"Imagine that every person in the world is enlightened but you. They are all your teachers, each doing just the right things to help you learn perfect patience, perfect wisdom, perfect compassion." Jack Kornfield, Buddha's Little Instruction Book"
How can I ignore a word like gratitude when it pops up in my still sleepy mind first thing in the morning? I was thinking of the day a few weeks ago when I challenged myself to remember to say thank you three times to see how that might change my outlook on my day. And, big surprise, it did. I started off with Gracie, my labradoodle. I'm always grateful for her first-thing-in-the-morning in my face enthusiasm. Whether I feel great or not, whether I'm needy or not, she still is so happy to show her joy in seeing me.
What if today, just for one day, I imagined every person in the world is enlightened, each person I meet can help me on my way, and what if I imagined the very thing they need to continue sharing their light is my gratitude. What if I smiled a thank you. What if I said how glad I am to see them. What if I reached out to someone I haven't heard from in awhile and thanked for being in my life. Would that count? I'm making up the rules, and I say, "yes. I will do that.
Would you be willing to try this too and let me know how it works for you?
Baurch ata adonai...I am so grateful to feel better today. Yesterday I did the three things I said I would and each little thing I did felt like a mountain I'd successfully climbed. Today, different challenges, but I'm not far enough away from doing nothing to take anything for granted. Thank you for being my embracing safe haven as I step into each day. Amen
Barbara I woke up with gratitude this morning too. In fact I posted about it.Come see me.
ReplyDeletethank you babara
ReplyDeletei will do exactly as you described, and let you know how it worked.
Beautiful! And beautiful idea. I will try it.
ReplyDelete