What comes to mind for me tonight is grateful for positive connections. I have been working part-time seasonal help and at first it just seemed like so many things to learn but what I found was everyone was so helpful and wanting to help each other out. Lots of social time when it is a little quiet and tonight it was actually fun! The 3 hours went by fast, lots of us working and lots of smiles from happy customers and huge discounts. It has been a positive experience even though it felt awkward in the beginning. My mission to help my daughter out kept me plugging away! Grateful that I acted on doing it!
Charlie’s sharing got me thinking.
He emphasized making the choice to be grateful.
And making that choice again and again and again.
It occurred to me that this is a lot like meditating.
I follow my breath and repeat my mantra.
I continue doing this until I forget and my mind begins to wander.
As soon as I notice this, I come back to my breath and my mantra.
Just like in life, I intend to live and view my life through gratefulness.
And I do this until I forget.
And when I notice that I have forgotten about gratefulness,
I decide again and again and again to live with gratefulness.
This is a profound truth,
dear Mary . . .
it is calling ourselves
back to the breath.
You have so simply and beautifully pointed it out.
I live gratefully and with presence,
just as I breathe in and out with presence.
The world captures my attention,
my mind starts to wander,
and I gently draw myself back to presence,
brushing the clouds of my thoughts away . . .
over and over,
an ongoing process.
I forget
and then I remember
over and over again. ♥
When I choose to orient myself to life from a grateful perspective, what do I notice?
I notice that my life is good and that I see more options available to me.
I notice that I have everything that I need.
I can try new things and live my life in new ways.
I can find the time to spend on things that are important to me.
When I orient myself to gratefulness I breathe easier and feel more spacious inside.
Life feels more inviting.
I can open up and go outside.
More. I notice more, when I’m oriented from a grateful perspective.
The basics, like yesterday’s question about the essentials. Air, clean water to drink, food, shelter, warmth, clothes and shoes that are right for the season (dark and rainy in the Pacific NW right now).
Things I could otherwise take for granted or not tune into, like the warmth and soft fur of the cat on my lap, the sensation of release when I sit down after a long day and relax into the sofa.
Things I rely on like my husband’s love for me and mine for him, my connection with my daughters, good friends who make me laugh and give me good advice or just listen.
Beauties in nature: an owl’s hoot heard late at night in the nearby park, leaves of autumn, waterfalls, lakes, the ocean, rivers, blooming flowers, vines full of tomatoes in my garden bed.
Joy in simple acts like riding my bike yesterday in the chilly night air, going for a walk, looking at trees and birds.
Appreciation for skills acquired over a lifetime, everything from cooking and baking to writing to public speaking (had to give a presentation to a legislative committee twice this week).
I believe gratefulness starts with awareness. With awareness comes clarity and understanding. When I am able to look at my life with a gratefulness perspective, I am able to slow down. Take a pause and reflect in that moment. “Ok, this is what is happening. This is how I’m feeling. Where do I want to go from here?” I can respond with love and kindness. Or I can continue my old thinking patterns/habits/actions. I get to decide what I want to do next. I get to make the decisions in my life that can either bring me towards peace and ease or distraction and dismay. I notice this choice and I am grateful I get to choose the former. 🧡
For those who are interested in having a group video call, email me : [email protected] 🧡 I will be trying to facilitate this and be sending questions as to dates and times that works for everyone.
When I read today’s question, I realized that I needed to change my attitude on a health issue that has allowed fear to creep into my perspective. Basically, I have oriented my life with a gratefulness perspective but realized that in this one specific area, I’m struggling which makes it difficult to cope and certainly does not help the situation. Trying to control something that you can’t control just makes the body tense and the mind bound up. Just sharing it here helps me relax and find hope as YRAM points out.
Choosing. That’s just it, isn’t it. Making that choice. Being able to make that choice. Making that choice over and over again. There came a time in my life, a crisis, and I chose to stop resisting.
To be willing to try. To stop the habitual and attempt something new. Negativity and doubt and despair are still there, only now it’s balanced with gratitude. Gratitude for all of this.
What immediately came into my mind and senses was hearing Mr Louie Armstrong singing, “What a Wonderful world.”🎶🎵 I immediately smiled. Blessings this weekend to all.
Time slows down. I am in my environment rather than tumbling above or through it in a flurry of thinking and projecting. In this slower way of being, different sensations become available: a sense of cherishing, preciousness, humility, reverence, patience, grief, honoring, sorrow/weltschmerz, even the divine. Honestly, I’m not sure I could go through life in the city with this orientation, I would get overwhelmed. So the “fast time” orientation has its role … but I think having the wherewithal to consciously move between the orientations is important.
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Deep gratefulness and joy.
What comes to mind for me tonight is grateful for positive connections. I have been working part-time seasonal help and at first it just seemed like so many things to learn but what I found was everyone was so helpful and wanting to help each other out. Lots of social time when it is a little quiet and tonight it was actually fun! The 3 hours went by fast, lots of us working and lots of smiles from happy customers and huge discounts. It has been a positive experience even though it felt awkward in the beginning. My mission to help my daughter out kept me plugging away! Grateful that I acted on doing it!
You were brave and didn’t let fears keep you away!
I’m glad this turned out to a place of many smiles and connection!
Thank you Mary, I certainly had some moments in the beginning I wanted to quit lol
Charlie’s sharing got me thinking.
