Thanksgiving

I'm from Ireland where Thanksgiving is not celebrated which is a surprise to some people here.
I don't know why it surprises people unless they have momentarily forgotten that it was celebrated by the Plymouth pilgrims and the natives who helped them survive their first winter in the New World in 1621. It became an official holiday in 1863, when, during the civil war, President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national day of "Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens", to be celebrated on the last Thursday in November.
I have a special relationship with Thanksgiving despite not growing up here, because it was the day I arrived in the US. Of course I had no idea that was the case then but over the years as I celebrate my anniversary as an Irish American I like to give thanks for the experiences that my journey has given me.
I try not to dwell on all that I left behind because I left so much. Every decision we make has a positive and a negative. Every decision we make adds something to our lives. Whether we deem the decision good or bad we still gain. 

I have gained very dear friends. I have gained amazing work experiences and financial rewards that allowed me to travel the world and see things I could not have imagined, from the top of Kilimanjaro to the depths of Death Valley and so much more. I have gained a life partner whom I deeply love. I have gained a spiritual philosophy that transformed my life and showed me my own power to choose what I think and how I act. I have gained more than I can say in this small piece of writing, I gained a life that is good and full and in which I can visit my home and family in Ireland regularly, and I am deeply grateful for that.

I have gained an official holiday to give thanks. I am grateful.
What are you thankful for this thanksgiving? Remember the words of Shakespeare,
 ... there is nothing either good or
bad, but thinking makes it so.

Great Expectations

Do you or did you have expectations of how your life would turn out; of what you might be when you grew up, expectations of a certain amount of achievement and happiness?

In my teens I remember a teacher going round the class asking each student what they hoped for in their future. She got varied answers; I want to be a fireman, I want to be married with children, I want to live in an exotic place, I want to have a big house. My answer was, I want to be happy.

All of the answers were lists of things imagined to bring happiness. I just didn't know what that would be for me in the future. How could I, at 13 years of age know what, at 30, 40, 50 would bring me happiness?
Naturally we have basic needs that must be met for happiness and we expect that they will be met, like having enough to eat, a warm dry place to sleep, like-minded friends and family who love us.

What I am realizing in my 50s is that I also have unconscious expectations that I believe may relate to how my parents lived their lives. In contrast to my parents who lived within 20 miles of where they were born, I live 6000 miles from where I was born. In contrast to them I have no children while they had 10. They lived in one house that they purchased, for over 60 years. I on the other hand live in a rented apartment and the longest I have lived in any one place ever is 12 years.

I have been wondering lately if this is why I have the feeling that there is no stability in my life, that everything is impermanent as if my life has not yet taken the shape it will be. I believe that I feel this because of the contrast with my family's choices and feel that I judge this as somehow not acceptable. The expectation that somehow it will turn out like my parents lives lurks in the unconscious.

 My life path and choices have brought me to this moment and asked me to evaluate and appreciate what I now have and what I have done. I say "asked me" to evaluate, as who else is qualified. Only I can truly decide if I have succeeded, if I am happy. I realize the power is in me to choose to look at what I dont have or compare my life with other lives and find it wanting OR appreciate what I do have and see the unique good. I am always going to long for more of what I love and that which makes me happy and I can also practice gratitude for my good fortune thus far. My life has been amazing and I am so grateful for the experiences I have had. Every life has a road or many roads not taken. Hopefully fear has not restricted us and love leads the way. This has to be part of the evaluation. How have you done in that regard?

Blessed day

Today its a wonderful day...
because I am alive,
because I feel no pain,
because I love,
because I am loved,
because I am creative,
because I made carrot soup,
because my cat sleeps beside me,
because I went to church and met lovely people,
because I meditated,
because I set an intention and carried it out,
because I prayed,
because a friend said something nice to me,
because I have a friend,
because I did something nice for someone,
because I know my power today,
because I am free.


What was the best part of your day today?
Give yourself credit for bringing about the bast part of your day.
And if it has not been a good day, listen to this, its almost guaranteed to lift your spirits.
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFoXcO8llNI&feature=fvsr

Grateful

Willing and grateful, I am today.

Grateful for all that I am and all that I have and the incredible abundance I experience everyday. Sights, sounds, experiences, sensations, thoughts, actions fill my day, and so many of them are joyous.So often I forget to acknowledge them. And even more so, to give my self a pat on the back for making the choices that allow me to have these experiences and sensations.
I took myself for a walk after all, I chose to paint with rainbow colors, I chose (well Spirit chose, I didn't resist) the man I married, I chose to have a cat, I chose to live in Montrose, I can take some credit for my good. Other things I am not in control of and they come as they may, good and bad.
In these situations I can be willing to look for the good, to decide to take what action I can and expect the best. Generally, things come to pass. The more I resist the longer they seem to persist. Like if I run toward an approaching storm, it passes quickly but running from it, it seems to follow me.

So, willing I am today, to face the storm and give thanks for the rainbow and the silver lining, which I know cant be too far away. I live in joyous expectation and gratitude meantime.

Florish

Do you have someone you could call at 4 am if you really needed to? If your answer is yes then you are more likely to be flourishing in life. "Other people are the best antidote to the downs of life and the single most reliable up," according to Martin Seligman from his new book Flourish.

