A Counting Experience

 I'm not sure I've ever told you that I majored in the "Teaching of Secondary English" as an undergraduate coed and proudly answered "teacher" in the occupation block on applications.  I spent one-half the years of my work life in the profession and loved every minute of them! In fact,  I taught and learned from middle school-exploring daredevils, to graduate student seekers of advanced knowledge, specialization, or cognition.

My apprenticeship in teaching prepared me for the more (way more) challenging work as a manager in the private and public sectors.  This brings me to the assignment I'm hoping you'll accept.    I preface it with a song learned in Sunday School.

"Count your blessings---name them one by one
Count your blessings---see what God has done;
Count your blessings---name them one by one,
Count your many blessings---see what God has done."

The assignment has two parts.  Part One focuses on counting.  Don't be concerned if your persuasion precludes a belief in God.  Not a problem.  Simply substitute a name or title of someone or something in whom you believe or hold in high esteem.  Next, Brainstorm, which entails compiling a list of words, phrases, or ideas about your blessings.  Don't bother to edit or prettify your lists. Just jot down what  your brain "storms." Stop after five minutes.  Do this for five minutes each day for seven days.  Don't concern yourself with totals, since it does NOT involve competition of any kind.   

The second part of the assignment begins after you've captured every blessing over the period of a week,  The second part challenges you to determine the source of each blessing.  Now,  identify where you believe the blessing came from.  Was it a result of luck, happenstance, the lottery, inheritance from your great aunt on your father's side of the family; a lucky seat at a Vegas casino; a "Significant Other," or a cousin twice removed? What? Who? Hmm.

Did your blessings, no matter the total, come from something, someone, a deity, or your name for God? How did you come to that conclusion? How strongly do you believe that it is the source of your blessings.  It matters and really, it doesn't.  Totaling just your blessings for just one week hopefully produces an awareness of blessings.  What might happen if you start keeping a weekly or monthly tally? Whether your (or my) list contains one or thirty-one blessings; whatever name or title you (or I) attach to it; or even if you (or I)  count only the blessings contained in the song that follows. I salute you! Well done.

                                             "Who made the mountains, who made the trees

Who made the rivers flow to the sea

And who sends the rain when the earth is dry
Somebody bigger than you and I.

Who made the flowers to bloom in the spring
Who made the song for the robins to sing
And who hung the moon and the stars in the sky
Somebody bigger than you and I.

When we're filled with despair
Who gives me the courage to go on from there
And who gives me faith that will never die
Somebody bigger than you and I."