Gratitude

"If the only prayer you say in your whole life is "THANK YOU," that would suffice." Meister Eckart

A thankful heart is the secret to true joy and abundance. This first became evident to me when I was in college and lost (in more ways than one!) I drove down an unfamiliar road as fear and anxiety crept in and began to take over. In a moment, everything changed. This was the first chapter of real spiritual awakening. A still small voice inside shook through the darkness and it spoke, "give thanks!" Tentatively, I responded. Shifting my thoughts from fear and uncertainty to love and thanksgiving has made all the difference. In that moment, I offered up a prayer: Lord, please show me the way! Then I proceeded to note all that I had to be thankful for. It began with the people closest to me and rippled out to nature and basic necessities and abilities that most people take for granted. This exercise was so powerful! Before long, I was back on track and arrived at the final destination on time with a jubilant spirit. Your thoughts create your reality, and in this instance, by the power of thanksgiving, my heart was forever changed!

During this week of thanksgiving, take some time to count your blessings. There is so much on this incredible earth to be thankful for. Every breath you take is a gift...stop and notice! Every person you encounter is a reminder of the interconnectedness of all beings. It is so easy to meander through life half awake and miss so many opportunities to connect and respond to a world in need. Once you realize how much you have, it is safe and liberating to loosen your grip and give freely to others who are not as fortunate. This does not have to be a monetary gift. You can make the world a better place by giving a smile, respect, clothes that no longer serve you, or your precious time and attention to people in need. Take a challenge to grow. Begin within by connecting to your breath and shift your perspective to the abundance that surrounds you. Open your eyes and hearts to see where in your world can you serve or give back for the abundance that you have been given.

"Ours is not the task of fixing the entire world all at once, but of stretching out to mend the part of the world that is within our reach."-Clarissa Pinkola Estes PhD