In the first two chapters he gives two exercises which I found worth trying and he insists are guaranteed to increase your feeling of well being. The first is DOING A KINDNESS. This he says has been found by scientists to produce the single most reliable monetary increase in well-being of any exercise tested!
The second is GRATITUDE and he sets a very specific exercise.

Close your eyes and bring to mind someone who contributed greatly to your life, someone living with whom you could easily meet face to face. When you have identified this person, write them a letter, it should be about 300 words; be specific as to what this person did for you and how it affected your life and how it still comes to mind. Now set up a meeting with them without telling them your purpose. Its much more fun when its a surprise! When you meet them read them the letter - do not let them interrupt, but watch their reactions and your own. Only after you have read it completely discuss the contents and your feeling for each other.
"You will be happier and less depressed one month from now." Seligman guarantees.

I'm going to try it, I hope you will too.

Expansion

Scientists tell us the universe is expanding all the time. Of course it is so vast that we cannot fully comprehend it and so much of this world we live in is similarly incomprehensible. Cut open my brain for instance and where is the image of my childhood bedroom? I see it but a surgeon can't.

Yet so often we look for the solid proof of what we decide to believe in, scientists are only scratching the surface of this incredible universe and will seek its explanation for eternity.

In the meantime I believe since I am a part of this whole thing called creation I too am expanding in my knowledge and understanding, in love and my ability to create. Just talking today with a friend, about acknowledging our own progress, I have to admit I don't mark it as much as I could. I tend to forget how far I have come, in my need to reach further goals. I usually look at the distance yet to travel, to be more of who I want to be and express as I wish to express rather than pat myself on the back for what is achieved. I believe this is fairly common. So if you have been doing the same to yourself, I invite you now to take a little time to appraise where you were five years ago and where you are today. Measure not in finances or job status or outward trappings but in inward qualities such as wisdom, maturity and loving kindness.

"I believe that Spirit is forever creating, forever changing and forever becoming more of Itself, through that which I am. Therefore I know that this creative, expansive and self-giving nature is working through all of my affairs including financial." SOM
I can trust this is so because I acknowledge evidence in my personal experience, satisfying the scientist in me; times a need was met even when I did not know how it could be met. Acknowledging this and my growth, increases my belief and so my experience. Can you say the same? If not then maybe its time to begin a gratitude journal and find something to be grateful for no matter how small. With this practice in time you will see shifts you never thought possible. Begin where you are today and let me know what you manifest!!

Get Happy Today!

If you are not feeling great today - you can change that. Happiness is in your own hands and you can begin right now! Think of one thing you are deeply grateful for and come up with one kindness you can do for someone else. Do this right now! It has been scientifically proven that these two attitudes, gratitude and kindliness can increase your life satisfaction in a matter of days. According to research done at the University of Pennsylvania if you take note at bedtime of three things that went well that day the benefits in general well-being will continue for months, your mood and your relationships will improve. A kindness journal or a gratitude journal can make you aware of how blessed your life already is and can increase optimism and peace of mind. This of course will reduce stress and subsequently improve overall health - so simple yet so profound and powerful! I myself have taken to writing thank you cards. Yesterday I went to lunch at a restaurant that I don't go to very often but one waiter always remembers me, asks how I am and he even asks for my friend whom I usually meet there. This never fails to make me feel welcome and acknowledged. This time I got his name and a card will go out to him today because I want to acknowledge how his great attitude brings good to my life. I know you too have many things for which to be grateful today. Start now and watch not only your own happiness increase but the happiness of those around you.  If you read this far I thank you and I'm smiling! Namaste.

Gratitude

Even if it seems we have little to be grateful for, we have a great reserve of faith to be grateful FROM! - Eric Butterworth



Today I am grateful for my friends who support me when I am most in need of an encouraging word and with whom I can share my joys and my frustrations. I am grateful for my family who are a constant in my day though they are far away, they are my rock and my center. I am grateful for my eyes so I can see colors and faces and the sky and the clouds, I am grateful for my ears to hear the voices of those I love, the caw of a crow or the laughter of a baby.

I am grateful for my legs to walk across a room, my hands to type, to sew, to paint, to comb my hair and touch textures and silk and skin. I am grateful for my arms to hug and reach for things and extend the hand of friendship. I am grateful for my home, my warm dry bed to sleep in, my chair to sit in and a lamp that allows me to read late at night. I am grateful for the comforts and conveniences of electricity and water from a faucet, mail delivery, my car, the radio.

I am grateful for my mind, curious and flexible and always learning more. I am grateful for my heart that circulates my blood and keeps me alive to experience this next moment and works hard for me every minute. I am grateful for my lungs, my organs and bones that allow me to function in the world. I am grateful I woke up this morning. I am grateful for my health and my really exceptional unexceptional life.

I realize I am fortunate beyond many in this world today, many who experience loss and ill health and poverty and mental illness, natural disasters, oppressive regimes. Someone today will die of hunger or spend the entire day searching for a clean water source. My trouble seem so little from their perspective.

Though things may not be today how you would want them to be, there is much to be grateful for. Take a moment to remember what they are.

"The grateful person is great because he has turned on all the lights within." Butterworth