To me, it seems like the world is going fucking crazy. I can’t watch too much news or my heart will break at how ugly and mean the national discourse has grown. There’s a fine balance between wanting to be informed and wanting to walk in peace.
I find myself looking for moments in which I can take a deep breath and fill my heart with gratitude. And let me tell you they are abundant. The idea of gratitude is not to escape the problems and pains of life, the idea of gratitude is to replenish so that I can, in some small way, make a positive impact in my world.
This past week, while on vacation, I went looking for a stamp, so that I could mail a card to my friend. You’d think that would be an easy thing to find in a resort town. Not the case, though. No one had stamps. The umpteenth cashier gestured toward a doorway. “Maybe there,” she said, waving her arm. The maybe there led me to the parking lot. Oh well. Then, I noticed a postal truck. I approached the postwoman unloading things from the back.
“Excuse me,” I said. “Do you know where I can buy a stamp?”
“How many do you need?”
“Just one.”
“Here you go,” she said.
I gave her 50 cents, stuck the stamp on my card and she smiled at me. “I’m happy to take that for you,” she said.
“Thank you.”
That was one of those moments, when the universe just flings its doors open wide and whispers there is so much goodness in life. I don’t see them all the time because I am preoccupied with other seemingly important things in my brain.
The great 17th century mystic, Meister Eckhart, said: “if the only prayer you ever say is thank you, it will be enough.”
Sometimes I remember to close my eyes and take a deep breath and say thank you. I always feel better. It ‘s like the universe is saying thank you back. Thank you for being alive, for being a channel for the creative force.
These are harsh times and I don’t want to be sucked into the vortex of doom and gloom. I’ll watch some news. I will stay informed. I will not hide from the world’s problems. And I will do my best to be a light and remember how much goodness there is and how far a thank you can go. The universe is always opening to us. Gratitude is a good way to begin to see that. As my friend Jennifer always says, “Have a grateful day!”
Wonderful post. Your last paragraph sums up my sentiments perfectly. Thank you for reminding us to remember the good. That’s what gets us through the bad.
You betcha! Big hugs, Carrie!
Love it that you stopped by, Carrie. Thanks and big hugs.
your words resonate with my inner being completely…I love your friend’s parting words–I will add that to mine! Thanks for giving us your grateful thoughts!
Much love and goodwill!
Borrowing, stealing, honoring this with a reblog, Stephanie. Brilliant and inspired.
Reblogged this on Therapeutic Misadventures and commented:
This was too well written, too apropos of today for me not to reblog…
Oh Thanks and Big Hugs!
A great reminder. It’s the little things that make all the difference.
Yep, I think it’s the little things too. Thanks for stopping by.
Reblogged this on small town mama and commented:
These are such beautiful words!
These are such beautiful words. Thank you for sharing!
Thank you for reading. Biggest of hugs,
s
How beautifully you have written this article…I feel so close to these emotions. But the final words Have a Grateful Day reminds me that too often these days I appear ungrateful….there are too many things in my life for which I must be truly grateful for….thankyou Stephanie from Annie in Australia
Dearest Annie from Australia–thank you so much for your kind words. And I hope that both you and I remember to “have a grateful day!” Biggest of hugs,
Hi Stephanie
It is Annie from Australia wanting to say to you “have a grateful day” I have embraced this as a daily motto, I love it!!!
Cheers from Annie who lives in The Land Down Under….There is a song titled The Land Down Under by an Aussie band called Men At Work. ..have a listen on youtube…
🌞🌴🌊
“The idea of gratitude is not to escape the problems and pains of life, the idea of gratitude is to replenish so that I can, in some small way, make a positive impact in my world.” This is lovely, and addresses my own (formerly much stronger) feelings of guilt about the matter. Thank you for these words. Beautiful thoughts.
Thanks so much for stopping by and taking the time to comment! Gratitude!
🙂