Starting this solar revolution in gratitude, now and always.
On this day of my birth, I shout out 48 pandemic thank-yous.
I give thanks for…
YOU, more than ever.
For this sweet, sweet breath.
This precious moment.
And now this one.
I give thanks for…
The breathing in of cleaner and quieter skies.
The memory that we are made of stars and grace.
This being breathed by life and trees.
The branching trachea inside my lungs.
The branching of trees to catch more light.
The branching of love as we reach out to each other,
The ways we light each other up inside.
I give thanks for…
The branching networks of care, spreading everywhere,
like the gossamer filaments of mycelium, connecting everything.
The ways we weave our multiplicity, becoming one tapestry.
The ways we build each other spirit nests to rest in.
The nesting of birds who teach us how to shelter in place.
The medicine of birdsong, bright and clear.
I give thanks for…
The gift of generosity.
The call of reciprocity.
The practice of kindness.
The inspiration of artists on fire.
The invitation to shelter in love.
The uncovering of truth as the true meaning of apocalypse.
The wild spread of beauty.
The rainbows taped onto windows.
The posting of poetry onto telephone poles.
The dancing together in the empty streets.
The ephemeral delight of giant bubbles from rooftops.
The virtual sharing of memes and songs.
The holding each other close in spacious solidarity.
The building of planter boxes.
The seed swaps with neighbors.
The planting of seeds, like amaranth and arugula.
The five hearts and fertile castings of an earthworm.
The tending of soil.
The tendering of the human heart.
The flowering of fava beans.
The giving to each other of nutrients, the way trees do.
I give thanks for…
The dolphins returning to Venetian canals.
The coyotes wandering the streets of San Francisco.
The reclaiming of the wild.
The balance returning.
The seeing of our world with new and ancient eyes.
The asking each other, “Where does it hurt?”
The listening.
The listening even deeper.
The compassion that grows and cracks us open, wider each day.
The widening circles, as we ripple out, making love go viral,
as we dissolve and transform from Me into We.
Image credit: Eric Drooker