Grateful for LIFE

Last year, on Day 29 of the 30 Days of Gratitude Photos, I chose to be grateful for Life. The words I wrote a year ago still hold true today. Life is the gift that allows us to experience all the other gifts in our lives. I am ever so grateful for the life I have and for life itself.

This is day 30, and the final day, of the Thirty Days of Gratitude. I am grateful for this past month of gratitude images and the time I have spent writing about them here. I always find that writing an extended paragraph, or more, on something I am thankful for is a wonderfully fulfilling exercise. I highly recommend it.

Grateful for Food

"Food, glorious food." I am grateful for the food I eat each day and for a pantry that is full.

I am grateful for how food can both sustain life and manage to be so yummy. I appreciate the variety of flavors and the way some seem to dance on my tongue. There are many foods that are totally enjoyable to eat.

I am thankful for the energy and nutrition I derive from eating. And I give thanks to all those involved in the process of getting the food from the farm to my kitchen table.

I am thankful to have my basic food needs met and for the ability to easily replenish my supply whenever needed.

This is day 29 of the Thirty Days of Gratitude.

Grateful for My Parents

I am so grateful for my parents. How blessed I have been to be able to call these two loving and supportive people my parents...And to do so for so many years. Wow...what an amazing gift to have years of sharing and caring, of celebrations and special moments, and of all the opportunities to help and support one another.

They have been a support to me my whole life. When something exciting happens, the first people I think of sharing it with are my parents. When I am visiting an awesomely beautiful site, I wish I could share it with them. And when troubled with concerns or worries, I can always find an open and understanding sounding board in them.

I am thankful for having another day, another month, and another year to have my parents in my life.

Check out the gift of the Gratitude Box we gave to my parents.

This is day 28 of the Thirty Days of Gratitude.

Grateful for the Courage to Be Myself

I am grateful for the courage to be me in any situation...to step up and face my fears and fully walk in my own shoes.

When we think of courage. it's often centered around a major feat of bravery, a heroic act. But everyday we each face the monumental task of just being...just being ourselves. The world around us pushes and pulls us in many directions, to the point of not always being sure what it means to be true to ourselves.

At an early age we learn to be people "pleasers." Infants learn that if they do certain things and respond in specific ways, the big people around them will smile or laugh, and even give them a big warm hug. And we begin the journey of taking actions to achieve the desired positive reactions in others.

Then there are the years where we learn to do anything to avoid ridicule and teasing. We don't want to be picked on and we work hard at trying not to stand out. We learn to conform to the perceived societal norms of our environment so we can fit in and be accepted.

Of course, there are always those who are so caught up in fighting against the "pleaser" mentality, they take steps to foster the opposite reaction. They are trying to get people to be shocked, angered, appalled, and incensed by what they have said or done.

In either case, the road to being true to yourself gets muddled. I suspect that many people have a hard time pinpointing the path of their true self. So I say, it is a remarkable thing to find the courage to be yourself...to undo the years of training we've received, in how to act, react, and function in our world.

I am grateful for the courage of being myself.

Be You...you are the only one set with the task of being YOU...and you certainly can do it better than anyone else. And I wish you the courage to do so.

This is day 27 of the Thirty Days of Gratitude.

Grateful for Music

There are certain pieces of music that impact me in a way nothing else can. The music seems to touch me so deeply, as if something cherished from the far, far past has come to meet up with my heart in the present. The emotional connection feels so solid and powerful, as if the music and I shared a common history with one another. It sings to my soul.

How grateful I am to live in a world filled with music and to be able to experience the effects of the beauty of the notes.

Last year I wrote about my relationship with music on Day 5 of the 30 Days of Gratitude Photos. Today I write this on day 26 of the Thirty Days of Gratitude.

Grateful for the Possibilities

I am grateful to be able to look at the day ahead and towards the future with a sense of wonder over the POSSIBILITIES.

In any given moment, we have hopes, dreams, and expectations of what may occur in our future, yet life unfolds, change happens, and we never know for sure. This uncertainty could become a source of fear, anxiety, and unease...or we could look towards our unfolding lives with a sense of anticipation, delight, and wonder.

I love beginning the day, the month, the year, with a feeling of excitement for what may unfold...what new experiences I might have, the surprises, the opportunities, and even the challenges.

The unknowing makes the act of living more zingy. It also means that anything is possible, including what I can create in my life and what I can become. You never know who or what you may be attracting into your life...what may lie just around the corner.

We live in a world where the stranger you meet today can change your life tomorrow. The project you are drawn to today may lead to a whole new career you never would have imagined. And the commitment to traveling down an unknown path could help open doors for you in the future.

Yes, we live in a world filled with POSSIBILITIES. What a great blessing that is.

Today is day 25 of the Thirty Days of Gratitude.

