Day 61 in Gratitude

"We are all teachers and what we teach is what we learn. And so we teach it over and over again until we learn." from A Course In Miracles. Just as we are all students in life, we are all teachers. In fact we learn best by offering what we desire for ourselves to as many individuals as we can, as frequently as we can. If I inspire enough people for a long enough period of time, I'll learn what I need to learn - gratitude. I'm sure there are many, many other lessons for me to learn but for today - gratitude.

Today I am grateful for being open to learn. I continue to learn from the people in my life. I learn grace, patience, kindness and humbleness. Of course, then the day is over and I need to start learning all over again - hey, I'm not perfect, I'm a work in progress. Thank you, thank you, to all my teachers.

What are you grateful for?

Day 48 in Gratitude

I am grateful for people who show common courtesy. Today while getting on the plane I had a gentleman ask if he could stow my carry on in the overhead bin. I have to admit he surprised me. What a nice gesture - thank you.

I am grateful for small seemingly insignificant interactions with others. A warm smile, a nod or allowing others to go move ahead in a long line. We are all in this together, we all have the same wants and needs and we're all at our core, friendly, caring people. Offering kindness to others goes a long way toward changing the consciousness and the best part is, it's contagious.

I am grateful to receive a quick text from my son. Anytime my oldest sends me a text, whether its about the weather, the traffic of a new restaurant, it tells me he's thinking of me and that makes me smile.

What are you grateful for?

Another year over, a new one just begun

There's a specific lyric in the song Happy Christmas by John Lennon that makes me stop in my tracks and do a bit of soul searching every time I hear it. "so this is Christmas, and what have you done? another year over, a new one just begun"

I always stop and contemplate...what HAVE I done? Have I given a little kindness, have I eased a little pain? Have I made a difference in the world?

I have made a commitment to myself that in 2011 I will leave something behind. I will become more active in my community, I will share of myself more freely and, I will Be The Change I Want To See In The World!

And so, this year, my commitment is to start an on-line Gratitude Journal. For years I have kept a gratitude journal by my bedside.Every night, before falling asleep, I leave a journal entry of 3-5 things that I am grateful for. Some nights these entries are very topical, sometimes deeply thought out, but always from my heart. It has kept me grounded. It reminds me on a daily basis, even in times of trial, when things seem to be going in a direction that I never planned I always have so much to be thankful for.

I look forward to a blissfully joyful, love filled, sometimes painful, ever changing new year filled with adventure. And at the end of every day - gratitude. Gratitude for being blessed with the opportunity to breathe in another day.