I woke up this morning feeling so grateful, grateful for everything. Really, everything. If you follow this blog, then you know I’ve been through some challenging times in the last year and a half, and especially in the last few months. I became sorrow’s apprentice and learned to grieve (still learning). Along the way, amazing things happened. Amazing people happened. There was pain. And there were many times when, let’s just say, I did not feel grateful.
But, to quote one of my favorite Game of Thrones characters, “Not today.” Today I recognize everything as a blessing, everyone as a blessing. And I am grateful. So thank you. Thank you people. Thank you circumstances. Thank you universe.
Here is the refrain from a song guaranteed to lift your spirit today. Below the refrain is a link to the video. I hope you will watch it (watch it to the end!).
All that I am
All that I see
All that I’ve been
And all that I’ll ever be
Is a blessing
It’s so amazing
And I’m grateful for it all
For it all
~Nimo Patel
Watch the video!
Galen, there are no words to describe the video you linked us to here. It brought tears and smiles simultaneously; gratefulness, I believe, is the lifeblood of the human spirit in our relationship with God and one another, and this spoke volumes. No matter what our day might bring, there is no excuse not to find something for which to be thankful.
ReplyDeleteBlessings, my friend!
So glad you liked it, Martha. You'll laugh when I tell you how I discovered it. I was getting a ride with an elderly (meaning older than me) Catholic nun to a spiritual direction meeting and when I got in the car she was playing this on a CD. I am now also grateful that I remembered it this morning and watched/listened to it again!
DeleteThat is great news, Galen. Its all about perception,isn't it. Its amazing how our perception can change over time. I have an older buddy who is a spiritual seeker but he spends his days without gratitude most of the time. He is a slow learner in spirituality, I guess. I see in him, how a lack of gratitude for all the wonder around us, caused unhappiness in him. If he could be blessed with the ability to open the door of heavenly perception just a crack, he would be amazed at the power of life everywhere. Gratitude happens as a natural response when we are open and loving toward life with beginner's mind. With an attitude of gratitude comes the wonderful side effect of happiness at the core of our being. We can get to the point where we have no sense of lack in life and this is the pure joy of living.
ReplyDeleteSounds like your buddy is caught in that seeking trap that says happiness is in the future and subject to certain external conditions. Your description of him reminds me of this Hafiz quote --"Ever since happiness heard your name it has been running through the streets trying to find you."
DeleteThe Bible teaches us to give thanks "in all circumstances," not "for all circumstances." I guess that is what I've been reminded of.
I am so thankful that you are having these positive feelings of gratitude. I know that when I have a grateful heart; I feel better about everything. I loved reading all your thoughts. I did enjoy the uplifting video on being grateful.
ReplyDeleteWe are so blessed to have a loving Heavenly Father who has given us all that we have. All life experiences good and bad help us to grow and learn to become and in turn if we are grateful we do feel more joy.
Sending loving grateful thoughts your way and hugs too!
Thanks, LeAnn. Your comment reminded me of the Bible verse "You meant it for harm, but God meant it for good." Circumstances that we judge as bad might instead be blessings in disguise. Glad you enjoyed the video!
DeleteThat's the key Galen, give thanks 'in' all circumstances not 'for' all circumstances. We have all gone though struggle,despair,health concerns and yet we can be thankful through it all. I make it a habit to say thank-you as soon as I wake in the morning. It sets the tone,the attitude toward gratitude for the rest of the day. To be thankful always is a worthy goal that we can practice. We can choose misery or contentment it all up to us. We are co-creaters with the universal loving intelligence of life.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great way to start your day, Brian. I kept a gratitude journal for several years, noting something at the end of each day I was grateful for. But if you start your day this way in addition to ending it in gratitude, you are already primed to see the blessings in all circumstances.
Delete'...if you start your day this way in addition to ending it in gratitude, you are already primed to see the blessings in all circumstances.'
ReplyDeleteYes! that would be a good way of putting it....already primed to realize the blessings. Wayne Dyer was the first one I heard speak on the value of starting the day with 'thank you'.
A good practice. I started this morning!
DeleteWatched the video - truly uplifting, Galen, which I need right now having had a couple of nasty weeks. I wish somehow there was a way for more people, including me, to remember these essentials to keep life in a more peaceful perspective and keep the faith with human nature. I will begin a new practice of saying thank you for all, every morning. The link also led me to Alan Watts, whose book I've just ordered on learning to live in the now with more simplicity, and that I found out about through a blog post of someone I follow. Serendiptious linking going on! Interestingly Watts is know for intepretting eastern philosophy for a western 'audience' so you've probably heard of him. Warm wishes to you,Galen, and maybe a hug too!
ReplyDeleteYes, Lynne, you know you're on to something when you get the same message from several sources! Glad you liked the video. I will forget it for a while and then be reminded of it. Then I experience the delight of discovering it all over again.
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