Grateful for Inspiration

Everywhere I look and wherever I go, inspiration can be found. I find it in the sights and shapes all around me, in the lighting and the shadows, in the colors and the textures. I am inspired by the words I find in books, in poetry, online, and in all forms of media. Music and lyrics are a great source of inspiration with the various genres effecting me in different ways. Inspirational triggers are everywhere.

Allow your surroundings to inspire you.

Here are some more sources of inspiration:

• reflections in windows, streams, rivers, etc.
• favorite music
• nature
• exquisite landscapes 
• peaceful settings
• inner visions
• brainstorming - either alone or with others
• inspirational quotes
• artwork
• a nature walk
• time spent alone
• things people say
• lines of dialog in movies, TV, or theater
• watch children at play
• read a children's book

I am grateful to be able to find inspiration everywhere.

This is day 24 of the Thirty Days of Gratitude.

For more on Creative Inspiration, check out these articles at The Shared Easel:

• Children's Books for Inspiration
• Creative Triggers
• Finding Creative Inspiration

Grateful for a Roof Over My Head

It could be easy to take a home for granted, especially if you have always had a roof over your head. But the warmth and shelter of a house or apartment is truly something to be grateful for. Many people go to sleep at night in the cold, susceptible to the elements. Many spend their days worrying about where they can find shelter that night.

I have a warm bed to sleep in, a bathroom only steps away, running water and plumbing, food in the refrigerator, and the comforts of a home. I choose NOT to take these for granted.

When you are struggling to meet your basic needs, your life force is directed towards survival. There's little or no time, or space, or energy for the luxury of being creative, for focusing on personal growth, and on the things you love to do.

My basic needs are met and for that I am so very grateful.

This is day 23 of the Thirty Days of Gratitude.

Grateful for Time With Me

Every single moment I spend alone with myself is precious time. I love my family. I totally enjoy being with people...but I crave my time alone.

Maybe it's the artist in me who not only needs the creative time on my own, but savors the time to reflect, to regroup, to recharge, to refuel. I love the quiet space, the voice within, and the peaceful meditations.

Spending time alone allows me to:

• direct my creative energy
• think things through
• get to know myself better
• dance without care
• recharge and re-energize
• increase my productivity
• focus
• take time out to relax
• do things I enjoy
• reflect
• strengthen my inner core
• meditate
• find the answers within
• and so much more.

Years ago, between a demanding job and a very full calendar of social activities, I didn't have much non-work related alone time. So, I began creating weekly outings with myself, visiting local sites and having adventures just with me. I so looked forward to this time each week and for the next adventure. It was a great reminder of how I really am my own best friend. In strengthening my relationship with myself, I was strengthening my inner core.

I am very thankful for the time I can spend alone with me.

Today is day 22 of the Thirty Days of Gratitude.

Grateful for Love

I am grateful for all the love in my life...for the love of family and friends. I have been blessed with a lifetime of warm, caring, and very dear people surrounding me, throughout my life.

Not much to say tonight...after a long day at a track meet. Looking forward to some unproductive, quiet time tonight. But, I will come back to say more about this truly wonderful gift at some point in the future.

This is Day 21 of the Thirty Days of Gratitude.

Grateful for Blossoms of Spring

For me, it's the burst of blossoms that truly herald the Springtime. Trees that may look like they could never come back to life throughout the winter months suddenly explode with color and delicate growth.

When I was a kid, my Mom told me about the flowering cherry blossom trees in Washington, DC and how they fill the city with a soft beauty each year. She always made it sound like such a magical sight. I don't have to be in DC to experience the magic and beauty of the flowering trees. What a visual delight!!

I am thankful to live in a world with such wonderful visual surprises, made even more impact-ful by arriving just after the winter.

This is Day 20 of the Thirty Days of Gratitude.

Grateful for Spring

What a wonderful season this is. Spring is full of new growth and signs of new life. The landscape becomes dotted with brilliant colors and there is more opportunities to spend time outside. People begin to come out of their winter home cocoons and enjoy the sights and sounds of Springtime.

I am so grateful for this time of year, and for the fresh Spring air and the song of the birds.

Today is Day 19 of the Thirty Days of Gratitude.

Grateful for Health

Today and everyday I am grateful for my health. We live in human bodies, in a world filled with illness and dis-ease. Everyday of health is a blessing. And every experience with illness makes these days even more of a blessing.

Today is a day I can walk, run, stand, think, digest, breath, hear, taste, eat, reach for the stars, and hug my loved ones. How could I not feel grateful?

Here's just a little something to keep in mind...

This is Day 17 of the Thirty Days of Gratitude.

Grateful for Time at the Beach

I am grateful for any time I spend on or at the beach. What a great gift to live close enough to the water to easily visit the waves and the sand.

This has been a week of spectacular weather. Stopping at a beach on the way from one point to another has been a total delight. I realize there are many places still dealing with ice and frost but here, in the days leading up to Spring, it has felt like the beginning of Summer.

