As I reflect on this past year, I am discovering many things for which I am grateful. Recently I read these profound words:
Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion into clarity. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.” Melody Beattie
And so begins my year of gratitude. This year with all its blessings; its ups and downs. Especially the downs, for without the downs my life would not have changed for the better. I would not be writing this blog or my memoirs and I have come to love and rely on writing as a much needed catharsis. My writing has touched many of you 
and I in turn have learned from you. I am so grateful for this blog for it has now been included in Blotanical and among the Best Garden Blogs. I am
meeting many bloggers virtually and reading their incredible works.
And with the writing, I have discovered memoir writing. I have submitted work and recently was a finalist in one contest. The best part though is the trip down memory lane. I am grateful for those memories and the wonderful, joyous feeling they evoke. The family that are still with me and those who have died, but whose memory will never fade from me. My writing this year also has prompted me to dust off a children’s book I wrote in 1996 and the notes I have for many more. I hope to learn about self-publishing and finally get the book published.
I am grateful also for the heritage of my ancestors. Those who left me this legacy of gardening that I recently discovered. Their love of
gardening, the smell and feel of the soil; the love of their roses and vegetables know throughout the neighborhood now living again through me. I honor their memory by taking up the hoe once again. In doing so, I hope to instill in others a love of gardening; of growing beautiful living things. The addiction of these beautiful flowers and the need to grow more and more. To never be done with that garden for it will forever grow and change with me throughout my life. To make my corner of the world a more beautiful, “green” place one garden at a time.
I am grateful for the people in my life. My family and friends who have always been the rocks of my foundation. And great neighbors who want to share good times. And here’s to the wonderful, hard working colleagues from the job I just left and those I am meeting in this next phase of my professional career in education. Thanks to the gardeners all over the world I have begun to meet through social media and blogs. And the new friends. Those who found me and told me I had beautiful gardens and a talent to share. Now this year I will be starting my own garden design business; Purple Door Garden Designs. Website should be up in a few months and I have lots of designing to do already.
I am grateful for the friends who said everyone has that “right eye”; you just need to learn to develop it. So to the friends that encouraged that
artistic side of me; who gave me art lessons every Friday on the patio this summer thank you. While I still have a long way to go, I want to keep going with their help and expertise.
I am grateful to those who have helped me regain my health and my sanity. Practicing meditation, acupuncture, massage, Reiki; all these renewed me and helped me deal with life in a most productive way. Not dwelling on the stress. Taking the lessons and really learning from them. Helping to open my eyes and turn my stubborn head in the right direction.
Most important, I want to thank the person who is most accepting of me; who makes no comment about my addiction; who is the reluctant garden helper (with little kicking and screaming); who I can’t imagine living my life without–to you Bob (my husband)!! You make every day worth living. I am grateful for each day I wake and you are there sharing it. Those precious breaths I almost wasn’t able to take.
When the sun rises and sets each day I know I am a better person because I have lived and learned something; I have met new people and talked with old friends. I am doing the things I love. I have just what I need to live a comfortable life. So what are you grateful for? How do you express it?
”As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.” — John Fitzgerald Kennedy
Donna,
So very well said. Good luck in your garden design business and in developing your art. It sounds like you are surrounded by many that support and inspire you. It is so nice and worthy to share your gratitude. I have enjoyed your writing and just starting to get to know you. Donna
Donna thank you for the encouragement. I have found so many wonderful bloggers like you who have inspired me. And your design work is incredible. I can only aspire to get to your level. It has been a pleasure getting to know you this year. looking forward to 2011.
Donna.
Finally reading your blog for the first time. What a tribute you pay in this entry to friends. And, the importance of encouragement. Even small gestures of encouragement go a long way, and sometimes those gestures are even simply the positive action steps of others. Like this blog.
thx Sue this means a lot….friends and new friends reading the blog and liking it makes it worthwhile….and I have met many new friends and connected with old friends…just keeps getting better
Lovely post – I love the quote from Melody Beattie. I believe that joy in life springs from gratitude and that quote says it all. I look forward to following your posts on Blotanical. You may be interested in my non-gardening blog, The Blessing Bowl – it’s about being grateful for the blessings in our daily lives. http://theblessingbowl.blogspot.com.
Happy New Year!
thx Ginny for following and for your kind words regarding the post and blog…I will definitely check out your blog…sounds lovely…Happy New Year!!
Donna. Great to know you here. Just dropping to your post and It’s inspire me to gratitude to the love one. Lovely post. Thanks so much for sharing.
lovely to meet you and I am glad it has inspired you…you have a lovely blog with beautiful photos of orchids…I hope you will drop by again
Hello Donna, I just recently discovered your blog at Blotanical and have become an instant fan. I do a “Blog of the Month” feature on my blog, Jean’s Garden, where I review newly discovered garden blogs and recommend them to my readers. I just wanted to let you know that yours is one of four blogs I have highlighted this month. The post reviewing your blog just went up and your blog will be featured on my sidebar throughout the month of January. Cheers!
Jean first I want to thank you for your wonderful words and am glad you are following…I just visited your wonderful blog and read all the nice things you had to say about this blog…you definitely nailed what it is about …..this has definitely been a wild ride and I am so committed to keeping this experience going…fans like you certainly confirm I am on the right track …I look forward to getting to know you and your blog better…stop by anytime to comment!!
Hi Donna, what a lovely post. So wonderful that you have found writing such a blessing, good luck with the children’s book and any other writing adventures you take. Most of all, good luck with your new garden design business, tremendously exciting, and probably a little nerve-racking too. This looks like being an extraordinary year for you.
Thanks Janet…it is going to be an extraordinarily busy and fruitful year no matter what because of all the friends I have found through blogging… 🙂
“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more.” I love those words, they fill my soul. Thank you for sharing them. After reading your post and “About Me” I feel like we are kindred spirits. We have so much in common. I look forward to getting to know you better through our blogs.
I am so glad the words touched you and you enjoyed the blog…I love your blog and will enjoy getting to know you…I think we are kindred spirits as well…
This is a very moving post Donna! I love the quote and feel very grateful for your posting it. I love imagining gratitude “unlocking the fullness of life. . . ” Beautiful! I will add that I am grateful for finding your blog too.
as am I grateful for having found you and your blog Carol