Gratitude quotes make great graffiti!

Days 21-26 of the Gratitude Game:

To be alive: not just the carcass
But the spark.
That’s crudely put, but…

If we’re not supposed to dance,
Why all this music?
~Gregory Orr~

Every cubic inch of space is a miracle. -Walt Whitman

Praying ~Mary Oliver

It doesn’t have to be
the blue iris, it could be
weeds in a vacant lot, or a few
small stones; just
pay attention, then patch

a few words together and don’t try
to make them elaborate, this isn’t
a contest but the doorway

into thanks, and a silence in which
another voice may speak.

Lovely, complicated wrappings
sheath the gift of one-day-more;
Breathless, I untie the package –
Never lived this day before!
~ Gloria Gaither

“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.” ~ Melody Beattie

“Wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving.”
~ Kahlil Gibran

Tags: 30 days of Thanks, gratitude, quotes

30 Days of Thanks: The Gratitude Game continues, and this week I’ll be exploring how I am deepening my appreciation for the journey by climbing a few mountains … and opening to a few miracles!

Day 20: The miracle of music.  I’m grateful to Failla Drum for being SUCH a catalyst for music in our world.  I was inspired to go PLAY tonight at one of her weekly rhythm circles and I had a BLAST!  I’m smiling deep inside and still tapping my feet & swaying my body.  YUM.

Day 18-19: Up on top of another beautiful peak today, after experiencing the miracle of soul connection & community.  I’m celebrating the magnificence of all who came to be with Elle Re this weekend.  I feel very nourished and open…ready to go after a few of the life mountains that are still present in my life with more trust & joy than before.  This is the blessing of a spiritual practice that both presences us to the divinity of all things, and also shines light on the unique aspect of each, our True Nature.  Double thanks this weekend for my spiritual community and the Love that is guiding this journey.  Ahhhhhmen.

Day 17: “Feeling gratitude & not expressing it is like wrapping a present & not giving it.”  I’m so grateful for meeting new friends!  Thanks, Rio, for this quote and for shining your Light so beautifully into our world.   I am opening, opening, opening … to the miracle of gratitude. 

Day 16: Thankful to be cherished…the miracle of unconditional Love.

Day 15: This morning I climbed the mountain by my house.  It was a clear, blue-sky morning, a bit chilly but I was shedding layers by the time I got to the top.  As I turned to gaze out across my hometown, a church steeple centered in my awareness, and I quietly knelt within my heart.  Thank you, God.  I’ve been climbing one of life’s little mountains these past 2 weeks after finding a breast lump.  It’s amazing to me how many different emotions arise, and how many different opinions are given, when our bodies create something out of the norm.  As I stood on the mountain, breathing the crisp fall air, a wonderful sense of peace and strength flowed through me.  Every mountain, every valley, gives new perspective to the landscape of our lives.  This one is teaching me to listen and to honor my inner knowing, while at the same time being open to options that are placed before me.  (P.S. In case you’re worried for me, don’t be…it’s benign but still something I need to attend to.  I’m paying attention & giving my body what it needs right now, including a bit more rest, a cleansing diet, movement…and probably a few more climbs up that mountain!)

Day 14: Today’s THANKS is dedicated to another awesome gratitude offering, The World Gratitude Gathering from Stacy Robyn & Ken Herbert.  If you haven’t yet participated in their 42 gathering, sign up now!!  It’s a wonderful, magical offering … beautiful images, playful & powerful words, totally inspirational sharing.  I love everything about it & I’d say it’s probably creating quite a few miracles in our world.

Tags: 30 days of Thanks, gratitude, inspiration

30 Days of Thanks: This week, I’m allowing the letters of the word
G-R-A-T-I-T-U-D-E to guide my reflections of thanks-giving. And I’m grateful for the many ways of exploring & deepening my connection to gratitude as I allow myself to play in this way!

Day 5: “G is for Good” reminds me that turning to what is GOOD in my life, I turn away from the perceived problems that take me away from the present moment. And I know it may sound trite, but being present is a wonderful gift.   So today I am thankful for the Goodness that took me on a walk by the river on a beautiful fall day, and for the spontaneous dinner with a friend.  Thank Goodness for nature & friendship!

Day 6: “R is for Renewal” I am so grateful for a delicious day of renewal, rejuvenation, re-choosing.  My radiant friend, Kara, and I created a lovely ceremony for using the Divine Inspiration of this day: 11-11-11!  (2009 adds to 11 :-)  We supported a circle of women and one man (brave Thomas) to step more fully into their service roles as agents of Oneness.  I give thanks for my dear teacher, Elle Re, for being available for all who are ready to move from singular mind into the Unity field of divine Love.     (R is also for Remembering to be Thankful, every single day!

Day 7: “A is for Awe” … and remembering to Appreciate the beauty that is all around me.  Today I’m noticing how my day is flowing so gracefully around me. A long delicious talk with my son over breakfast…a couple of unplanned ‘friendship breaks’ which filled me with smiles…a very helpful connection with my HUB-GPN marketing coach that inspired me to keep sharing the things I love about this social business I am co-creating.  And today’s focus of catching up on bills & emails so I can open more space to create & play is…well, making progress at least!  And now I’m going to take a walk and be in AWE of this beautiful blue-sky day.

