Today, I am grateful for...

“I’ve realized why we are here,” whispered the boy. “For cake?” asked the mole. “To love,” said the boy. “And to be loved,” said the horse.

If you have not yet opened the book, The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse, by Charlie Mackesy, please take ten minutes to read. You will not be disappointed. There is such profound meaning in the few words and images on these pages.

Today I am grateful for LOVE. For the love I have given and the love I continue to receive each day. For the love of my family, who I am surrounded by on this journey. For the love I receive from my extended family, through virtual hugs, emails, texts, phone calls and acts of kindness. We all have the ability to love and to be loved. Start with yourself and be kind to yourself. Extend kindness to others and I hope you feel the love that surrounds you.

We all need to remember that we are not alone and that when dark clouds come, we keep going, surrounded by those who give us love and those we love. We are never alone on the journey, no matter where our path is taking us.

“When have you been at your strongest?” asked the boy. “When I have dared to show my weakness. Asking for help isn’t giving up,” said the horse. “It’s refusing to give up.”

We are not alone.

Good news to share! My recent ultrasound showed “shrinkage”. I have never loved that word more than I do today. The tumor is smaller than it was in January, and the chemo cocktails are doing their job. As I head into round 4 tomorrow morning, I am feeling loved and surrounded by so many. Your recent comments, encouragement, and well wishes were humbling to say the least and I was overwhelmed by your support. No doubt I will continue to feel your love and kindness and surround myself with a blanket of such warmth and caring thoughts in the months to come.

“Tears fall for a reason and they are your strength not weakness.”

Seeing the sacrifice, the kindness, the unselfish love of our first responders is overwhelming for me. Some days I cannot help but feel such emotional gratitude for their love, kindness and commitment. I am forced to stay home, and these unselfish individuals go out every day to show kindness, compassion and love to others. Some have given the greatest sacrifice and in doing so have shown a greater love than is imaginable. From the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU! Thank you to the front line workers in the health care field (my health care team), at LaBonne’s and Watertown Meat Center (and all the grocery stores) who are helping to keep food in our homes, Mike who delivers our mail, the Amazon delivery drivers, our teachers and school staff, our public safety departments, Special Olympics staff around the globe who are working tirelessly to keep athletes engaged and active, and to all who do your work to keep us all safe and healthy. You are all heroes and I am grateful for the love you show every day.

“When the dark clouds come…keep going. When the big things feel out of control…focus on what you love right under your nose. This storm will pass.:

“Everyone is a bit scared,” said the horse. “But we are less scared together.”

Today, I am grateful for Love.

The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse, by Charlie Mackesy. I hope you find the words will inspire and comfort you as they have been a source of comfort for me. You can find it on Amazon.