This exercise is a collaboration of entries by family and friends. It began as a way to connect during a series of Covid Lockdowns in Victoria, Australia.

Many thanks to all the gang- Anne, Lorna, Carol, Gabby, Paul, Harold, Jeremy, Karl, Daniel, Rob, “Cranky”, Deb, Seble, Josie, Yani, Moira, Fiona, Ayuka, Alicia, Conny, Gordon, David, Lesley, Hulia, Dagmawit, Wendy, Su and Simon, Lisa.

Gratitude – A

Air. Well just think about it for a moment. Can you live without air? No. Not for long!

Animals. Definitely. I often don’t feel a connection or love for society and how humans live, but I am constantly reminded by animals how connected I am to them and to our planet Earth.

Animals. Because they are very special to me. It’s like they can see into my soul and know when I need them most.

Air. I’m very grateful for fresh ocean air. I appreciate pure fresh air.

Afterthoughts – because they are always the best.

I’m grateful for my brother Alan who loves me and is willing to help when asked.

Astrology – it’s endlessly fascinating.

Apples. I make my own coleslaw and I always put apples in it.

Apartment living, so people can live close together and visit each other all the time.

Activists who stand up to corruption and the trashing of our environment which I care passionately about.

I’m grateful for Alcoholics Anonymous and I’m grateful for alcohol for getting me to Alcoholics Anonymous

A for Apples. I eat an apple a day. Great for health.

I’m grateful for my Apple phone for enabling me to stay in touch and read the news. I am part of the wide world.

Animals – which for me is the wildlife here where I live, in rural Victoria Australia. Roos, rabbits, foxes and farm animals. It’s nice to be with Nature.

Air which gives us life and all associated with that.

The word Ample as we have – And Ambulance as their Availability is Assuring.

Art – A wide variety of art.

I’m grateful for the Ambulance service in Australia.

A is for the Ability to Appreciate so much…

Animals. I love watching documentaries on TV about animals in their natural habitat, though their environment is quickly disappearing! Sometimes it’s as if humans are aliens on this planet. Most of the time we’re just out for ourselves! It is the animals and how they live their lives that inspires me.

A very old friend Anna. I met and worked with her in Papua New Guinea in 1988. When I was back there recently we spent some time together. I don’t think I will ever see her again. I’m very grateful for her friendship and for the many things I learnt from her.

Animals. I can’t live without pets. Over the years I’ve had dogs, cats, mice, a rabbit and budgies. I’ve rescued many cats and kittens and re-homed them.

Air. How good is it to breathe. And believe me I know, being a very heavy smoker. But I can’t seem to stop!

A is for my Marshal Amp.

ACDC. ACDC rocks!!!

Amazon – Online shopping. Yay!

Address. I love living in Montmorency, Victoria, Australia where there are lots of gum trees giving a country feel to the suburb.

Art. I paint nearly every day. My topic for the past two years has been painting  gum-trees which are very special.

A -Apple. I ate an apple today and it was quite nice.

Adelaide, the capital of South Australia. I like the city. It’s a good compact city, not too spread out and Ive got good friends there. I also like the colours of their football team.

Alicia. My beautiful daughter who does a lot for me.

Art. Making art. Exploring art. I love making things. Sewing. Anything textile related. Drawing and writing. Never been very interested in painting but I’ve been making a mess the past couple of weeks doing fluid art.

American Horror Story. My favourite TV show.

I’m thankful for the Alphabet. Couldn’t read and write without it.

WHAT ARE YOU GRATEFUL FOR – BEGINNING WITH A ?

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Gratitude – B

Books. Ever since I could read, books have given me the greatest pleasure. At the moment I listen to audiobooks to give my hands and eyes a break. They usually have excellent readers but I still find myself nodding off.

Bed. I must confess that few things give me more pleasure than a good night’s sleep after half an hour’s reading in bed.

I’m grateful for my Bass guitar cos its fun to muck around on.

Banana milkshakes because they are so delicious.

B is for bloke. I use the word a lot. Aussie slang for a male. It’s a good word.

