Looking back over the year

 There were so  many things to be grateful for in 2012.  Here is a brief list.

First of all I am grateful that we are all still here - no catastrophes etc on Dec. 21, 2012!
My health is still good  and my cataract surgery was successful.
My mother turned 90 and is still in good health for her age.
I still have my part time job which allows me the "frills" in life.
I have had so many social  events  and good times with family and friends.

 This a year was filled  with so many wonderful moments:

• fun times, good food and laughter
• many outings in nature in this wonderful part of the country. - canoeing, hiking, swimming, snowshoeing
• a wonderful retreat with my teacher of meditation.
• special moments  with my son- lots of laughter and  good  talks
• early morning or late evening walks with my dog when it is so quiet and still
• sitting in my garden surrounded by flowers and the chirping of birds.

The list could go on and on ...

In gratitude for all the blessings received this past year,
Marg

Grateful for Freedom

I am currently reading Winter of the World the second part of Ken Follett's Century Trilogy.  The story takes place during the years leading up to and including the second world war.  Although it is fiction I am confident that it  accurately depicts the situation  during those years.  Reading about the atrocities  committed under the communist and fascist regimes made me realize how fortunate I am to live in a democracy where:

I can openly speak my mind;
I can easily put a variety of good food on my table;
I can go to the hospital and receive excellent care regardless of my status;
I had a good job and pension;
I can choose to worship  if I so desire;
I am not afraid .

Those days of oppression and repression seem so far away, yet many people n this world still live under such regimes.

In gratitude for  the life  and freedom I have in this country,
Marg

The perfect gift

This season gives us so many reasons to be grateful -  we just need to pause in our busy day where we rush about to find those "perfect gifts".  I heard an ad the other day that  basically said :  "Run out of money and can't buy that perfect gift for that special someone?  Come to us and we will lend you the money".  The season is indeed all about giving  but the perfect gift is the one that comes from the heart.

I have received so many "perfect gifts" already;

• time spent with friends celebrating the season
• time spent decorating the tree with my son, listening to Christmas music and sampling the eggnog
• finding that deep peace and stillness within,  in spite of the busy-ness of the season

In gratitude for all the joys and blessings of this season,
Marg

Entitlement

As I was meditating early this morning,  the idea of entitlement came up and I thought that this would be a good topic to write about.  Many people today have a strong sense of entitlement - I am owed this, I deserve  that. None  of us are entitled to, or deserve that magnificent sunset or  the wondrous  view of trees dressed in  dazzling snow. It is given to us as a gift to enjoy and to appreciate. Viewing the world from a stance of gratitude instead of a sense of entitlement would make for a happier and more harmonious planet - and we individually would be happier and more content.

source: the weather netw

The song of birds in the morning, the timeless rhythm of waves crashing to  the shore, the awesome night sky with stars sparkling - these are given freely for each of us to enjoy whether it be you or I, or the hardened criminal. None of us  deserves or is entitled to the wonders of nature.  It is all a magnificent gift, freely given  for us to enjoy!  Now that is unconditional generosity!

In gratitude for nature's gifts freely bestowed,
Marg

Louis Armstong sings "What a Wonderful World".

I wasn't sure what to write today and then I cam across this youtube clip that a friend posted on facebook.  It states so powerfully what I have been saying  in my last few posts.  It is indeed a wonderful world and we need the eyes to see it and be grateful.








"I see trees of green and red roses too.  I see them bloom for me and for you. 
What a wonderful world!"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Aba0lVdE2c

We have been gifted with the senses to see, hear, touch , taste  in order to discover  our world.  Such a pity  that many of us don't take the time to see (and smell) the red roses blooming just  for us. What is the purpose of flowers -if not  to bloom for us and bring beauty into our world?




In  gratitude   for all the wonders of this world,
Marg

Lens of gratitude

"If a fellow isn't thankful for what he's got, he isn't likely to be thankful for what he is going to get. " Frank A. Clark

                                                     source: the weather network.com

I have read this quote many times, but today it "spoke " to me. For me this quote is all about our attitude to life, all about  the lens through which we view life.   I just had my second cataract surgery done and I always appreciated the beauty of nature, but now that I see more clearly, I  am awed and appreciate the beauty all the more. Too see in detail the bright colours of birds coming to the feeder, the definition in the bark of a tree, the vibrant colours of flowers,  is just amazing.

