Writing Bravely : Gratitude

The prompt for the first week of November was : The Ordinary Gifts

We often look for big reasons to be grateful and overlook the small things that make our everyday lives meaningful.

Write about five ordinary things you are grateful for today. Choose things you might usually take for granted. Perhaps it's your morning cup of tea, sunlight through a window, a familiar voice, a favourite book or the comfort of home. Choose one of these ordinary gifts and write about why it matters to you. Here is what I am grateful for.

Today, I woke up without a headache. My head was clear and the pain in my body that usually plagues me every morning was conspicuous by its absence. I could move my fingers, my ankles were not swollen and I could walk instead of shuffle.

Depression has been a constant companion, bringing darkness to my days. Days when I could barely get out of bed. Days I couldn’t think. When my to-do lists remained just that. Nothing got ticked off and I couldn’t care less.

Mornings like today are very rare and I had just been gifted one. I took in a deep breath and opened the windows. The depression had allowed a little light in. The sun danced on the floor as it filtered through the leaves. The little bird that lived in the tree outside, the one I didn’t know the name of, trilled loud and long, celebrating the day. I stood there sipping my cup of tea, which was just strong enough, exactly as I liked it.

Suddenly a million ideas for the adventures of Muffin and Midnight tumbled through my head. I could not wait to get out my note book and write down the next chapter of the book that I had left unfinished for so long.