Each New Day

During this Covid-19 pandemic, a time dominated by fear and deprivation, I have been reading and thinking a lot about gratitude.

Even as I don a mask and gloves to shop for groceries, wondering if I am exposing myself to illness or even death, I am grateful for the food available to me and the people who grew it, delivered it, and shelved it.

Even as parks and trails are closed because people are abusing distancing regulations, I am grateful for the signs of spring and rebirth, the buds on the trees, daffodils in bloom and birdsong, on the walks I can take.

Even as I miss the physical expressions of caring, I am grateful for the privileges I have and my ability to connect to friends and family on-line.

But mostly I am grateful for each day I wake up in good health. For me, this quotation from Maya Angelou resonates as a daily prayer of thanksgiving:

This is a wonderful day, I have never seen this one before.