My favourite cartoon is Bananaman. It’s hilarious. All the voices are done by the comedians from the Goodies. When Eric eats a banana he turns into Bananaman!

Brotherhood. I have a brother and two boys and it’s important we support each other and get on.

I’m grateful for my brain that enables me to read and think about things which brings a lot of meaning to my life.

B is for Bed for which I am always grateful. That and a roof over my head.

My son’s name starts with B. My son has enriched my life immeasurably.

B – for bald heads. I was prematurely bald at 20. The cultural shift when baldness became fashionable changed my life.

B is for Blue and Black – the colours of the sky. Blue is the colour of our sky during the day and black the colour of the night.

Boobs – I latched on to them when I was born and now that I’m older I still like them!

Grateful for my beer. Why? Just because.

Books – I have too many yet not enough!

Bush – I live very near a State forest and it is great!

Bike – I’m in my 70s and I ride 150 to 200 ks each week, so I will die healthy.

Bathos – my career as an artist has centred around this grounding concept. I am not James Bond. I shall never play the Dane. I am a supporting lord and shall happily be so. It’s about expectation, management, resilience, optimism – the heart of clowning!

B is for a favourite phrase of mine. Bugger it!

I’m grateful for my big boobs and my bra for holding them up and B is also for Bloody Beautiful, which describes the weather today here in Tasmania.

Books of course!

I’m very grateful for Bread. The staff of life.

I like my birthmark which I think is special because it is unique to me.

Butterflies – I love the the way they flutter about.

My Brother. I’m grateful not only for him, but that he’s still here with us.

Bread. Hot, freshly made bread.

B is for the beauty in Nature, especially trees and flowers.

I’m grateful for bats. I sit in the Botanical gardens and watch them waking up at sunset.

Boiled raspberry lollies. Yum Yum Yummy.

Bread. At work for my lunch I eat sandwiches which are made on the premises. They’re delicious and I look forward to them. Ham, lettuce and tomato are what I usually get.

I’m grateful for bananas. A nice wholesome snack.

Bees. I have rosemary and lavender in my garden which attract bees. I enjoy watching them buzz around doing their thing. I water the plants and the bees do the rest. It’s like a partnership.

I’m grateful for Bob Dylan. His music is fantastic and the lyrics give you a lot to think about. And the Beatles. I’m a fan of the Beatles too.

Bed. To sleep and also just to generally relax in. Beds are nice to come home to. Sinking into bed after a hard day. Its great.

I’m thankful for lovely little bees. True communists. And we are completely dependent on them.

Books because they provide a wonderful escape.

I give thanks to my bum. I’m always sitting on it and it keeps me comfy.

B is for bee-keeping. It was my life’s passion for 11 years.

I’m grateful for Balance in my daily life – when I manage to achieve it.

B stands for books. I have way too many! Between each cover lies the promise of adventure, fantasy, knowledge… An invitation to enter the wonderful world of the Imagination.

B is for Buddhism The most healing, sanity-producing ‘thing’ to come into my life.

B is for the occasional brainwave that comes unbidden. That ‘Aha’ moment.

I love my Bob the Builder Boots. Bought at the op-shop, they are practical, comfy and, I like to think, rather stylish.

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Gratitude – C

Carrots and Celery. Every day I drink apple, carrot and celery juice. It’s good for my health.

I’m grateful for my Children. There is nothing more important to me than bringing up my children. My children are who I love most in the world. Kahlil Gibran said that children are Life’s longing for itself.

Clear blue skies.

My Caravan in Warby – ( Warburton, Victoria ) My place to feel serenity. I appreciate it so much. I never take it for granted.

I’m grateful for my smart loving grandson Cameron.

My new-found love of Cats.

I’m grateful for Community and Connection.

Colours – the brighter the better. I am an artist and when I paint I like to use bright colours.

Cantaloupe because it’s my favourite fruit. Sweet, delicious and refreshing.

I’m grateful for Containers because they order my world. They make me feel I have a handle on tidying up. There’s something almost child-like about the pleasure I take in containers.