Day 8: “Today I am blessed” … T might be for Transforming whatever is before us into an opportunity by giving thanks and knowing we are Loved beyond imagining.  T may be for Trusting that we are never given more than we can handle, and that we can find learning in everything.  T very well might be for Together we are so much more than we are alone.  All of these are True for me this day, and I give Thanks for it all.  Today I know I am TOTALLY blessed.

A bonus for today … check out this amazing video, Together We are One.

Day 9: “I is for Inspiration,” the breath of Spirit which renews & energizes me every time I turn my attention to Giving Thanks.  Today I’m so very thankful for “my boys” (husband, son, grandson) … for time together at our wonderful haven in the woods in McCall Idaho.  This is one of my favorite places of inspiration…a place where so many cherished memories have been created.  I give great thanks for breathing in the fresh air while laughing & playing in the first snow of the season, and for tapping into a few of those great memories.  Here’s one from a few years back…my favorite reminder of what it feels like to say YES!

Day 10: “T is for Tender moments & Treasuring the journey.” Today I simply give thanks for the miracle of being.

Day 11: “U is for Unity … and for embracing the Unexpected.” Another day of simplicity, and I’m appreciating the way I’m learning to flow with what is before me.  As I learn to follow guidance rather than push through with my ‘plans’ for the day, magic has a way of erupting in the most delightful ways.  Today it was an impromptu dinner with my darling daughter.  Thank you, KT, for helping me smile and remember how connected we still are.

Day 12: “D is for Devotion” … and for the delicious, delightful, discovery of  my natural Divinity.  When I give myself to whatever is before me, I find my own divine nature in everything & everyOne who comes before me.  Today, I was blessed by an “integrative session” with my coach-friend-neighbor, Carrie Morgan.  This is what she calls her brilliant blend of deep listening, intuitive assessment, authentic caring, laser coaching, energetic clearing & body balancing.  I call it WOW.  I am in devotion, again, to this path of Love I am walking.  And I am grateful for the reflective Light and how it shines so beautifully when we open our hearts to receive.

Day 13: “E is for Enough” … I have enough, I give enough, I am enough.  This may be one of my greatest challenge areas, especially remembering that what I do & what I give are NOT connected to my innate value as a human being.  :-)  Today I am remembering to Enjoy what is naturally flowing through me, and to Embrace this precious moment, knowing that whatever is here for me is exactly enough.

Tags: 30 days of Thanks, gratitude, inspiration

30 Days of Thanks, Day 4: I’m thankful for poetry … the way it quiets my mind & centers my heart.  Here’s a poem I wrote over 10 years ago, and I’m appreciating the memories it’s bringing into my heart today.

Gratitude List, a poem
Rainbow-trimmed Clouds, the song of birds outside my window, a yellow rose that stays beautifully on my dashboard where I laid it one summer day … friendships that bubble up inside me when I’m sad … laughter, sighs, tears that fall when least expected, and the golden glow of evening as the sun takes its final bow.

The hug of kids, dogs, and teddy bears … sitting quietly with a sun-yellow bird on my shoulder, her peep waking me when I forget she’s there … the smell of vanilla and peaches … the sound of fish swimming … the color of the seasons as they pass by, and the colors that grow inside of me as I awake to the possibilities of each new day.

Tags: gratitude, poetry

I just returned from a 2-week spiritual retreat and was ready to write about “Great Fullness” … and wonder of wonders (synchronicity of synchronicity), I found this wonderful website challenge, 30 days of Thanks.  So, rather than an article this month, I’m jumping in.  You can join through your own blog, on Facebook or some other version of social media, or even by commenting on other blog entries as you read them.  Let’s see how much gratitude we can S-H-I-N-E into the world this month and next!

DAY 1: I’ve begun thinking of gratefulness as Great Fullness, and this is how I feel when I am truly thankful: so overcome with appreciation for life that I simply overflow…a steady stream of giving & receiving, merging into an ocean of abundant being.

Today, I give thanks for the simple moments that shimmer around me as I reconnect with my family & friends after diving deep into the great ocean of God.  Being held in the loving arms of a husband who adores me enough to support my need for alOne time … being greeted with a hug & neck massage from a son who is becoming such a dear friend … laughing & crying over a movie that reminds me how important it is to make time for the man I’ve chosen to share my life with.  These simple moments are what make a life.  I give great thanks for the fullness of mine.

Day 2: Today is my cherished “gramma day” and I am so very thankful for the blessing of being a gramma.  I am in love with it all, even changing diapers…well, maybe not the squishy ones.  :-)  Today we’ve already been to the park, jumped on the bed, ate pancakes & turkey bacon, drummed, danced, and now my little guy is taking a nap while I give thanks for the wonder of childhood.  When he wakes up, we’re headed to the zoo.  I don’t know who’s having more fun!

Day 3: Thankful for a FULL DAY of NO COMPUTER!!!  And I’m proud of myself for not being obsessive about logging on to post my third day of the ‘30 Days of Thanks’ game.  Speaking of games, yesterday was filled with thankful moments with my hubbie, our 2 grown children, and our growing-up-fast grandson.  We played Uno, laughed together, enjoyed a delicious dinner created totally by my guy.  Now THAT’s Gratitude!  (Thank you, Garet)

Tags: gratitude, simplicity, thankfulness