to know the life I dreamed of
now stares me in the face…

to know I can unlace my shoes
and step out of the race…

for my finish line, my summit,
my lifetime bucket list
is here and now -
the peaceful home,
the day-to-day,
the simple bliss:

my child sitting contently
with our cat curled on her lap;
a book in hand, a home-cooked meal -
Why want much more than that?

A day of life,
of work, of chores,
perhaps a gentle walk;
a cup of tea, a little treat
for when I’m off the clock.

A morning indoors,
waiting for the baking heat to lessen…
All of these precious moments rise
as though they have been beckoned;

and beckoned they have been
by my longing, hopeful heart,
so I thank my feet for following,
and my mind for playing its part.

I thank this heart for beating,
I thank these hands for writing,
I thank the winds of change
though their chill is often biting.

I thank my home, my friends, my job,
my past, my ancestors -
I bow to them in reverence
when worry starts to stir.

I stand on all their shoulders,
I honour all their journeys -
their hopes, their dreams, their strength, their strife
all left a trail before me.

I look to them in awe
as life brings me more to live,
and I thank them, for I know
that they gave all they had to give.

I’m well and truly humbled
knowing this life, this gift
is made as much of luck and chance
as of hard work and grit.

So I gently withdraw my complaints,
plant seeds of wonder in their place,
and watch and peace begins to bloom
right here, inside this very room.

Gratitude is

Maybe, but who knows?