If we are already grateful for what we have now, we will also be grateful for  the blessings, the good things that come our way.  In this manner we are truly "rich".  We appreciate all that we have and this brings on a feeling of contentment- anything else and our cup overflows.  What a positive frame of mind to be in, instead of alway wishing we had more, instead of always comparing what we have to others.  Nothing wrong about having good things, but it is all about our attitude to them.  Be focused on,  and grateful for,  all the good things in our life, instead of  training our eye on what is lacking...  then our life will be immeasurably richer.  I choose to view life through the lens of abundance , rather than the lens of lack.

In gratitude for being able to see the riches that surround me,
Marg

Choices

"The primary cause of unhappiness is never the situation but your thoughts about it." (Oneness With All Life)  Eckhart Tolle

I received this quote in my email the other day and  it really speaks to me about thinking and making choices.  At any moment I can choose to think about a situation in the past  which has caused me pain or in the future  which may cause me to worry, or, I can quite simply be in the present moment, in that vast sea of stillnes, devoid of thought,  and experience true peace and contentment.  I can choose for  pain or peace.  The pain is usually a by-product of thought.   I can choose to be grateful for being alive, having what I have or I can think about it, analyse it, agonize  over  what should have been or what is lacking in my life.  This serves no purpose, but to make me more unhappy and ungrateful.

 I am more frequently choosing for peace and my life is much better!  On my mirror I have a sign that says "Choose your attitude".    I choose  to live in an attitude of gratitude, peace and joy.  Now I just have to remember  that on a daily basis.

In gratitude for the ability and awareness to choose,
Margaret

Seeing vibrant colours

My cataract surgery went well, but I am having some difficulty adjusting to two eyes functioning completely differently.I am grateful for the skill of the surgeon's hands and for my sister who welcomed me into her home to "watch  over me".  We had a wonderful time together, connecting, talking and laughing for a day and a half.  She had been through the surgery successfully and if was comforting to have her to reassure me that all was proceeding normally.  I had a wonderful time with morning coffee at her country home watching a continual parade of different, brightly coloured birds come to her bird feeders.    Already I can see colours more vibrantly - details pop out.    Reading and computer work are a bit more of a challenge, so I will do as the fox in the picture and take this time to  savour all the little pleasures in life!

In gratitude for being able to see more clearly the wonders of our universe.
Marg

Thanks to all of you

I am in a  seminar all weekend  so my thoughts will be rather brief today.  I do try to post towards the end of each week. Today I would like to express my gratitude to all of you  who take the time to read  my "musings".   It lifts me up to know that each time someone reads my post, perhaps he/she too will  think about what he/she is grateful for.  It affirms my goal of growing gratitude in myself and also in the world.  Each time I write, I wonder what I will say. Usually  I just have a few notions, but as I write, the  awareness of gratitude grows in me, so thank you all for helping me on my gratitude journey.

I deep appreciation for all of you,
Marg

This day will not come again

This day will not come again. Each minute is worth a priceless gem. Zen Master Takuan

 As I was reading through some gratitude quotes, this one in particular  spoke to me.  It reminds me  of the saying :"Live each day as if it were your last".  We would certainly be grateful for every moment, every experience of that day.  Each moment would indeed be a priceless gem.  If it were our last day we would live it so differently. 

We take each day for granted - we get up, go to work,come home, cook supper , watch TV....  Do we   realise how amazing it is to have this day?    Each moment is vibrant, each day a mystery.  We should wake up, grateful to have yet another day.  How different would our day be if we woke up,  innocent as a child, anticipating with wonder what blessings/gifts this day will bring .  To arise  each day with wonder and appreciation instead of dread  and worry.  To appreciate everything this day brings instead of "chasing" after something that  we think will make us truly  happy.  Happiness is right here, right now.  We just need to  truly live in the moment and savour it.  

In gratitude for the gift of each day,

Margaret

Inner Peace

Today as I was out and about running errands,  I felt such a deep peace and contentment. No matter what was going around me, I was totally "in" the present moment and filled with such  stillness.  This is what  I have been striving for - to live from that place of peace.

 The past weekend was spent  in a meditation course and  the effects of that experience continue.  Normally   I can  quite easily access that still, peace within during meditation, but to be able  to tap into that well of stillness during the day's  regular  activities is quite exquisite.  The attached poster really says it all.

