We must be mindful. Mindful sounds terrible when you have a busy mind, I know, but being mindful is sorta clearing. One thing at a time. This thing. This now. I believe blessings are best counted in the moment, but it’s not as easy to practice that art as it is to write the statement. Sometimes I get all caught up in the rushing and doing and oh mercy, the shifting focus, quick, quick, quick! I must remind myself, stop myself to breathe and take a moment in gratitude.
On any given day I have plenty to be grateful for — family, furbabies, friends, house, job, food in the cupboards, indoor plumbing, absurdly expensive health insurance — I’m so fortunate. There are times I am acutely aware of the infinite abundance of love and possibility in this world. Times I can feel it running through me. However, I am a human and I take it for granted. I frequently need a reality check and I do enjoy fings and stuffs.
Out of the blue, my friend Cole sent me a lil giraffe necklace. It gave me all the happy and I hung it in Blanche, look how cute!
In case you did not know, giraffes make me happy and friends who see giraffes and think of me make me happy. Friends who would mail me the giraffe? Oh wow!
Then, in an uncanny coinkidink (as she would say) my mother sent me a giraffe sparkly. I know, you maybe think she saw Cole’s giraffe and rushed out to send me a fing, but you would be wrong. In fact, my mother mailed hers before Cole.
Two giraffes in a week?!?
But wait! There’s more!
A few weeks ago, my dear friend True sent me a code via text. It was for coffee at Starbucks. She said to have a coffee on her and to think of her, and oh my heart. So on Tuesday I got my True coffee and I did think of True. Aw, heart heart, True.
The barista asked how long it had been since I’d seen my friend. “Five years. Five years, six months, two weeks…” That’s how long I’ve been back home. Omalord, I do miss True. Bittersweet coffee had me like whoa.
I am still, STILL ridiculously happy to be back home, particularly this time of year.
That gratitude cup stays full. Grateful to be home.
Taking long walks in the woods.
Wearing sweaters.
Being thought of by those I love but who are afar.
I am so grateful to be living this week in my gifted life.
Happy Friday Everyone!
joeyfullystated 
Happy Friday, Joey. I am happy for the grateful you, sticking your neck out to enjoy all that is around you and friends afar that really care and show it.
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Nice turn of phrase, Mark 🙂 Thanks!
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Happy Friday Joey! It’s so easy to take things for granted, but it feels good to stop and count those blessings – so many blessings – They come to you , and they come back to you, so enjoy them. I hope you have a great weekend.
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Thank you, Dan. May we all take time to enjoy the blessings we count 🙂
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Your photographs all have a nostalgic sense to them, Joey. They are magical and just gorgeous. I LOVE your first image! And yeah, gratefulness is something we groom ourselves into living. Some days are more challenging then others, admittedly so. But!! We do have SO much to be grateful for! It’s SO cool you received two giraffes in one week and then the text from your friend. Life is good, dear friend. So good!! Happy Friday!! 😘
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What a sweet post. When we are busy doing our lives it is easy to overlook the things that make them special. Some times we just have to stop and reflect on all the important stuff. Happy Friday.
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I really do try to focus on the happies, but everything goes so fast!
Have a great week! 😀
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Your post just warmed my heart, Joey, and gave me a Friday smile. Unexpected gifts like giraffe necklaces or connecting with a long-missed friend…that’s great stuff. And makes for an exceptionally blessed week. Have an awesome Friday and an even awesomer weekend.
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Thanks so much! I am delighted to warm your heart, but of course I know you to be warm-hearted, so now I imagine your heart glowing pink like a Care Bear ❤ LOL
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Happy Friday, Joey! Ain’t life grand?! Indeed…..
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It sure is, often, even as we complain ❤
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This was a perfect post for this day – a day when so many things seem so ugly and people seem so callous and cruel and everywhere I look I just see ugliness. I’m glad you got your giraffes and your coffee. Thanks for sharing that glimpse of lightness.
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Ooher. I’m sorry you were in such a mindset. I’m glad to have shared and I hope you’ll have a week of beauty and joy ❤
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Sounds like a pretty good week.
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Twas not bad. Not bad at all 🙂
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Weeks like this make up for the crappy ones.
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Orrrr, at least the happy bits make the crappy a lil less crappy 😉
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Three must be the magic number for sweet surprises!
Wishing you much happiness for today and the weekend! 🙂
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Wishing you a very happy week, Barb 😀
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The sparkly giraffe is cute but the one in Blanche really makes me smile. How nice to have friends like that. Thanks for sharing your happy stories. We need more happy stories right about now!
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We do, and it was my pleasure to share one 🙂
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Friends are good. I have to make sure I tell all of mine where I am – and keep up the connections somehow. Can’t afford to lose any.
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Good goal 🙂
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Love, love this, Joey, and relate on so many levels. Wishing you a wonderful weekend! ❤
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Thank you! I hope you had one too ❤
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I am happy you’re home, too! Because if you weren’t here, I would never have met you, because I’m never where you were. So I have the gratefuls, too. 🙂
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Oh dats so nice 😀 And true! Thanks!
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We can easily get caught up in the current craziness (there is ALWAYS current craziness) and forget to feel gratitude for all the good we experience… every day. Giraffes and coffee gifts from a far away friend… life is good.
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So true, oh the craziness 🙂
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Lovely. We all need to take a moment now and then to appreciate the good and simple pleasures in our lives.
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Mmhm 🙂
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What a sweet and happy post! I hope the joy is contagious to all your readers!
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Me too. I hope people will pause and think about their own delights this week and have a smile. Course, someone is out there complaining about how no one sent them two giraffes and a coffee… 😛
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I agree with you, Joey. Grateful are the happy people. And right and now matters most. Thanks.
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😉
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Life is good!
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Indeed 🙂
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You are a lucky woman. 🙂
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I AM. 🙂
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Have a great weekend, Joey. Sounds like your off to a good start with all the thoughtful people in your life sending you reminders 😊 Your post is a good reminder for me to stop, and count my blessings❤️
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Isn’t it terrible that we need to be reminded?!? Hope you had a good one ❤
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Beautiful post. Thanks for sharing the joy and gratitude.
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Oh, thank you! 🙂
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Well I’m sure late, but hope all this happy spills over into this week. I love to watch giraffes run and fall walks, though it still feels like summer in the daytime here. Enjoy your week with happy memories and mindful moments.
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Thanks, JoAnna 😉 I wish you a happy week, too!
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This is so much of the lovely. And the giraffes? Well, the giraffes are the best. 💛
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mmm – the photos and words were coordinated with such aligned mood!
well done
(and did not know you liked giraffes. That is helpful. Oh and seeing we are sharing here – I do not have an animal that I like (maybe I will one day) but my favorite color is maroon. (Just FYI)
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Interesting. Not common. Verrry interesting.
Thanks!
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This is a big heart post!! ❤️ You did have an abundance of love in your week. I hope your gratitude cup stays full!!
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Thank you!
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Lovely to catch up. You’re a treasure-chest.
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❤
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I’m more of a leopard fan than a giraffe fan, but when there’s cute jewelry involved, my head could be turned. I could be on Team Giraffe.
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Giraffes are nifty.
And also leopards.
But mostly giraffes 🙂
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This is such a lovely post Joey!! So many things to be grateful for! Love those giraffes…and the coffee love. It’s good to be loved and thought of by so many 🙂 I’m looking forward to pulling out my riding boots and scarves and watching the leaves begin to show off their vibrant colors!
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