Gratitude Poem from Stacy

Gratitude

Gratitude breathes through me.
This is a love poem
to my village.
A love poem
about small, significant kindnesses
and the power inherent in a community
woven with kindness.
The power of a community
where people strive to listen
with open hearts.
This is a love poem for my village
I’ve been in gestation
with this village for 17 months
and now it is born;
just a wee little infant,
a seed Pam and Joe planted
in the fertile soil of our souls,
and we have nurtured it.
We believe in our village
and thus in each other.

This is a litany of gratitudes
For there is so much and so many
to be grateful for and to.
Thank you Susan, Merm and John
for packing up leftovers for Jef and I.
Thanks Peg, you spitfire, for cooking with me on Monday.
Thank you Sabrina, Larry and the Coordination Team
for checking-in that the change you wanted to make
to my opening activity was okay-
it was an improvement on my idea.
Which leads me to Tobias with the strong back
so willing to dig in,
thank you for teaching me the wisdom of
”yes, and…”
I’m practicing, keep reminding us.
To the hours ahead gardening with Barbara, Larry, Linda and Kathleen.
Thank you Kathleen for feeding our cat!
To Joe’s easy laughter and enthusiasm.
To Judith, Scott, Lori and the rest of the Food Team
who have coordinated our awesome feeding frenzies.
To Heather, my first ecovillage buddy,
who gracefully juggles so much, so well.
We’re going to be neighbors!!!!!!!!!
And Dave who embellishes my life with cryptic emails.
To Ken, who show us the wisdom of Patch Adams.
Doug, your southern drawl friendliness warms my ex-southern heart.
John your timing and wit inspire me to feed you chocolates.
Dennis and Anne, painting away.
Barbara cooking meals.
Evelyn, may your joyful zest rub off on me.
Mac and Marilee who give so much, to so many,
all over the world and especially in our village.
Scott, Susan, Keegan and Brooklin,
a family who always makes me smile.
To the Weasels, ferreting their way through Europe,
I look forward to getting to know the family addition.
Don who quietly helps behind the scene.
My Jef, who makes everything in my life work well.
Barbara, who has posted this poem on our blog.
To all of us, currently here or on our way.
Especially the neighbors I have omitted to save space.
To our community,
each facing the traumas and dramas of leaving one life behind,
to create a new one together.
Thank you,
thank you,
thank you!