 In gratitude for my meditation teachers  and to their commitment in helping me grow on this path to inner peace,
Marg

Pilgrims and Thanksgiving

The Pilgrims made seven times more graves that huts.  No Americans have been more impoverished than these who, nevertheless, set aside a day of thanksgiving.  H. U.  Westermayer

Today's post is  in gratitude for the Pilgrims who started the Thanksgiving tradition here in North America.    A tradition where we  gather together with family and friends  around a table filled with an  abundance of food.  How lucky we are in to live here!

Today I took the time to look  through the flyers that arrived the other day in the mail and there was one from World Vision with a variety of gifts to purchase for families struggling in impoverished countries.  To gift a family with a goat or chickens so that they could have food.  To gift a family with mosquito nets so children could sleep at night without worrying about getting malaria.  The gift of medicine, school supplies...the list goes on and on....the recipients  so grateful for things that we take for granted. What a stark contrast from our tables laden  with so much food .  Thanksgiving should be a daily event, just as  the joy and giving  at Christmas-time should continue throughout the year.

In gratitude for the abundance  in my life,
Marg

A perfect day...

Everything is perfect just as the way it is.  Neale Donald Walsh 

 

I was reading this statement from Neale Donald Walsh and I had  some difficulty believing it especially with the  state of the world right now.  If I consider that statement in light of my life right now  I can see  lots of areas that seem to lack in "perfection".  But as  I pondered further, I realized that in the present moment all is good, all is as it should be, because that is what has happened.  There may be a grand plan, that is beyond my comprehension.  Perhaps I need to experience rough patches in my life, experience the darkness, so I can fully appreciate the light.  

This past weekend I went for a drive along the lake with  a fellow meditator.  And the day was perfect indeed: from the many synchronicities that made this day so special to the wonderful scenery and unseasonably warm weather.  The hillsides were ablaze with the fall colours, the waters of the mighty lake sparkled like ever so many priceless diamonds. Rich conversation interspered with laughter and such stillness as we meditated on the shore of the lake.  The experience was exquisite, a soft breeze, sparkling waters, the rhythm of the waves and deep, deep stillness.

What a wonderful day , in fact what a perfect day!.

I thank the universe, source, God (whatever word resonates with you)  for this magnificent day.

Marg

The hardest arithmetic

I love arithmetic and I love numbers.  As a Kindergarten  and Grade 1 teacher I would teach the children to count anything and everything:  buttons, cubes, shapes, crayons - whatever was handy.  However I don 't remember teaching them to count their blessings.  Of course I taught them to say "please" and " thank you". , but to recognize all the blessings they had was absent from the curriculum, aside from Thanksgiving Day.

Today I am a "little under the weather "  with an upset stomach and headache, so it is a perfect time to stop feeling miserable and acknowledge all the good things in my life.  Here are just a few.

I am grateful for:
1.  my son who has a generous heart and  makes me laugh
2.  my mother who supported me through all the years
3.  my dog who is getting old but who is always upbeat and  ready for an adventure.

I am grateful for:
4.  my garden,with the lovely flowers
5.  the tomatoes that I can pick straight from the vine, all warm and tasty from the afternoon sun
6.  the trickle of water from my pond which  invites birds and squirrels to visit.

I am grateful for:
7.  my extended family and friends  - for the  love and support they give me
8.  my fellow meditators  who join me in the silence and  help me stay on track
9.  my colleagues that helped and shared in the work load.

The list could go on and on...

 And finally
10.  I am grateful for the fact that I  live in a country where I can buy medicine to make my stomach feel better!

In gratitude for my many blessings, too numerous to count
Marg

Einstein : two ways to live

Yesterday was  busy day and quite windy.  I have had  headaches off and on for the past 2 days.    I hadn't yet walked the dog and looked out the window  in my home office and saw the most amazing sunset. I got the collar and leash and my dog and I walked out into the sky ablaze with gold, pink and red clouds.  The wind had died down and it was absolutely calm.  My dog and I changed our normal route to be able to walk towards the sunset.  Roof lines and trees were silhouetted against the ever deepening colours of the sky.  It was so calm, so still - a magical  experience.   I wondered how many people witnessed this beauty - how many were hunched over a computer screen ( as was I) or glued to the TV, oblivious to the show of beauty outside. Our life is full of  beauty and magic, if only we take the time to see,  if only we have eyes to see.  I felt in awe of this wonderful display, in awe of the beauty  and stillness . Albert Einstein once said: "there are two ways to live: you can live as if nothing is a miracle; you can live as if everything is a  miracle". I choose the latter  -  to live  and witness  the miracles that abound in my daily life.

