Supporting other people in difficult times can start to seep into your soul and feel like a bag of weights on your shoulders. Result: absorb the feelings of sadness and gloom. Solution: write a poem about why I’m grateful.
I am grateful for these three things I hear:
Birds chirping in my trees at first light.
Laughter in my kitchen.
The sound of waves crashing onto the shore.

I am grateful for these three things I see:
The strip of orange as the sun rises.
The daffodil buds breaking through to trumpet the coming of spring.
The crystal patterns frosting the leaves and grass.

I am grateful for these three things I smell:
Freshly brewed coffee first thing in the morning.
The smell of roasting chicken announcing the promise of a family dinner.
Scents of pine, cinnamon and nutmeg at Christmas.

I am grateful for these three things I touch and feel:
The silky soft feel of my dogs’ fur.
The tickle of grass on my bare feet.
The warm glow of an act of kindness.

I am grateful for these three animals and birds:
My two loyal Labradors.
The pheasants that strut across my lawn.
The magnificent elephants I met in South Africa.

I am grateful for these three friends:
My husband who has been my soul-mate for twenty-five years.
My college friends, Gail and Brenda, with whom I have shared a lifetime of memories.
My son and daughter who love me as I am.

I am grateful for these three teachers:
Mrs Taylor who challenged me, inspired me and championed me.
Mr Lewis who showed me how not to teach English.
Miss Thomas who gave me a life-long love of sport.

I am grateful for these three family members:
My parents for whom there isn’t a mountain they wouldn’t climb to be there for me.
My Aunty Merle who, like a familiar comfort blanket, was always there to wrap you in her warmth.
My children, who I love as my offspring, and like and admire as wonderful young people.

I am grateful for these three things in my home:
My enormous bed on which I can star-fish at night.
My office, Narnia, a magical world through my wardrobe.
My kettle, which is always in use.

I am grateful for these three people who hired me:
Maurice Geller who threw me in the deep end.
Alan Sutton who believed in me even when I didn’t.
Adam Edwards who gave me a free rein to find myself as a teacher.
I am grateful for these three trips:
Camping trips with my family to discover a love of the outdoors.
The trips to La Cala – sun, relaxation and BOOKS.
The trip to South Africa to immerse myself in the beauty of the wild.

I am grateful for these three books:
Little Women, which inspired a desire to write.
Pollyanna, which taught me to remember to be grateful.
My Family and Other Animals, where I can immerse myself in the wonderful descriptions.

I am grateful for these three character traits:
Humour
Empathy
Determination

I am grateful for these three things I like to wear:
My worn-out walking boots for tramping up the hills.
My pink shoes that make me smile when I look down.
My bobble hat that keeps my ears warm on a rugby touch-line.

I am grateful for these three inventions:
The internet, which gives instant access to information, entertainment and communication.
My automatic washing machine, as I remember my mum standing for hours over a twin tub washing machine.
My central heating, as I remember the icy breaths each morning when I emerged from the cocoon of my blankets.

Whenever I feel down and gloomy,
I write a list of three things
For which I Am Grateful.

Alison Wilcox 2020