Show Me

Gratitude 5/9/2026

I am grateful for the gift of a new day.
My heart is filled with gratitude for the many blessings I have.
I will appreciate the small joys and express my thanks in all circumstances.
Let my attitude of gratitude bring joy to others.

I am grateful when I take actions that reinforce my values.

There’s that song, Show Me, from My Fair Lady:

Never do I ever want to hear another word.
There isn't one I haven't heard.
Here we are together in what ought to be a dream;
Day one more word and I'll scream!
Haven't your arms Hungered for mine?
Please don't "expl'ine," Show me! Show me!
Don't wait until wrinkles and lines
Pop out all over my brow,
Show me now!

Too often in my life I have talked about things I care about. I have complained about things I didn’t think were right. Too often I have not lived up to my potential and not taken action when I shoulda and coulda. Too often I have been a hypocrite and done things that belie my stated beliefs. Using plastic bags and plastic packaging have been oh so convenient, for example. Even though it can be exhausting and time consuming and sometimes turns out to be a waste of time, I am grateful when I have been able to “put my money where my mouth is.”

I care about protecting the environment. I like clean air and water and healthy habitats for creatures. I’ve never had a lot of money but I have contributed to a lot of environmental efforts, like The Nature Conservancy, National Parks Foundation, World Wildlife Fund, Environmental Defense Fund, Greenpeace, National Parks Foundation… I can’t be sure it that has made any difference whatsover. We’ve always gotten fuel efficient cars, mainly because we didn’t have a lot of money to spend on gas. We’ve also always used a wood burner for heat in the winter, but mainly because we don’t have a heat outlet in this old house. In the last few years, I feel really good that we bought a used plug in hybrid and installed a geothermal hvac system in our home. I also vote for politicians who at least say they care about protecting the environment.

I strongly support public education, early childhood education, and higher education. I am proud that I was a preschool teacher and a middle school English teacher. In the early 1980s, I worked in the Educational Programming department at Warner Amex QUBE, a cable tv start up in Columbus. I’m proud that I worked as an editor in textbook publishing and later as a writer/editor of educational materials. I’m happy that I was a Girl Scout Leader and coached Destination Imagination for several years. I can see that my choice of career and volunteer activities sprung from my values. As a voter, I always support the public school levies, our system for funding schools, here in Ohio, and I always support candidates who believe like me, in the importance of continually improving public education and access to education.

Family values are really fundamental in my life. I am blessed that I had parents and grandparents who loved me and made sure I had a foundation to do whatever my little heart desired. They showered me with love, healed my wounds, read and told me stories. They made sure I had enough to eat, got all my shots, got doctor and dental checkups, straightened my teeth, gave me ballet, piano, flute… lessons with all the “equipment” and uniforms I needed. They paid for me to go to the college of my choice. I tried to do the same for my own children.

And now I want to support my daughter and son-in-law in any way I can as they parent my grandchildren. That means that I need to stay in shape so I can physically help in child care and I need to make the time because it is such a priority for me. My dad, who didn’t believe in an afterlife, would say that one’s immortality is in your children. I believe that, too. It’s not all about me and my temporary fleeting gratification or enrichment. It’s really important to me to do what I can to make future generations healthy, fulfilled, and happy.

I have not always taken actions to promote my values, but I sure am grateful that I have done that sometimes.