He emphasized making the choice to be grateful.
And making that choice again and again and again.
It occurred to me that this is a lot like meditating.
I follow my breath and repeat my mantra.
I continue doing this until I forget and my mind begins to wander.
As soon as I notice this, I come back to my breath and my mantra.
Just like in life, I intend to live and view my life through gratefulness.
And I do this until I forget.
And when I notice that I have forgotten about gratefulness,
I decide again and again and again to live with gratefulness.
This is a profound truth,
dear Mary . . .
it is calling ourselves
back to the breath.
You have so simply and beautifully pointed it out.
I live gratefully and with presence,
just as I breathe in and out with presence.
The world captures my attention,
my mind starts to wander,
and I gently draw myself back to presence,
brushing the clouds of my thoughts away . . .
over and over,
an ongoing process.
I forget
and then I remember
over and over again. ♥
Thank you, Sparrow. ♥️
Freedom and happiness!
When I choose to orient myself to life from a grateful perspective, what do I notice?
I notice that my life is good and that I see more options available to me.
I notice that I have everything that I need.
I can try new things and live my life in new ways.
I can find the time to spend on things that are important to me.
When I orient myself to gratefulness I breathe easier and feel more spacious inside.
Life feels more inviting.
I can open up and go outside.
More. I notice more, when I’m oriented from a grateful perspective.
The basics, like yesterday’s question about the essentials. Air, clean water to drink, food, shelter, warmth, clothes and shoes that are right for the season (dark and rainy in the Pacific NW right now).
Things I could otherwise take for granted or not tune into, like the warmth and soft fur of the cat on my lap, the sensation of release when I sit down after a long day and relax into the sofa.
Things I rely on like my husband’s love for me and mine for him, my connection with my daughters, good friends who make me laugh and give me good advice or just listen.
Beauties in nature: an owl’s hoot heard late at night in the nearby park, leaves of autumn, waterfalls, lakes, the ocean, rivers, blooming flowers, vines full of tomatoes in my garden bed.
Joy in simple acts like riding my bike yesterday in the chilly night air, going for a walk, looking at trees and birds.
Appreciation for skills acquired over a lifetime, everything from cooking and baking to writing to public speaking (had to give a presentation to a legislative committee twice this week).
More. I notice more.
I believe gratefulness starts with awareness. With awareness comes clarity and understanding. When I am able to look at my life with a gratefulness perspective, I am able to slow down. Take a pause and reflect in that moment. “Ok, this is what is happening. This is how I’m feeling. Where do I want to go from here?” I can respond with love and kindness. Or I can continue my old thinking patterns/habits/actions. I get to decide what I want to do next. I get to make the decisions in my life that can either bring me towards peace and ease or distraction and dismay. I notice this choice and I am grateful I get to choose the former. 🧡
For those who are interested in having a group video call, email me : [email protected] 🧡 I will be trying to facilitate this and be sending questions as to dates and times that works for everyone.
Done, thank you!
Done! I hope others see this kind offer.
Me, too!
When I read today’s question, I realized that I needed to change my attitude on a health issue that has allowed fear to creep into my perspective. Basically, I have oriented my life with a gratefulness perspective but realized that in this one specific area, I’m struggling which makes it difficult to cope and certainly does not help the situation. Trying to control something that you can’t control just makes the body tense and the mind bound up. Just sharing it here helps me relax and find hope as YRAM points out.
Definitely not alone.
I think,
dear Carol,
that as we get older
this becomes more true for all of us.
You are not alone. ♥
SPARROW., Thanks for your kind words.
I focus on what I do have, rather than what I am lacking. I accept things as they are. I notice willingness to change my mindset.
Serenity, and hope.
Choosing. That’s just it, isn’t it. Making that choice. Being able to make that choice. Making that choice over and over again. There came a time in my life, a crisis, and I chose to stop resisting.
To be willing to try. To stop the habitual and attempt something new. Negativity and doubt and despair are still there, only now it’s balanced with gratitude. Gratitude for all of this.
Beautiful Charlie!
I agree. It is about making the choice to be grateful again and again and again.
Beautifully said, Charlie.
Our job is always willingness. Thanks for the reminder, dear Charlie.
Exactly this — to be willing to try.
“To stop the habitual and (choose to) attempt something new.” I really like this, Charlie. thank you! I’ll be watching for my choices today. carol
What immediately came into my mind and senses was hearing Mr Louie Armstrong singing, “What a Wonderful world.”🎶🎵 I immediately smiled. Blessings this weekend to all.
Time slows down. I am in my environment rather than tumbling above or through it in a flurry of thinking and projecting. In this slower way of being, different sensations become available: a sense of cherishing, preciousness, humility, reverence, patience, grief, honoring, sorrow/weltschmerz, even the divine. Honestly, I’m not sure I could go through life in the city with this orientation, I would get overwhelmed. So the “fast time” orientation has its role … but I think having the wherewithal to consciously move between the orientations is important.
DREA, very helpful to me. Thank you.
Carol, I’m glad to hear it!
When I view life from a grateful perspective I am able to see all the blessings that I have. I am more calm & grounded. I am at peace & content.🙏🏻✨🙏🏻
Life doesn’t always come my way. So, with this grateful perspective, I’m able to observe things at different edges and accept it peacefully.
My Ngoc, seeing things from all angles helps us design our lives to our likings. We often end up getting our way more than we may realize at the time.