I am grateful

I am grateful for the life I have
that I live in a beautiful place
with my beautiful family
who are all healthy
and that we love one another so openly.

I am grateful they put up with my shit.

I am grateful for my elders and ancestors,
who brought me into the world,
who cared for me when I was young,
and that I can care for them when they need.

I am grateful for this comfortable house,
warm in winter and cool in summer,
in a neighborhood where all my wants are within walking distance,
where I know all my neighbors by name,
next to a river and a pond and a forest.

I am grateful for this goofy dog who
loves me more than I deserve.

I am grateful for the wild animals I encounter every day,
who deign to live so near to us in the city:
deer, geese, jays, crows, songbirds, skunks,
owls, eagles, coyotes, squirrels, racoons.

I am grateful for the amazing trees, all kinds,
but especially Douglas Fir and Oregon White Oak,
that grow so damn tall here.

I am grateful for bicycles.

I am grateful for a body that mostly works
and has mostly worked the same way for so long,
and that it is strong enough to ride a bicycle
almost any distance I can imagine,
even (especially) up hills.

I am grateful for the meaningful work I have
that is mentally stimulating,
in service of organizations that do obvious social good,
such that I can satisfy my material needs
without compromising my morals.

I am grateful that I have enough money,
not a lot but more than many people,
enough money that we never worry about food, or housing,
or small comforts.

I am grateful that I have enough,
(of everything),
so that I can care for people who need me.

I am grateful that people who need me
know they can rely on me.

I am grateful that I am not in prison,
that I can move freely around in the world.

I am grateful that I still find the world
a beautiful place worth moving around in.

I know that I built none of this,
I deserve none of it,
I am owed none of it,
it was given to me by circumstance and contingency and luck,
and it may all be taken from me.

I am grateful that I have it now.