gratitude

I need a gratitude check. Because I'm not dead and I'm not too crippled to move. Yet. And I intend to do whatever I can to stay moving as long as I can.

1. I'm here.
2. I can still move, mostly, if not gracefully.
3. I have food to eat. (see below)
4. I have two great, sweet dogs.
5. I have coffee. (DO NOT go there.)
6. I am not broke.
7. I have a warm bed to sleep in.
8. I have clean clothes to put on.
9. I have a job.
10. I have friends.
11. I have tools. (real and metaphysical)
12. I have options.
13. I can read and I have stuff I WANT to read.
14. I love my job.
15. I have a great therapist.
16. I have coloured pens.
17. I have watercolours, brushes, and paper.
18. Someone told me thank you for what I said today.
19. I got hugs from friends.
20. People still talk to me.
21. I don't live in a cave.
22. People in the grocery store can move around me.
23. I'm sober.

Okay, why'd I need a gratiutde list? Well, it's always helpful to write out what I'm grateful for even if it's the most basic of necessities. In fact, I am more grateful for those than for the special stuff because they are, well, necessary.

I heard from more than one person about the whole gluten-free thing being helpful to R. A. sufferers. I tend to listen selectively and so I need to hear things more than once before I take a serious look at them. But I did a little scrolling around and found that, yes, it would seem that there are people who think this is true. It won't kill me to eliminate gluten from my diet. But most gluten-free diets are for celiac sufferers. Which means that dairy and nuts are not a problem. Well, I can't eat dairy, almonds, or peanuts. And dairy is as prevalent as gluten in prepared foods. Frustrating. And my fear is those nights when I get home late and I'm too tired to cook, what will I eat? Cause tired AND hungry is not a pretty place for me. Yes, I can plan ahead and freeze stuff. And I do and I will. In fact, there is a casserole of legumes and vegetables cooling to be frozen as I write. So, I guess what my real problem is is that I am not living in the present moment. Cause in the present moment my belly is full and I have dinner for a week and I have a loaf of gluten-free bread and I have sunflower butter and soy cheese. There is fruit and vegetables fresh, tinned, and frozen in my cupboard/freezer/refridgerator.
That is all.