Cat Cuddles with my Cat called Orblot. He is my therapy-cat, giving me unconditional love and support. He’s my sleep therapy. The universe was looking after me, bringing him into my life.

I’m thankful we have Compulsory Voting for better representation.

Coffee for getting me moving in the morning.

Three of my favourite C words are Cake, Cappucino and Cheese.

I’m grateful for Children – and their honest innocence.

Cosmology. The study of the whole universe. And we are just a miniscule part of it.

Cotton because it’s my favourite fabric.

C is for my little dog Cocoa, who was my best friend.

I’m grateful for my first ever new Couch. I love it.

Curation- the guidance of an expert through unchartered art.

C is for Cuddles, the human touch, sorely missed during Covid lockdowns.

Cheer- that optimistic feeling.

Calm – need that sometimes.

I’m grateful for Champaign Roses because they’re exquisite.

C is for Vitamin C powder – my go-to remedy when I start feeling poorly. I stir a teaspoon into a glass of water. It tastes like crap but does the job.

C is for Carrots. I used to eat raw carrots a lot when I was a kid. I’ve always liked them. Carrots are good for you. High in Vitamin A.

I’m grateful for Chocolate. Why? Cos it’s a pleasure to eat!

Chocolate- I love the taste of Chocolate. My favourite chocolate is KitKat. It was my Grandpa’s favourite treat too, so maybe that’s why it has good associations for me.

Clouds. Clouds provide rain for the earth and I love their fluffy appearance.

I am grateful for my Chinese doctor. I grew up in China and my grandfather was a doctor. He looked after the health of everyone in the family. Chinese medicine works slowly and gently. It works with the body. Builds you up, makes you strong. Western medicine sometimes shocks the system. I prefer the Chinese way.

C is for Crawford productions, an Australian film and TV production company that was around in the 1960’s right through to the 80’s. Some of their series were Division 4, Homicide, Carson’s Law, The Sullivans. There were lots of them. I’m a big fan and a collector.

Cricket. I play it, watch it, listen to it on the radio. Cricket is a big part of my life.

Chakras – cos I’m an old hippy and I’m into all that.

C is for Confidence. Don’t leave home without it!

C is for cats in general and my cat in particular. I am grateful for my pretty little cat and her sweet, affectionate, gentle nature.

I’m grateful for Coffee – if you are a coffee drinker you will understand.

Cacti. I like their ‘Don’t mess with me Attitude’!

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Gratitude – D

Dinosaurs. They were part of the ancient earth before humans came along and buggered everything up.

D = My gorgeous Dogs, Fred and Daisy.

Discounts. I love a good bargain. It saves money and makes you feel good.

Doors – I value privacy. In an age of splash and tell, all the more so.

My dear little Dog. He has really helped my mental health during the Covid lockdown period.

Dad. I love him sooo much. His humour. That’s where I get mine. His gi-normous heart. His strength. His stories. Our conversations. Our fun adventures.The way he sees things. Whenever we talk or are together, I don’t feel odd in the world. I don’t feel alone.

Dalgleish. Everyone needs a role model. Kenny Dalgleish was mine – Scottish soccer player, then manager of Liverpool during the Hillsborough disaster.

Dogs are such great companions and good for opening up conversations and interactions with people.

I’m grateful for my two Darling Daughters.

D is for family dogs – Snickers, Roxy and Sugar.

I’m thankful for my doona. I like snuggling under my doona. It keeps me warm and helps me to sleep.

Dancing – because it’s fun and a stress buster.

D is for dogs. Their faithfulness, loyalty and devotion.

D is for Deb. That’s me. I feel grateful for how I am thinking and where I am at right now. I feel like the Dr Seuss quote “ Today you are you! That’s truer than true! There is no-one alive who is you-er than you!”

Deliberate practice. A method for maximising performance and potential. This wouldn’t work as two separate words- just like the method wouldn’t. Use it for everything you do.

Deciduous Trees -A bonanza of colour in Autumn, bare in Winter, and green and leafy in Spring and Summer.