In gratitude for the awesome power and  beauty  of our universe,
Marg

Trees- silent sentinels of stillness

     Today I thought I would express my gratitude for trees. The picture above was taken while I was on retreat and I was drawn to this tree's beauty and grandeur. I was fascinated by this tree - it is such a metaphor for life.  It stands tall and strong with the roots searching deep into the earth. The branches  sway with the wind, but the trunk stays steadfast.
   Trees not only provide beauty especially, with the change of seasons, they  also provide cooling shade on a hot afternoon and protection from the cold winds in the winter.  We get heat, paper and furniture from trees.  They purify the air and keep the topsoil in place. Home for birds, squirrels and insects of all sorts, trees  provide food and protection for the animals.  Without trees I wouldn't experience the joy of birds chirping in the early morning, of squirrels chattering above.  Tress make  my city world come alive with nature.  They  purify the air, keep topsoil in place - the list goes on.
     I think of trees as silent sentinels of stillness -  they stand tall and still as generations of children play under them, lean on them, as generations of adults walk by them in their busy-ness,  often not even aware of the tree's beauty.  Trees give us so much - today I would like to acknowledge and be grateful for all that trees give us .  As I go for a walk with my dog today, I will try to be aware of that still presence of trees as I walk under their arching branches.

In gratitude for the beauty of  trees and all that they give,
Margaret

Beauty and power of the wliderness

This  past weekend I spent time  in the wilderness with 6  other women.   In the evening we stayed in cabins, but during the day we  swam, hiked  and shared our stories and souls over campfires and wonderful meals.  The pristine wilderness and beauty of  this immense lake inspires awe and reverence - reverence  for the immensity,  power,  and timelessness  of it all.  These waves have been crashing on this shore for eons.  These waves have deposited millions of pebbles of all shapes, sizes and textures  over more years than I can possibly imagine.  Such immense power!  I am grateful for this stark beauty of my region, for the immense power of our lake and so thankful to have friends to share  the wonderful experience. 

In gratitude for it all,
Marg

The joy of caneoing

Yesterday a friend and I went for a short canoe excursion on a local lake.  I have always loved caneoing, but have only paddled a canoe a few times in my life.  I am so grateful for the wonderful day: sunny skies, warm temperatures and fantastic scenery.  I loved it all!  From the choppy, rough  waters in the middle of the lake  to the calm waters filled with reeds as we approached the shore.   The rhythm of the paddle dipping and gliding through the water. The sight and sounds of birds soaring in the sky and calling to each other.  Loons rushing up from the water as we approached them.  A fresh and at times brisk breeze kept me cool.  The peace and tranquillity of nature and deep blue waters is hard to describe.  In the moment, feeling so alive, energized and exhilarated.  It doesn't get much better than this.

In gratitude for the wonders of nature  and for the friend who generously shared  his  canoe.
Marg

Could haves, should haves, would haves

I have come to realize that these 3 words or phrases (could'ves, should'ves, would'ves) are what blocks feelings of gratitude and ultimately my happiness.  I have spent so much of my life in my  head, analyzing what I or someone else should have done differently; thinking about what could have happened if I had done something differently;  thinking about what would or could happen in the future if I did this or that.  All this head stuff takes me away from the enjoyment of the  present moment. All this thinking about the past, and how it could have been different means I am passing a judgement, and a negative one, about the reality of the past.  And what does this serve?  It sows seeds of discontent, of wishing things were otherwise...certainly not seeds of gratitude.   As Byron Katie in "Loving What Is"  states: "These are only thoughts that we impose onto reality".  She later goes on to state: "And I came to embrace  reality with all my  heart.  I love the world, without any conditions."

My teacher once said that every experience we have had, was necessary to bring us to where we are now, in the present moment. My task now is to stop the  "could'ves, should'ves, would'ves", to get out of my head and appreciate the present moment  and the rich experience that it  brings - to celebrate the joyous moments and to accept and allow the unfolding of those that may be painful.  This is reality - nothing I can do in my head can change what has transpired...all it can do is make me miserable and ungrateful for all that is.

