Each year I set an intention, not a resolution. This year it was gratitude. So, thank you Tina for rolling in this challenge towards the end of 2024. For me, gratitude is a choice you make every day. Living in gratitude makes your personal space better no matter what is going on around you.

I am so grateful for my family who were there for me in 2009 when I had heart surgery. They continue to be there for us, helping in many ways and sharing life cycle joys. I have pictures of my two granddaughters to share. The first is of my younger granddaughter, Olivia, waiting for her birthday party guests to arrive. This was taken in October 2018. She’s grown a lot since then. But the memory of her excitement will always stay with me.

Meanwhile, more recently, my older granddaughter, Madison, was getting ready for her wedding. Of course grandma had to take the pictures. The morning was just bursting with love.

I’m also grateful for my two grandsons Christopher, a teacher, and Ryan, a high-school student.

When you have pets, they are family. I’m grateful for all the loyal and loving dogs we’ve had. Here are Molly (now deceased) and Gem (who is 14 years now but a puppy in this picture).

Memories are something I cherish. I guess that comes with age. Richard and I took wonderful trips in our trailer. It’s my favorite way to travel. I’m so grateful we chose to travel this way while we could.

I can’t end this post without mentioning how grateful for my passion for photography. It’s helped me find many friends and has shown me the wonderful area I live in.

Remember, when the going gets tough, find something you’re grateful for. And, yes, there’s a take away for you in every circumstance. The world is a lot better when you concentrate on gratitude. Today, I’m grateful for the LAPC community.

Thanks Tina! I think we all needed to shift our mindset to gratitude. When you post your blog, please remember to link to Tina’s challenge and use the Lens-Artist tag. Last week Patti had us concentrate on details, and we saw wonderful images in your posts. Ann-Christine is up next, so look for her challenge. In the meantime, live in gratitude each day.

53 thoughts on “Lens Artists Challenge #325: Gratitude”

  1. When the storms rage around us, our little world is our haven, and appreciation and love for it and those around us are little ripples in a bigger pond. Who knows where those ripples may go?

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  2. Anne this is such a lovely and thoughtful post, I’m so glad I coincidentally hit upon your intention for the year. What a great idea BTW to have one!! I loved your sharing some thoughts and images of your family and of course your focus on your wonderful photography.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  5. I loved your comments on gratitude and the pictures of/and about your grandchildren supporting your feelings of gratitude. It is not always easy to practice gratitude, but there are also much for which I am grateful. Thank you again for sharing.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  6. What a wonderful post … images and words. Traveling via RV is indeed the best and I do miss it. My granddaughters are still quite young, but I know they’ll be grown before I know it. I’m enjoying every minute I can with them.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    1. Thanks Ingrid! We have a small RV now that my husband uses for his astronomy hobby. Maybe soon we will take short trips with it. Yes, enjoy your granddaughters. I raised three boys, so I do cherish my granddaughters, but also love the boys.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  7. Such an uplifting message of gratitude, Anne. Thanks for sharing your family photos and the entire gallery. I especially liked the sunflower field. Great memories and lots to be grateful for. A wonderful post.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    1. Thanks Egidio! Too bad we can’t walk into the sunflower fields any more. Photographing them from the edge of the property is better than having fencing. We’ve got to hold on to our memories for the foreseeable future.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

        1. Here’s how I think of gratitude. No matter how bad something is, there is something that affects you in a positive way. For instance after days of rain, you look for that piece of hope and say “I am grateful that the continued rain will fill up our lakes and we won’t be in a drought this summer.”

          Or it can be as simple as “I am grateful the sun is shinning today.”

          Be specific about what you’re grateful for. You can repeat the same gratitude each day if you want. It’s just something to change your mindset. Hope this helps and didn’t confuse you.

          Liked by 1 person

          Reply

  13. Beautiful pictures and words, Anne! “Gratitude is a choice you make every day”: Yes! – Thank you for sharing this very important message together with lovely insights and photos!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  15. A lovely idea to set an intention rather than make resolutions 🙂 I’ve found it interesting that all the responses to the challenge share very similar things to be grateful for – family, friends, travels, hobbies. And I love that photo of your fellow photographers in the sunflower field!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  17. I think we’re all taken by your intention not resolution mindset, Anne. I was never much for resolutions either so that fits me perfectly. I’ll be focusing on gratitude next year too, it’s easy to forget the important things with everything going on. Wonderful post and a big thank you.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  22. Intention – yes – a great way of taking on a new year, Anne. I will borrow that concept! This is a warm and beautiful post, and so glad to see something of your family too. So glad we are here for each other in the blogosphere too- ♥ Brought together with our love for photography.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  25. What an inspiring and heartwarming piece. I love how you value your family, memories, travel, and passion for photography. A beautiful reminder that gratitude transforms our lives and makes us appreciate what we have each day even more.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

Leave a comment