Late Summer Sunshine and other Gratitudes
 
Today, I have so much to be grateful for.
Have you ever had a chance after the first frost, after the first cool, cloudy, warning-of-the-cold-to- come kind of day to bask in the sunshine of a late summer afternoon?  Mmmmm.
The sky is here today is that deep endless blue unblemished by even a single cloud.  The sun high in the afternoon sky casts a warm comfort over all who are outside to feel it.  Where I live in Western Canada September tends to be a great weather month, a refreshing mix of crisp mornings and warm afternoons.
Gratitude is contagious, just as negative attitudes are.  Remember the movie "Crash" where one negative event sparks another, then another.  It was easy to understand how one person's attitude/choice lead to such a chain reaction, ending with such devastating results.
Let's see what kind of positive ripple we can start.
I have just read the book "Me to We" by Craig and Marc Kielburger in which each chapter ends with a challenge to consider how each of us can use our gifts to contribute to our community - whether that be our household, neighbourhood, workplace or beyond.  Today I will share this newsletter - sharing some of my gratitudes with you and ask you to then share yours with whomever you choose in whatever way you choose. 
I'll go first... feel free to use these as suggestions or go a totally different direction...
 ~ I am grateful for my family - today I will call each of my children and tell them I appreciate them.
 ~  I am grateful for having central heating - today I will mail in my heating bill (normally I pay it online) and enclose a little thank you note - it doesn't matter who receives it - I hope it will make them smile
 ~  I am grateful for late summer sunshine - I have already shared that gratitude with you
That was easy!
As I look around there is a squirrel high up in the tree munching his way through the ripe crab apples, knocking more down to bounce off the roof of the garden shed than he manages to eat... a jack rabbit unworried, unhurried slowly loping down the lane... what a great day!
There are leaves starting to change colour and soon the days will move from warm to chilly to cold.  But for today I am grateful for late summer sunshine... and so much more.