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Our 2026 Program Calendar is now available. This year marks another important milestone in our history as we launch new programming, products, and more in celebration of Br. David’s 100th birthday.
What arises when I shift my attention to the gift of being alive is gratitude, gratefulness, appreciation for this life with all its twists and turns, laughter and cries, awe …. “Gratitude is not a passive response to something we have been given; gratitude arises from paying attention, from being awake in the presence of everything that lives within and without us.” David Whyte
Thoughts and dreams of opportunities being endless 🌞🌄
A sense of the gift of consciousness. A lovely evening to all!
My perspective
is almost always one of gratitude,
including the enormity of the fact
that I’ve been given life here on this planet.
Of course
things drag me down sometimes,
and I don’t consider myself a particularly ‘merry soul’,
but there lies a bed of contentment within me,
even when I don’t feel well,
or when things go wrong.
Someone,
and I wish I could remember who said it,
wrote
that who are we to think that our life here
should be heaven?
Indeed,
who are we?
As we grow and become awake to the Spiritual,
we must surely learn
that we are actually in a classroom of sorts.
When I came to this knowledge
I admit I was disappointed that I would not be able to attain heaven on earth,
but it also freed me up to let that false expectation go.
I am here to be processed,
burned pure by the fire,
my soul tempered and honed . . .
I am alive to learn,
and how can I learn if I don’t make mistakes?
How can I learn if there are no challenges?
At my age,
and in my current state,
my biggest challenge
is to keep moving ,
keep caring,
keep striving to serve my deepest soul and the Universe
with all of the goodness,
kindness and compassion
that I can scrape off the walls of my inner self . . .
appreciate the beauty and magic of the world around me
and add something beautiful myself. ♥
You add beautiful words to this site, Sparrow, and for that I am deeply appreciative.
Thank you,
dear Drea . . .
I find beauty in everyone’s words,
including yours,
because I feel that each and every one of us
knows there is a kinship among us . . .
there is no ‘other’ . . .
we are one
on each of our journeys
with love . . . ♥
🌱🌱
namaste . . .♥
What arises when I think of this gift of being alive?
Well, it depends on my state of mind, I guess.
It’s not always completely positive. There can be fear, anxiety, guilt, and any assortment of emotions that arise. But, I get what the question is getting at.
When I can shift my perspective to one of gratitude, I become aware of how lucky I am. How fortunate that I have survived this far. That I am here, experiencing another sunrise. As I’m writing this, a hot air balloon just drifted by. I’m grateful to have another day. Another chance.
☀️ “Another chance.” Yes
“As I’m writing this, a hot air balloon just drifted by.”
What a lovely surprise,
dear Charlie . . . ♥
I can relax into the physical pain and strong feelings that accompany me this morning.
❤️
You are alive,
dear Drea,
and you have your hand. ♥
I do! Thank you Sparrow. Reminds me of the Stoic negative visualization practice, where you come to want what you have by picturing your life one notch worse than it is. For example, I did not injure my thumb or forefinger … things would be harder if I had … let alone get my whole hand amputated, etc. An effective practice, that.
A smile on my face. Joy and gratitude in my heart.
Peeking through the blinds at the pale blue skies, I see a beautiful day ahead of me. Plus, I’m getting a massage today, so really looking forward to having some body work done.
I’m a typical, normal person. I wish for too much: I wish to be loved more, and I want to have the things that others have. However, when I simply point my attention to the gift of being alive, I notice that I am blessed by God. While I was wishing for things that are far from the basics, there is someone out there who doesn’t even have the opportunity to dream because they don’t have that gift of aliveness. Thank you to today’s daily question for waking me up! 🌱
You are right,
dear Ngoc . . .
you have opportunities
that others will never know. ♥
This is profound: “there is someone out there who doesn’t even have the opportunity to dream because they don’t have that gift of aliveness.”
My Ngoc, god works in mysterious ways. He always has a way of smoothing things out and giving us everything we want and need in the long run even if we don’t feel like our desires are met in the moment.
When I shift my attention to the gift of being alive, I think that this is when I am able to say about things that stress me: “that’s a first world problem” meaning my problems, stresses and contradictions are nothing compared to those who are elsewhere, either poverty stricken, in poor health, or financially strapped or burdened. It motivates.
Very true
People living under the stresses of oppression and war
are deeply challenged to find the blessings of gratitude,
dear John. ♥
John, we sure have many first world problems in the west. We sure overcomplicate things here. Myself included. For example, I can learn to appreciate care given to me instead of LeBronizing by restricting and pulling strings to create my own superteamic umpires of people caring for me in ways I prefer that make me feel comfortable.
I’m free from agendas and enjoy life with my root people easier.
On one hand, amazement. When I think about everything that had to happen in order for me to be here, WOW! On the other hand, deep appreciation for this opportunity. ❤️
What an amazing thought,
dear Mary . . .
thank you for this.
Indeed,
so much had to happen.
I don’t believe we are random. ♥
It’s helpful to think about what had to happen to be here, thank you Mary. Even if I’m roiling around this morning, the fact that I’m here means I got really far and have been thru a lot. It’s comforting.
Gratitude
https://nationaltoday.com/poetry-at-work-day/
We are all poets,
dear Michele,
in our own way. ♥
Gratefulness for the opportunity to completely repent using the meditation method of discarding- letting go of karma, habits and body . I’m happy I can actually actively humbly repent using a clearing method to wipe all the pictures in mind – all the thoughts are illusory. In the end what can only remain ? The universe is me and we have never been separated. The is our True home . Right now I’m learning that is self love and I never saw this as love before. It’s so beautiful. Thank you for letting me do this and taking my hand to True love .
Relief. Joy. Anticipation. Wonderment. Many words to conceptualize the fact that my form is still within the illusion of permanence. I have not treated my form for the bulk of its time with the utmost attention and care. Much the opposite. It has served my essence as my essence has finally begun to serve it, albeit after the age of diminishment has come to visit for the duration. I am grateful that my eyes opened up for one more whirl. Today. Not just any day. Any ordinary day. An extraordinary Day. Today. Peace, Love & Light.
Every day is extraordinary,
isn’t it,
dear Joseph?
We realize that
when we learn to be grateful.
Especially as I too,
get older,
and every day
hear about people my age and older
in the obituaries . . .
grateful,amazed,
in awe and wonderment
that I’ve been given this gift
of another whirl around the sun . . .
the dance of LIfe. ♥
Peace to you too, Joseph.
💜
Love “for one more whirl!”
Yes 🙌 yippee Joseph! Thank you 🙏
Sincere gratitude for all that I am and for all that I have arises……..
Thank you EJP
You are a strong presence here,
EJP,
and I love forward to your words of wisdom
every day . . .
Thank you for being here. ♥
EJP thanks for showing love ! 🥰