I woke up this morning to an overcast sky outside.  No vivid blue, no sunshine streaming down to create an interesting play of light and shadow on the trees and grass.  I recited to myself my morning gatha as I opened the blinds to this new day:

beautiful morning

a new day begins

filled with gratitude

i breathe in and breathe out

And I got to thinking – what makes a beautiful morning? That would be more than the color of the sky and the amount of sunshine, right?  As I pondered that, I was flooded with different thoughts.

I look out my window today into a place of peace.  I see no rubble or burned out buildings, I hear no bombs or gunfire, there are no people standing and moving around while crying in despair and grief.

I see the normal movement in my neighborhood – cars driving down the street and people walking on the sidewalk.  None of those people are engaged in violence or acts of hatred toward each other.  Everyone is moving through their day within a sense of an intact community.

I look down the street and see a local grocery store and I know within that store I will find a bounty of food available to me.  I know when I flip the switch on my wall, the lights will come on, and when I turn on my kitchen faucet, water will stream out.  I have no worry today about how my basic needs of food, water, shelter and warmth will be met.

I know my three sons and their families, all grown and living their adult lives, are close to me – both geographically and in terms of our relationships – and none are in the midst of dealing with any life crisis right now, all enjoying good health and well being.

I look around my comfortable home and see all the blessings that are housed here.  All my needs that are so fully met and so much within these walls that has to do with comfort, safety, beauty and joy.

I write these words with a mind that still works, hands that can still type, and a body that is sitting at home without pain rather than from a hospital bed dealing with a serious illness.

I have a mind filled with awareness and appreciation for all these things and a heart that is overflowing with gratitude for all the beauty and blessings in this morning.

I realize sunshine and blue sky are nice, but these things are what truly makes up a beautiful morning.  I don’t know know what tomorrow or any of the future holds.  But I know that today, right now, I experience all of these things, and I am truly having a beautiful morning.

I hope you experience a beautiful morning too!