News from the homestead: harvesting gratitude

The other day, while chipping away at my endless chores list, I started thinking about our upcoming Thanksgiving feast and all the associated planning that entails. One thought quickly spiraled into the next and soon I was back to where I so often find myself, simply giving thanks for the cornucopia of delights we are blessed with every day. This is the season especially focused on giving and receiving thanks, making it a particularly special time of year. For me, it’s a time to harvest the abundance of goodwill being shared and hold it in my emotional vault for those times of the year when it feels in less supply.

I like to access my vault of harvested gratitude during downtimes, when things get difficult, feel overwhelming, or for when the world just seems less civil.  At those times, I can call up the priceless, no-cost gift of gratitude not just during this time of year, but every day.

Here’s a little mantra I like to practice to be sure I’m harvesting gratitude every day.

• Thank you, when my feel hit the floor — it means I get to spend another day trying to make a difference to someone or something;
• Thank you, when I get dressed — it means I have clothes to wear and keep me comfortable regardless of the season; I have agility and newfound strength;
• Thank you, when I eat – it means I do not go hungry like too many others; and there are so many who work so hard at ensuring our food supply who deserve thanks.
• Thank you, each time I see or speak to one of my children or grandchildren – it means my most valued legacy remains in touch and close in heart and thought; the memories we’re creating at Wittbrich Acres are priceless in terms of the life/experience dividends they continue to pay
• Thank you, when I tend to my chickens or bees – it means I have been blessed with learning from them in this unanticipated later-life role
• Thank you when I encounter a stranger who performs some assistance or service — it reminds me of how I would like to be treated when I do a service for others
• Thank you when I go to bed – for the gifts of wisdom, new challenges, and experience I received throughout they day

At Thanksgiving (and everyday) we all have things great and small that we have harvested throughout the year and for which we should be grateful. In the last year, I’ve been particularly blessed and my gratitude vault is overflowing.

I’ve harvested a bevy of helpful, experienced mentors to help me with the many things I need to know about bees, chickens, and more. They’ve helped me immensely and even when each comes with their own (sometimes conflicting) advice of “always do this, never do that” it leaves me feeling like there’s always more than one way to do things, so I’ve got a chance of getting it right after all!  I’ve met neighbors who have quickly developed into friends as we share life in our rural environment. I still rely on the homestead’s previous owners who I’ve come to know and love so well. They patiently answer questions that arise now with far less frequency now. My texts of “where is the shut off value for XYZ” or “the [something] is making a noise, what should I do?” are always answered with kindness. I know they appreciate how hard I’m trying to maintain the legacy of the property they so lovingly founded.

Throughout our first year at Wittbrich Acres, I have received so many notes, suggestions, comments, remarks, and gifts from our clients and readers of my posts. Each one comes with such genuine sincerity and desire to be helpful and encouraging as I navigated through my first round of seasons here at the homestead. They buoyed me, made me laugh, sent me on new paths to research, eased my fears of utter incompetence, and calmed me when I was overwhelmed.  Looking at the many pictures I captured and re-reading my daily journal entries, I feel profound thank-fullness for the loving tenderness shared by so many.

As I celebrate the formal Thanksgiving holiday with my family my heart is full. At Wittbrich Acres I have discovered peace, harmony, and gratitude. I wish the same for you and your families as you harvest gratitude throughout the year.

Happy Thanksgiving from Mike, me, 31 chickens, and countless bees. We all appreciate you!