Gratitude

"GRATITUDE"

Gratitude is a gift opened for sobriety

simply breathing a minute in time

Gratitude is an emotion learned

riding waves of empathy

Gratitude is one key opening a caring heart

covered in seven veils of suspicion

Gratitude is being happy hugging a friend

recalling people on the lane to love

Gratitude is standing after falling down

damage healed moving forward

Gratitude is making choices—accepting

unwanted consequences—discovery

Gratitude is a stepping stone on the path

living in light without shadows

Gratitude is the name of long ago events

holes in time, held in hands of fate

April Ryan is a blossoming Washington poet, and she knows it.

SHARING STORIES is a weekly column for and about the 50 plus crowd living in the Puget Sound region. Send your stories and photos to ariele@comcast.net. Tell local or personal stories; discuss concerns around aging and other issues; share solutions, good luck, and reasons to celebrate; poems are fine too. Pieces may be edited or excerpted. We reserve the right to select among pieces. Photos are always a plus and a one-sentence bio is requested (where you live, maybe age or career, retired status, etc.).

SHARING STORIES is featured on www.northwestprimetime.com, the website for Northwest Prime Time, a monthly publication for baby boomers, seniors, retirees, and those contemplating retirement. The newspaper can be found in the greater Seattle area and other Puget Sound locations. For more information, call 206-824-8600 or visit www.northwestprimetime.com. To find other SHARING STORIES articles on this website type "sharing stories" in the search function above.