skies, all lit up and golden-red-orange-pinky-rose-fire, with the waxing moon riding high in the heavens and the cool breeze kissing my cheeks...
I am grateful to everyone who sponsored me in the 40 Hour Famine – I had to finalise it all tonight, and Juz and I raised $500 between us, which made the hungriness definitely worth it. Much love and gratitude to everyone who sponsored us!
I am grateful that my fairy godmother gift arrived at the perfect time :-)
And I am grateful that my beloved will be home from rehearsal soon, and we can snuggle up on the couch for a while, and drink tea, and chat about our day, and be perfectly happy alone together in our paradisical realm...

 

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