• a shaft of sunlight on the gloomiest of days.
• a kiss in the moonlight from someone you love.
• that no matter how much it rains your socks never get wet.
• that no one ever makes you eat brussels sprouts.
  
• friends who love you as you are.
• compassion.
• the sound of your children's laughter.
• the smell of new-mown grass.
• retract the last wish if you suffer from hay fever.
• never fear failure, for doing so makes it hard to succeed.
• the strength to see the opportunities in your adversities.
• a mountain to climb and the will to do it.
  
• a big squashy sofa with a cat sleeping on its arm.
• meet someone who makes your heart race.
• learn to tread lightly on the earth.
• the shade of a big tree on a sunny day.
• never have to stand in line for the ladies' room.
• love of learning.
• temperament to teach.
• never get caught in your zipper.
• that in restaurants you always choose the meal that everyone wishes they'd ordered.
• a small child falls asleep in your arms.
  
• that no matter how venerable an age you attain, at least once a year you splash in a puddle.
• a long lazy morning with breakfast in bed.
• never end up with anyone who snores.
• that prejudice never taints your mind.
• a home as welcoming as a mother's embrace.
• that you see that beauty lies in the shadows as well as in the sun.
• that you always remember to turn the iron off.
• gravy never turns lumpy.
  
• the love of reading and a book at your bedside every night.
• never stub your toe.
• whenever you draw you fill the page and use all the colours.
• clouds that billow like dreams into the shapes of animals and islands.
• the fluttering wings of hummingbirds to lullaby you to sleep.
  
• hot meals on cold days and cold drinks on hot days.
• always find your size, no matter how late you go to the sales.
• words that make you smile, like squelch, cous cous, and jojoba.
  
• rainbows and fireworks.
• are never too far from the next cake shop.
• always have the time to watch a hesitant raindrop wending its way down a window pane.
  
• that once a year you ditch work early and go to see a movie in the afternoon.
• the abandon to dance badly at weddings.
• always get a seat by the window.
• a passport photo that your friends don't laugh at.
• always make enough dessert.
• always help the woman with the buggy.
• eventually always find the missing sock.
• laugh lines, not wrinkles.
• that even at your lowest ebb you know that my turn is a turning tide that will always find you.
• the warmth of the beds that you slept in as a child.
• a good memory, except for grievances.
• when you're blessed with old age you have memories to feat on and a mind that's still hungry.
  
• the gaps between buildings and the worlds beyond that they reveal.
• learn that price is rarely a measure of worth.
• self-knowledge devoid of self-importance.
• courage.
• fear, for if you have never known fear how can you comfort those you love when they, too, are afraid?
• ambition never tainted by arrogance
• find your own path through the forest
• mistakes so that you can learn.
• the sense to laugh at the world and all its absurdities and the wisdom to laugh at yourself before others do.
• strength to face your fears, to recognize them as part of yourself, and still move on.
• the wisdom to listen to and inarticulate.
• never lose the sustenance that is hope.
• choices.
• confidence.
  
• patience, because sometimes the world will insist on walking when you want to run.
• passion.
• remember all of us are flawed and that's okay.
• no matter how tall you walk, you never look down on those around you.
• whatever skepticism you possess never darkens into cynicism.
• learn that we have two ears but only one mouth for a reason.
• vision that lets you see the good in others and the faults in yourself.
• can always feel my hand in yours whenever you need it.
• always have one wish left...
  

Labels: appreciation, book

¶ 3:06 AM