GRATITUDE I realise that sometimes it seems hard to be grateful for anything, when so many things go wrong in our life and life doesn’t always seem to hold the gifts we can be grateful for. It can be hard. Sometimes, at the end of the day, I look at it and try to find something to be grateful for - not always easy, especially if you have been in pain all day, the bus didn’t come and the washing machine broke down. I do try to find something though, the nice meal that one of us cooked, the fact that I could stay in when it was pouring with rain outside, the fact that I can phone a friend and that I actually have friends.
Gratitude is an energy. The more we can be grateful for, the more we uplift ourselves, lighten our energy and lighten our mood. I hadn’t realised how gratitude changes ones mood until quite recently. It is also good for our health. Gratitude is quoted by many holistic health practices as part of getting and keeping healthy.
Gratitude doesn’t always come naturally and sometimes we have to work at it. If we practice it enough, it can then come more naturally and life seems much more worthwhile. I realise that I have taken so many things for granted over the years and can now feel so grateful for what I do have. Sometimes it is hard, as said above, when things go wrong or do not turn out as we would have liked, when we feel rejected or in heart pain, but then the adventure would be to find something to be grateful for.
Gratitude is fun - when you begin listing all that you are grateful for, suddenly things you would never have thought of before spring to mind - the late blooming rose so perfectly formed, the birds on our bird table, my car - always ready to transport me to wherever I wish. The list is endless. Once you begin making your list, you can actually feel your mood lighten (if it was heavy to begin with)!
Here are some quotes on Gratitude that have been shared through the ages:
“Let us be grateful to the people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.” ― Marcel Proust “Start each day with a positive thought and a grateful heart.” ― Roy T. Bennett, The Light in the Heart “We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorns have roses.” ― Alphonse Karr, A Tour Round My Garden “Piglet noticed that even though he had a Very Small Heart, it could hold a rather large amount of Gratitude.” ― A.A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh “If the only prayer you said was thank you, that would be enough.” ― Meister Eckhart “When one has a grateful heart, life is so beautiful.” ― Roy T. Bennett, The Light in the Heart “Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others.” ― Marcus Tullius Cicero “When you are grateful, fear disappears and abundance appears.” ― Anthony Robbins “The unthankful heart discovers no mercies; but the thankful heart will find, in every hour, some heavenly blessings.”
― Henry Ward Beecher “Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.” ― William Arthur Ward “An attitude of gratitude brings great things.” ― Yogi Bhajan
Gratitude is so important and does change things, it does make us feel more abundant, lighter in heart and less inclined to strive for things.
Sometimes our hearts can just burst open with gratitude and that amazing feeling can last for days. I often feel my heart burst open when giving my monthly talk and meditation and seeing all those beautiful faces on my computer screen, listening, smiling, drinking tea, or just sitting with eyes closed and even when I can’t see them at all but see their name on the screen my heart feels so full of gratitude that they’ve taken time our of their busy lives to listen to me.
Despite my physical pain, despite my health issues, I am so grateful for my life, so grateful to do what I do, so grateful for all the people in my life who over the years have encouraged me, have guided me, have shown their love for me - I am truly blessed. Most of all I am grateful to my Soul who has patiently guided me, listened to my moans and when I feel sorry for myself, been patient with me when I have refused to be guided, and holds me in constant love.
With gratitude life can be joyful no matter what your circumstances. Always try to find something to be grateful for no matter how small, it will change your mood and open your heart so that the joy can step, no, jump in. With love, Patricia
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