D is for my favourite dress. It’s very flattering. It makes me feel good whenever I wear it.

Djembe Drums. I’m grateful for what they do to my soul.

D is for Darkness, being outdoors at night and admiring the stars.

D is for Dreamtime. Australian Aboriginal stories of how life began. I’m very interested in Aboriginal culture.

I give thanks for Dogs! All dogs. My old dog Kiah is geriatric. I’m grateful she’s still hanging in there.

Donuts from the 7/11.

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Gratitude – E

Exercise. Eating. Ease. Preferably in that order and, as a trio, my favourite way to pass the morning.

Envelopes – I love receiving letters. I may never receive another one, the way our lives have become digital. Of course the humble envelope makes letters possible.

E – Energy – for light and cooking, heating and cooling, getting around.

John Edrich, English cricket batsman from the 60s and 70s. Good steady batsman. Sportsmen inspire me. Herb Elliot was another one. Gold medalist runner in the 1960 Olympic Games. He won the 1500 metres.

E is for earrings that I love, like my sparkly turquoise ones.

E is for Elephants. Aren’t we lucky to live in a world that has such extraordinary creatures in it?

The smell of eucalyptus in the air in the Grampians National Park in Victoria, Australia.

Emptiness. I’m grateful for the Buddhist teachings on Emptiness. Nothing truly exists. Everything is changing constantly and eventually passes away.

E is for English. I am trying to learn English. It is very hard sometimes, but it is important for me to learn English. Every day I have to practice. Listening, learning, speaking.

Eggs. Bacon and eggs. My favourite breakfast.

Eagles. Magnificent birds. A symbol of power. Well, that’s how humans see them. Big strong birds.

Elephants. I love how they cooperate and look after one another in their herd. They could teach us a thing or two.

My Eyesight. How incredibly amazing is the ability to see!

Ears – How grateful am I am for my hearing! The sounds of the birds, the wind and the breeze through the trees, and music.

Emails- one of the gifts of technology that keeps us connected.

Electricity for keeping us warm.

I’m grateful for the Earth. We live out our whole lives on the Earth. We walk on it, drive on it, build houses on it. Good and bad people live on the earth doing all manner of good and bad deeds. The earth accepts and supports all life – without complaint, judgement or resistance.

Eggs – scrambled, fried, boiled, in an omelette. Any way really. Eggs are delicious.

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Gratitude -F

Food. Without food we die.

Football – I get a lot of enjoyment from watching the footy.

Free-range organic eggs. I eat them almost daily.

F is for Friands. I keep them in the Freezer for when Friends drop by.

I’m grateful for friendship. Friends are so important. We can have a good laugh with our friends and laughter is a great medicine.

Family. Not many left in mine, but family is special.

Films. Well we all enjoy watching films, don’t we? They provide us with great entertainment.

Friends. During lockdown, friends became more precious as it was harder to see them.

Falafel – when I want a take-away I often buy a falafel kebab. It makes a good veggie substitute for meat.

Freedom. Always found it hard to work in normal-land because of the lack of it. So it led me to what I do.

Facts. Without facts you have fear and hate.

Fire – I love sitting and staring into a log fire. Maybe around a campfire with good friends and good wine. I don’t do this nearly often enough though. Fire is hypnotic, primal and mystical and gives us warmth.

Frogs – they make the water margins sound good with their croaking. They swim with such froggy grace and they are a strange creature with magical associations.

Fireflies- lovely little insects that glow in the dark in Spring.

Faces. When the lockdown lifts so do the masks. I enjoy looking at people’s faces as I walk about.

I’m grateful to have Food in the Fridge.

Fiction. Without it you abandon possibility and the glories of the imaginative realm. Problems based on facts get solved in fiction.

Food. Yum. Love it. Need it.

Family, Friends and Fun! The blessing of being able to share fun and enjoyment Post -Covid Lockdown. It’s really hit home just how fundamental this is for our wellbeing.

Fantasy and frivolity. Too much seriousness can become a burden.

WHAT ARE YOU GRATEFUL FOR – BEGINNING WITH F ?

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