Category: Blessings

All ToiBox articles about blessings, from sunshine to family… As of October 2015, these individual posts are no more and have been combined under the About Me label.

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Blessings

Count Your Blessings 11: Language

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Language

Having a way to communicate is valuable. Having more than one way to communicate is interesting. Communication is necessary. Language is a systematic way of communicating using gestures, sounds, words, and writing. Aside from conveying and collecting information, language teaches about the people who use it. The best way to learn about another culture is to learn their language.

I think written language is the greatest blessing in this area because it allows us to document thoughts, memories, history, and so much more. Language is one of those things that allows the human animal to rise above instinct and savagery and act like a human being.

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords

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Blessings

Count Your Blessings 10: Senses

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Senses

I’m thankful for my senses. There are people in this world who don’t have good use, and in some cases no use, of their five senses and thus must perceive the world a little differently. This is one of those things that people often take for granted because it’s just the way we are. While the five senses aren’t needed to have a full life and capture memories, it’s a blessing to have them.

When I remember the past, when I experience my most vivid memories, everything is vibrant. I can feel the silky fabric of my mother’s skirt as I grab onto her, making our way through the department store. I giggle because I like the funny sound my shoes make on the linoleum floor. I twitch my nose and squint my eyes walking through an invisible cloud of perfume. Finally, my eyes sparkle as I rush to swim on a river of colorful drapes and curtains. My mother was always buying or making curtains and I’ll never forget that fact or the experience of it.

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords

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Blessings

Count Your Blessings 09: Family

blessings

Family

Even though I’ve provided a reference point, family is something that is not so easily defined. I have a feeling that the world has changed in ways in which those who defined this word could not have imagined. For whatever family means to you, you must realize just how blessed you are to have one no matter how big or small, wealthy or poor, functional or dysfunctional.

I’ll be the first to admit that I don’t always like all my family, but I never stop loving and appreciating them, and there isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for them. I’m blessed to have people in my life who drive me crazy and help make me who I am. Even though I’m sure they don’t like me all the time, it seems that they always like me when I don’t really like myself.

I’m blessed to be part of family, whether by blood, marriage, or association.

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords