When I look at my life, all the opportunities and gifts that I have as the basis of my life, I can see these privileges and am deeply grateful for them. But it’s also about comfort, a comfortable life. I am very grateful for this, because they make it possible for me to live my values with ease. Who would I be without these gifts and comforts? I don’t know. Perhaps my values did only come about because I was able to live a good life? What would be important to me if I were ill? My values are probably also gifts from my life. A different life would have shown me different values. Other gifts.
But gratitude shows me all these gifts and sometimes also there are some gifts that I really didn’t want. Then looking for my gratitude helps me to understand and love my life a little better every time.
Gratefullness allows me to see what is important- and that is what aligns with my values. I am grateful for my husband’s love and care…grateful for my dog, Clancy and cats, Finnegan and Nora…Grateful for my home and all that we have.. Gratefulness is from the heart and soul…it cannot be bought or sold. I am grateful for all of you and this site…Gratefulness is something that cannot be seen but is felt deep in my heart. Blessings to all who come here.
Gratefulness makes the colors shine brighter, lets nature sparkle, a smile appears in the other´s heart, the dog lying relaxed under the chair wags its tail when just passing by in shared joy. It opens my heart as well as all around, leading to experience joy, light, peace and happiness and the mystery in all around. It is healing. Blessings to all of you who share and who visit here.
I would say that m core values are extending kindness and making a difference. Unless I am coming from a place of gratitude I can do neither of those things.
Barb, I had a similar thought yesterday. To quote one of my other core beliefs: there are no coincidences. Maybe we could start by saying where we all are from. As I’ve mentioned before I am in the NYC area, about a half hour east of LaGuardia airport on the north shore of Long Island. (think Great Gatsby country.) My email is [email protected],
I am not a wasteful person, taking care to recycle anything and everything that is doable. I am grateful to live in the US, but we are one of the more wasteful countries on the planet. I try to always do my part to reduce the waste stream.
Living in the present moment, having
more equanimity in my life, living lightly
on the this earth, and being kind, all
benefit from practicing gratitude.
In an additional weirdness, I tried posting my full comment as a reply to this one, which does show for me, and it didn’t show there either. But this one is going to show.
I think of my environmental values with this question. I’m grateful for the Earth’s abundance that makes life on this planet possible, and I try to live in such a way as to minimize my direct impact and care for what is within my reach. I also donate to organizations working for environmental protection in general and for habitat and land protection in my community.
I also think about my privilege arising from several of my personal characteristics (white, middle class, no disabilities that affect how I move through and interact with the world, native speaker of English, cis woman, heterosexual, not a follower of a misunderstood or persecuted religion, on and on). I’m not “grateful” for my various forms of privilege–that would mean rejoicing in an inequitable and unjust system that imposes great harms. I’m aware of it and feel a responsibility to work for change, support political candidates doing the same, and donate to organizations led by and working for those who don’t have privilege. None of us are truly free until all of us are free.
I would turn this around and say that living in alignment with my values contributes to my gratefulness, too.
Your comment about being born white, middle class etc. reminds me of a friend’s favorite saying, “We won the lottery.” And so often we take it for granted. Forgive me for being judgmental, but I love in a wealthy suburban community and I get tired of hearing the kvetching like “my train was late” “Stop and shop was out of xyzz” “my landscaper didn’t show up” and other clearly first-world problems.
In my life, I prioritize the value of satisfaction. Therefore, gratefulness helps me live in alignment with my values and acknowledge that I am blessed with my physical life. I won’t desire more money, a bigger house, or widespread fame. The only things I need more of are gratitude and inner growth.
Gratitude is one of my core values. The others, which I distilled in the ACT therapy model, are mindfulness, gentleness, spirituality, self-care, and compassion when I live in alignment with my values I experience deep joy.. Brother David talks about this kind of joy. It’s not happiness due to acquisition. It’s a satisfaction that’s sublime. The yogis call it santosha and advise us to cultivate it. I find that I start waking up to miracles around me. I find that I am more engaged with my family and friends and I make better decisions. It makes me realize that even the smallest decisions have consequences. Right now it’s a beautiful morning and because of this path, because of gratitude, I’m sitting here on the balcony with the cats just looking at the flora, the fauna, and the sky—feeling how magical it all is.
Being present is a value I have that aligns beautifully with gratefulness. It’s like a möbius strip, one flows into the other. Thank you each for all the insight and inspiration this morning.
Grattitude simplifies my life. It’s very easy to overthink things. Everyone, myself included, one way or another to a varying degree, makes things more complicated than they need to be.
Gratitude helps me to appreciate, which helps me to value the important things in life- love, friendship, faith, the natural world, laughter and simple comforts like air conditioning and heat, clean water, shelter and most importantly coffee. ( hee hee).
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When I look at my life, all the opportunities and gifts that I have as the basis of my life, I can see these privileges and am deeply grateful for them. But it’s also about comfort, a comfortable life. I am very grateful for this, because they make it possible for me to live my values with ease. Who would I be without these gifts and comforts? I don’t know. Perhaps my values did only come about because I was able to live a good life? What would be important to me if I were ill? My values are probably also gifts from my life. A different life would have shown me different values. Other gifts.
But gratitude shows me all these gifts and sometimes also there are some gifts that I really didn’t want. Then looking for my gratitude helps me to understand and love my life a little better every time.
I’m grateful to be at this meditation retreat for 14 days . All I can say about this is letting go/ discarding takes diligence and dedication.
That’s awesome.
Gratefullness allows me to see what is important- and that is what aligns with my values. I am grateful for my husband’s love and care…grateful for my dog, Clancy and cats, Finnegan and Nora…Grateful for my home and all that we have.. Gratefulness is from the heart and soul…it cannot be bought or sold. I am grateful for all of you and this site…Gratefulness is something that cannot be seen but is felt deep in my heart. Blessings to all who come here.
Gratefulness makes the colors shine brighter, lets nature sparkle, a smile appears in the other´s heart, the dog lying relaxed under the chair wags its tail when just passing by in shared joy. It opens my heart as well as all around, leading to experience joy, light, peace and happiness and the mystery in all around. It is healing. Blessings to all of you who share and who visit here.
Amen
I would say that m core values are extending kindness and making a difference. Unless I am coming from a place of gratitude I can do neither of those things.
Those are core values for me too, Dolores. I wish we could have a big potluck gathering of all those who visit and share here!
Barb, I had a similar thought yesterday. To quote one of my other core beliefs: there are no coincidences. Maybe we could start by saying where we all are from. As I’ve mentioned before I am in the NYC area, about a half hour east of LaGuardia airport on the north shore of Long Island. (think Great Gatsby country.) My email is [email protected],
Now that is a good idea Barb………..if it could happen where would you have the dinner? Lots of folks traveling to the location but it sounds lovely.
I am not a wasteful person, taking care to recycle anything and everything that is doable. I am grateful to live in the US, but we are one of the more wasteful countries on the planet. I try to always do my part to reduce the waste stream.
Living in the present moment, having
more equanimity in my life, living lightly
on the this earth, and being kind, all
benefit from practicing gratitude.
In an additional weirdness, I tried posting my full comment as a reply to this one, which does show for me, and it didn’t show there either. But this one is going to show.
I think of my environmental values with this question. I’m grateful for the Earth’s abundance that makes life on this planet possible, and I try to live in such a way as to minimize my direct impact and care for what is within my reach. I also donate to organizations working for environmental protection in general and for habitat and land protection in my community.
I also think about my privilege arising from several of my personal characteristics (white, middle class, no disabilities that affect how I move through and interact with the world, native speaker of English, cis woman, heterosexual, not a follower of a misunderstood or persecuted religion, on and on). I’m not “grateful” for my various forms of privilege–that would mean rejoicing in an inequitable and unjust system that imposes great harms. I’m aware of it and feel a responsibility to work for change, support political candidates doing the same, and donate to organizations led by and working for those who don’t have privilege. None of us are truly free until all of us are free.
I would turn this around and say that living in alignment with my values contributes to my gratefulness, too.
Your comment about being born white, middle class etc. reminds me of a friend’s favorite saying, “We won the lottery.” And so often we take it for granted. Forgive me for being judgmental, but I love in a wealthy suburban community and I get tired of hearing the kvetching like “my train was late” “Stop and shop was out of xyzz” “my landscaper didn’t show up” and other clearly first-world problems.
My parents grew up during the Depression so my glass half-full/half-empty version is “I’m so glad I have a glass!”
Me, too. There were nights when my parents didn’t eat supper so I could.
I thought the same!
Amen! 🙏
In my life, I prioritize the value of satisfaction. Therefore, gratefulness helps me live in alignment with my values and acknowledge that I am blessed with my physical life. I won’t desire more money, a bigger house, or widespread fame. The only things I need more of are gratitude and inner growth.
My Ngoc, love you. We’re very similar on that front. This makes us a match made in heaven.
Gratitude is one of my core values. The others, which I distilled in the ACT therapy model, are mindfulness, gentleness, spirituality, self-care, and compassion when I live in alignment with my values I experience deep joy.. Brother David talks about this kind of joy. It’s not happiness due to acquisition. It’s a satisfaction that’s sublime. The yogis call it santosha and advise us to cultivate it. I find that I start waking up to miracles around me. I find that I am more engaged with my family and friends and I make better decisions. It makes me realize that even the smallest decisions have consequences. Right now it’s a beautiful morning and because of this path, because of gratitude, I’m sitting here on the balcony with the cats just looking at the flora, the fauna, and the sky—feeling how magical it all is.
Beautiful, Avril.
Thank you Dolores
Being present is a value I have that aligns beautifully with gratefulness. It’s like a möbius strip, one flows into the other. Thank you each for all the insight and inspiration this morning.
Grattitude simplifies my life. It’s very easy to overthink things. Everyone, myself included, one way or another to a varying degree, makes things more complicated than they need to be.
Loc Tran, I love your words, « gratitude simplifies my life ». I am always alert to simple, powerful words to guide me. Thank you.
Thanks Mary. No problem.
Gratitude helps me to appreciate, which helps me to value the important things in life- love, friendship, faith, the natural world, laughter and simple comforts like air conditioning and heat, clean water, shelter and most importantly coffee. ( hee hee).
Coffee, always coffee!
It’s keep me grounded, compassionate, and helps me to stay in the now.