Sit Here for a Moment
Gratitude is simple. It is finding joy and appreciation for anything and everything, the ordinary and the spectacular. To practice gratitude may be to write it down every day, to meditate on gratitude, to walk with the intention of gratitude. But whether you practice gratitude or not sometimes it just happens, taking us by surprise. That was my experience before my very first gratitude post back in May of 2011. I was feeling sad and lonely, worrying about my future. Then the intense smell of Russian Olive blooms brought me out of my head and into the present moment. Gratitude washed over me and turned this seemingly ordinary moment into a gratitude-filled moment. I didn’t want it to wash away as quickly as it came so I sat with it. I breathed it in. And then I posted about it, writing it down and sharing the experience with others. I wrote: I am grateful for the intoxicating smell of Russian Olive blooms.
Last week a few people shared their experiences on facebook and their words resonated with me. One was Alex Walker, who opened his heart in our facebook group:
This year has been such a roller coaster.. as I’m sure we can all relate. I walked outside on my porch tonight.. Felt the cold ground on my feet and the brisk air on my skin. I caught a nice little chill and a brief moment of peace fell over me. I’m not sure why it exactly happened.. but I felt grateful. I felt blessed. I felt, even if only for a moment, completely at ease.
The other was my friend Joy Godfrey who shared a light-hearted reminder:
This moment. The one where we all joke about Lawrence Welk and make mashed potatoes and talk about ghosts. This is what counts. Sit here for a moment.
In their own voices and in their own ways they are showing us the way. The way to appreciation, the way to joy, the way to finding gleaming light in the darkness and holding a prism to that light so it fills ourselves and others with beauty. Thank you Joy and Alex for reminded me of the importance of taking in these moments fully. What do you do when gratitude happens? Do you acknowledge it? Do you name it? What does it fill like to sit with it for a moment? What does it feel like to share it?
[su_quote cite=”Dale Carnegie“]One of the most tragic things I know about human nature is that all of us tend to put off living. We are all dreaming of some magical rose garden over the horizon instead of enjoying the roses that are blooming outside our windows today.[/su_quote]
This Week’s Gratitude Question
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Forgotten Gratitude
Last week I was also grateful for being called out on ways that I was not being nice … A beautiful purple pansy and finally planting in my talavera pot … A check from a client delivered right to my door.
My Gratitude Experience Last Week
Through my gratitude I am learning how to be a servant to others. To jump up and help instead of waiting to be asked. For a long time now I told myself that it is empowering to others to allow them to do things for themselves and not butt in. But I have learned that it is all about serving with humility. I would like to commit to doing this more and more, serving others with humility and grace.
A New eCard
The Gratitude I Shared Last Week
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| Sat | 11/8/2014 | I’m grateful for fluffernutter, the word and the yummy sandwich and chicago style hot giardiniera making me love hotdogs and finding both at Kellers our new favorite grocery store which I’m also grateful for. |
| Fri | 11/7/2014 | I’m grateful for a hot chocolate night cap and the smell of piñon from a neighboring fireplace … I’m grateful for completing a team task that our team has been working on for far longer than expected … I’m grateful for being a passenger and seeing her big smile and enjoying each other’s company. |
| Thu | 11/6/2014 | I’m grateful for making up silly songs to the full moon with my nephew … I’m grateful for holding, changing and rocking three-week-old Finn to sleep and smelling the delightful new baby smell … I’m grateful for accepting the random acts of kindness challenge, it felt great; lots of picking up trash that most-likely went unnoticed but it’s funny how that doesn’t matter when I am giving from the heart. |
| Wed | 11/5/2014 | I’m grateful for farmers market carrots starting to go soft because it pushed me to make a fresh, simple and delightfully flavorful asian-inspired soup … I’m grateful for honest feedback and the learning that comes from others experiences of me and my work … I’m grateful for getting to bed at a decent hour tonight instead of working until 2am. |
| Tue | 11/4/2014 | I’m grateful for having the exact right amount of time to vote … I’m grateful for my bright dress and leggings to bring some fun to my day … I’m grateful for feeling extra lovey and clingy and that being received with love. |
| Mon | 11/3/2014 | I’m grateful for the relief of completing a huge project … I’m grateful for carry out so I didn’t have to cook dinner … I’m grateful for following my heart. |
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My gratitude journey started in May 2011 and continues to this day. Thank you for being a part of it!
A daily gratitude practice is simple. Write down three things you are grateful for each day. Download your free GratitudeGuide.
My clients focus on gratitude and learn from their successes to make the positive changes they want in their lives. You can to. Call me to set up our first meeting 505.333.9336.
Created by Antonia Montoya[/su_note]