Gratitude Increasing with Age

I think one of the truly great things about advancing age is the time and experience we accumulate to amp up our gratitude quotient. Some of the things I’m grateful for:

1.      My “Old Love” of 45 years, Tom, who have been at my side through thick and thin

2.      My parents: At 90 and 88, they are one of the greatest blessings to still have in my life at my ripe old age of 65.

3.      My son and daughter-in-law: great people, great parents

4.      My two (don’t get me started) smart, adorable granddaughters

5.      My sisters: three truly remarkable women who inspire me daily to be more than I am

6.      My health: I can do what I want to accomplish without health issues holding me back.

And if that weren’t enough, my financial comfort. That was never a more apparent gratitude than after a recent trip to Cuba. With the US embargo of Cuba in its 56^th year and with Cuba being a Communist country, the people there have dealt with considerable adversity. After their main supporter and importer, the USSR, collapsed in 1991, the country spiraled into an economic downspin. The average Cuban had lost 20 pounds through malnutrition by 1994. They went to rationing for key staples.  

There are no supermarkets in Cuba. Farmers can’t own the beef from their own cows. Only certain ages are entitled to milk. All products in Cuba, if available, are very expensive because, other than produce, have to be shipped in from other countries, usually around the horn of South America. Because of the embargo, ships bound for Cuba can’t even use the Panama Canal. And yet, the Cuban people are alive, vibrant, and produce music and art to die for.

When we returned from the trip, I had to go to the grocery to buy perishables. I felt a profound sense of guilt at the amount of products available to us at reasonable costs. The choices can be overwhelming. I stood in the canned tomato section for 15 minutes totally at sea as to what type of diced tomatoes I needed. Such a dilemma to have!

We could all spend five minutes thinking about our blessings and the things for which we are grateful. It makes all the creepy parts of getting older pale in comparison.