While scrolling on my cell phone the other day, I noticed a strange looking word that made me stop for a minute and take a closer look. The word was “Thankuary,” obviously a play on the word “January.” I did catch the word “Thank,” however. Thankfulness is gratitude, one of my favorite subjects.

After my experiences, as outlined in the December 2025 Poem of the Month intro letter, January 2026 brings me a positive progression of small victories as I am getting stronger. The healing is taking place, thanks to the help of doctors and caregivers, and though I know not to expect instant miracles of immediately getting back to the way it was before, I am definitely on the right track, and will get there when I am meant to.

I am so grateful for the progress I have made, and the worry has gone away.

Lesson learned: Worry doesn’t heal.

The poem, GRATITUDE... written in 2015… is my offering for January 2026th's Poem of the Month. I hope you enjoy it.

GRATITUDE

“Thank You!” These words carry so much ...
Gratitude, humility and understanding.
We have so much to be grateful for ...
Our health, our friends, not withstanding.

Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life.
It turns what we have into more.
It’s the healthiest of all the human emotions,
The highest form of thought, and furthermore ...
It’s the greatest of virtues, the parent of all.
Gratitude helps us to grow and expand.
It brings joy and laughter into our lives.
It makes sense of our past. We know where we stand.

And as we express our gratitude
We must never forget this wisdom:
The highest appreciation for what we have
Is not to utter the words, but live by them.