Hi. My name is Alexsandra. And I am transformed by words.
Oh, I don't look much different than the last time you saw me. But if you could see my heart, my mind and my soul, you would see the difference.
Really it's true. Even Google knows it. They are the ones that generated my email name: alex (dot) transformed (at) g mail (dot) com. And Google can't be wrong.
There are specific words that inspire and tranform. Blogs have labels or tags which are just words that organize posts and searches. I've used some of those words here: gratitude, kindness, The Word, and yes, even gluten.
Gluten is a word. I did a series of posts on gluten. Gluten is one word that changed me on the outside. Ingesting gluten gave me hives, swelling, arthritis and other symptoms for years. Removing gluten from my life has helped me feel and look healthy again. I am transformed. Gluten is just a word but it has changed me.
Today I am transformed by gratitude. In so many ways, on so many levels, I am grateful.
I am grateful for the 6 hours I spent with my friend Joan. It had be so long since we were able to get together. Way too long. Due to time, schedules, work and travel we've had only had short phone conversations for months. And she reads this blog which warms my heart and reminds me that we are always connected even when we are apart.
In 6 hours we covered all the important topics and places. We went to The Bakery, talked about family, the future, reminisced about the past. I sometimes wonder when I take someone to a place I've described whether they will see it differently than I do. We talked about this too. I believe in choosing to concentrate on the good in every situation and that choice makes the goodness grow. (Sometimes I do better at this than other times.)
So as we sat at that table by the window the regulars streamed in, chatting, laughing, greeting each other and I wondered how Joan would see this place I enjoy so much. You could say it is just a bakery. Bread and cookies, tables and chairs. To me it is "just"...The Bakery. A familiar place where they know my name and my needs (gluten free!). Its a friendly place where you are greeted with a smile and "Hey beautiful!". You learn the names of other regulars, talking about nothing and everything. It is different every time I go yet somehow just the same.
Joan and I remembered our first visit to The Bakery together. All the tables were occupied and The Baker told Joe to "Move over and make room for these ladies!". We shared a table and talked with this "regular", had our tea and when it was time to go Joe remarked that it isn't often he gets to sit with "2 hot chicks!". Joan and I looked around wondering who he was talking about. Joe is clearly delusional yet he made our day.
It was almost closing time at The Bakery so I drove Joan home. We chatted the whole way. We never stopped chatting. I say this because as we sat in her driveway to say good bye we suddenly decided to go to dinner. I love being spontaneous! She ran in to inform her family and off we went to enjoy my favorite Middle Eastern restaurant which has many naturally gluten free choices.
Yes, I've become a regular there too. My favorite waitress who wasn't even waiting on us came over to say how glad she was to see me. We had bonded over allergies on a previous visit.
So back to gratitude. Connections, friends, food, people, places. Each moment and each memory changes me, creates gratefulness in a way that affects me deeply. And this was on my mind, making me smile as I drove towards my street. I had been thinking what a beautiful day it had been. Even the sunshine and the cool breeze had cooperated to add to my gratitude.
But the breeze had suddenly become more of a gusting wind. A storm wind. Bordering on a funnel cloud wind. And as I turned onto my street I saw the people in front of my house where a 20 foot branch had fallen from the tree on the boulevard. As the wind continued to whip us all there were 3 of my neighbours and my brother wrestling with this healthy, heavy branch and numerous smaller branches attached that had come crashing down on the road minutes before. It had grazed and scratched my brothers car. And I knew in an instant I had even more to be grateful for.
As I watched them working together to cut and move the fallen wood of this maple tree I was grateful that no one was hurt, that my brother had not been getting out of his truck at that moment, that no one had been driving by, that none of the neighbours children had been riding their bikes, that none of my cats were in the yard. And I was grateful for the 3 neighbours that sprang to action upon hearing the crack of that tree branch as it came down.
Gratitude is a word that transforms and grows.
Gratitude
works for me and is my favorite
water cooler conversation.
Today for Watercooler Wednesday, I steal, er, pay homage to one of my favorite blogs The Doctor Is In. Dr Bob quotes Bono. Bono and Dr Bob...great words.
