My Journey Not to Settle...anymore!: Gratitude is my Attitude

My favorite quote (or reminder as I like to think of them)...

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.” (Marianne Williamson - A Return to Love)

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Gratitude is my Attitude

"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough...makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow." ~ Melody Beattie

Back at the beginning of my 30's, I became aware of my desire to speak, listen, see and feel graciousness. I started to come into my authentic self and each day I became more and more aware of one of the most important things to me -- a thankful heart. I became increasingly full of wanting to express what I noticed, to pay compliments to others that were of value (as in: that dress looks so great ON YOU vs I like your dress), to not be afraid to tell complete strangers (including children) something worthy that I noticed about them. I became fully and completely aware that all anyone wants is to feel of value and BE of value.

And I started keeping a gratitude journal (not my original idea...got it from Sarah Breathnach). It was simple for me. I wrote down at least one thing everyday that I noticed that I was grateful for. Some days it was the weather or a good friend...others it was baby geese or a beautiful tree. It didn't matter the subject, what mattered was that my heart opened itself to awareness, to light, to life, to living. I still have that journal, though I don't write in it anymore.

I'm still having (a lot) of pain and trouble w/ my arm (I can NOT tell you how much this hurts to type right now), but I've decided that I'm thankful that I can feel pain and I'm more grateful now for when I don't feel pain. And that is where this foundation for me will start. As you know, I miss my blog. I miss being able to spend a half hour a few times per week spilling out what I've noticed or become aware of. So, in keeping with my ideal not to settle for a life any less than great, I've decided that at the very least, as many times a week as I can, I will (again, at least) spew out what I have noticed to be grateful for that day. In doing so, it will be my full expectation that my heart will become more full, my eyes more open, and my mind more clear. In doing so, I may even remind someone else of what they are grateful for that day. And in doing so, another day will pass in my life's desire for great life.

And on the days when I can handle more than a day's quick observation, I shall write more...and on that day, I shall be grateful for being able to do so.