Whether it's Winter, Spring, Summer, or Fall, the sand and sea call to me. It's a place of peace and joy, a place to take off your shoes and get sand between your toes, a place to be alone and a place to share with others. Even with the sound of the crashing waves, there is a feeling of calm that always feels like home. The beach is a place to Just Be...to be yourself and get in touch with the voice within.

I so appreciate living near the water. I used to live on the east coast, just 15 to 20 minutes from the ocean. Now I live about 10 minutes from the beach on the west coast. Love it!

This is Day 16 of the Thirty Days of Gratitude.

Grateful for the View

I am so very thankful for the views from the windows in my home. I live in a house that feels like a tree house. It's surrounded by trees in every direction and we have an amazing amount of windows. (A number of windows are narrow and don't open but they create a wonderfully green backdrop.)

As I sit here right now, I can see the thick foliage through six windows. The redwoods and live oaks are evergreens, so I get to feel like I live in a forest rather than a neighborhood all year round.

Right by my dining room windows is a flowering plum tree and a few very large camellias, with a small redwood grove just beyond. I love working at our dining room table and facing that scene.

I feel so blessed to look out on this beauty every day.

This is Day 15 of the Thirty Days of Gratitude.

Grateful for The Light

 

I am grateful for the light that glows within me, for the way it touches my life, and energizes my actions, passions, and joy. I am equally thankful to find myself in the presence of someone else's glow. The light we experience in others can range from subtle to magnificent. They may be aware of the light they share or most likely totally unaware of how their light radiates to those around them. That light can have the effect of igniting our own or act as a reminder of how we are filled with light ourselves.

We come into the world as brightly lit beings and along the road of life our disappointments, fears, and life experiences act to dim that brightness. Somehow we learn to hide the glow from others which leads to denying it to ourselves as well. As adults we have the opportunity of reigniting the light, reconnecting to our true nature, and reawakening to our inner sparkle. By growing that light we are also growing our inner strength, courage, joy, and well being.

Here are some ways to turn up your light and to Get Your Glow On:

• Smile more - just for the sake of smiling. You may find you have more to smile about.
• Listen to music that gets you moving...dance freely. Let yourself dance in any way that feels good to you. 
• Laugh. It's funny how laughter creates more laughter. Find things to laugh about.
• Make time each day to do something that makes you feel "lighter." Spend time involved in activities that bring you joy.
• Visualize yourself filling up with light and surrounding you. Hold that thought. (Notice where the light emanated from...above, below, within, without, etc.) Take it a step further and let that light radiate out into the world.
• Start taking steps to follow your dreams, if you haven't already done so.
• Do some Spring cleaning...inside and out. Make space for the light by letting go of the inner cobwebs. Cleaning your environment of clutter is a great way to start that process.
• Speaking of "inner clutter" - Forgive yourself for choices you've made in the past and actions that fill you with feeling of blame or guilt. If it's difficult to let it go, try writing a forgiveness letter to yourself from a place of love.
• Share your gratitude with others. Let them know what you appreciate about them.
• Spend time in nature. Focus on the exquisiteness of the natural world.
• Let go of trying to please others and focus on being true to your inner flow.
• Let go of the "shoulds" in your mind.
• Trust your heart.
• What else would you add to this list?

Now, go forth and Shine Your Light out in the world.

This is Day 14 of the Thirty Days of Gratitude.

Grateful for Being in the Flow

I am grateful for the feeling of being part of the natural flow of life. There are times when the path is clear, no major obstacles are blocking the way, and everything seems to flow. What a gift it is to be able to observe and experience the unfolding of "miracles" at those moments/times.

Flow happens. But it happens when there's an openness to experience the movement of life in the direction it's taking you, to letting go of expectations and allowing life to unfold. Nothing can clog that flow like holding onto the old ways, the past, and preconceived notions.

Flow is a gentle and easy unfolding of events, opportunities, and openings. It's as if miracles are happening and everything seems to click into place. When that happens, we meet the right people at the right time, we stumble upon the exact information needed to move forward, and we may notice that doors open unexpectedly. The pieces of our life's puzzle begin to fit together beautifully.  It's as if we are being carried by the universe on a wave of support.

So, I am grateful to ME...for allowing the flow and being open to it.

This is Day 12 of the Thirty Days of Gratitude.

Grateful for All I Have

My heart is filled with gratitude for all that I have. I am blessed with many gifts and I am aware of how little I really need. Life is good.

I learn from my struggles and they become opportunities. There is so much to be grateful for in each and every moment that in times of difficulty I can fill my mind with all that I have and lighten the load.

Wherever I look I can find something to be grateful for...running water, the roof over my head, windows that look out to the beauty of the trees, the loving smiles of family and friends, the new growth of Spring...and more and more and more...even the toothbrush.

I have opportunities to fulfill my dreams and a world of new technology at my fingertips to aid me in my journey. I am clothed and I am fed. I am surrounded by love, beauty, health, and creativity...and for this I am tremendously thankful.

I am Grateful for all that I have.

This is Day 10 of the Thirty Days of Gratitude.