David Mark Johnson


On Gratitude: Family

I’m grateful for… Family. I can still smell the turkey and potatoes at Thanksgivings when computers still ran on dial up. I can still feel hugs and kisses on the cheek like it was only yesterday. And when I leave the kitchen table, my childish eyes still meet the photos…

On Gratitude: Forgiveness

I’m grateful for… Forgiveness. Forgiveness is like a server at a restaurant. They serve second helpings, and they refill your cup. There’s warm bread. Good fruit rests in baskets. The meal is always filling, and it never runs out. And no one is gatekeeping it. It’s not exclusive. It’s free.…

On Gratitude: Goodbyes

I’m grateful for… Goodbyes, because I’m grateful for being able to say it. To form the words on my lips. To say it loud and clear, “It’s over.” Over like autumn becoming winter, one frosty morning at a time. So, goodbye. Goodbye to the nonsense. Goodbye to the pain. Goodbye…

On Gratitude: Music

I’m grateful for… Music. When I was a kid, my Dad played the drums. He would share records: Allman Brothers, The Drifters, Mountain, Led Zeppelin, Band of Gypsies, The Beatles, and dozens of others. To this day, my Dad sips an IPA or Cabernet between sets of snare and bass.…

On Gratitude: Me

I’m grateful for… Me. All thirty years of him. I wake up to him. I feed him. I clothe him. I sate his thirst. And when the day is done, I rest him, nurture him, and dream his dreams. And even though everyone in life relies on someone other than…

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