In gratitude for the beauty of the present moment,
Marg

Man without limbs

 “If you can't get a miracle, become one.”Nick Vujicic "Life Without limits"

 Today I thought I would share an amazing , inspirational video with you.  This man  was born with no legs or arms.  He suffered tremendous ridicule when he was young.  The "man without limbs" shows a zest and passion for life, overcoming all obstacles.  He is grateful for his life, he has a purpose, he radiates joy.  His eyes speak volumes.  Makes me think to be grateful for my body - with all its parts intact.  Poor vision  and all the assorted lumps and bumps,  seem insignificant after viewing this video.  It is a bit long, but well worth it. Nick embodies living in the moment, embracing  life  with all its challenges.  Certainly no "poor me" or victim mentality here!  A lesson we could all learn - and our lives would be so much richer.

http://www.youtube.com/embed/da5QQSxSsGY

In gratitude for my body that  works tirelessly day after day,
Marg

Such stillness and joy

True freedom is born in Silence.  MKI

What a lovely retreat - 7 days of   palpable stillness juxtaposed with  much laughter and joy.  This retreat was a true gift for me.  Morning yoga, afternoon tai chi, meetings throughout the day and quiet walks on the beautiful grounds.  No cooking, no cleaning,  no worries and no responsibilities.   Time to share the self with like-minded people.  Time to nurture the self. Time to sink into that deep, deep stillness.

I feel immense gratitude to the teachers who have organized this retreat, who guided us to play in the silence.  When you are truly silent, the constant chatter  and clutter of the mind dissipates.  No stories, no regrets, no 'why me" - just silence and being.  From that space, awareness and gratitude  grows.  Peace and joy blossom in that stillness.

In gratitude for the gifts of peace, joy, laughter and freedom

Marg

Gratitude is the best attitude

Gratitude is the best attitude.  Author unknown


Tomorrow morning I will be heading out to a meditation  retreat for a week .    In this type of mediation we focus on praise, gratitude, love and compassion.  I am grateful l that I have found meditation in my life which  has led me to my awareness of gratitude.  So while I am gone, I will focus on being grateful for all my experiences on the retreat: for the wonderful fellow mediators and teachers; for the joy and laughter;  for the wonderful setting; for the food prepared by others; for the ever expanding stillness and silence.  To any of you who are reading this post - I will not be  posting again until after August 7th.  I am grateful for your presence  on this blog - just by reading the posts I feel that we are growing gratitude together. 

Gratitude is  indeed the best attitude - it enriches our life and make us aware of how abundant our life really is.

In gratitude,
Marg

Getting even

The only people with whom you should try to get even, are those who have helped you.  John E. Southard

What a refreshing idea!  Our world seems to be caught up in the culture of getting even. From decades long family feuds, to border wars (getting back what was taken), getting even seems to be an undercurrent in many conflicts.  Revenge is a  common way of getting even and has a dark side to it.  We can become consumed  by revenge and it can colour our lives with hate - a downward-spiralling emotion. We not only hurt the other person, but also hurt ourselves in the process.  Revenge holds a  certain fascination for us - there is even a TV show called "Revenge". This culture of getting even or revenge at a personal level is harmful enough, but taken to a global level can have  tremendous consequences.

How refreshing  it would be if we decided to "get even " only with those who have helped us - kind of like a good deeds "ping-pong"!.  The concept of "paying it back" or paying it forward"  is gaining momentum.  How different our world would be if we spent our energies trying  to "pay back" a good deed. We would focus more on  the "good things" that have happened to us  and we would be grateful for them. Our world would be a more harmonious place and our lives would be happier, filled with  gratitude  - an upward-spiralling emotion.

In gratitude for  all the good deeds that have come my way,
Margaret

Gratitude unexpressed

There is no such thing as gratitude unexpressed, if it is unexpressed, it is plain old-fashioned ingratitude. Robert Brault


When I read this quote - it made me stop and think.  At first it seemed rather harsh, and then, as I read it again, I started to reflect about what it meant to me.  If someone gave me a gift and I didn't say thank you, that would be ingratitude.  That is clear and easy. What about the rest?  I write a lot about being present in the moment and appreciating the wonders of nature etc.  That is pretty easy too - when you notice a glorious sunset, it is easy to appreciate it and be grateful.  What about  tougher things? What about the gift of life?  How often do I express gratitude for my life?  Do I feel grateful for being alive - or do I focus on the problems in my life?   What about the  tough times in my life - times that teach me valuable life lessons and help me grow?  Do  I grumble and complain about how tough things are, or do I see the silver lining and be grateful that I have survived  the storm and have grown?   And to whom do I express this gratitude?  For me it is God, the universe or source.  If I don't give thanks to God for my life - then I am  indeed ungrateful. Let's be grateful for the gift of life and approach each day as a present to be unwrapped, enjoyed and appreciated. 

This is a tall order to fill, and I have a long way to go to get there, but I think I am headed in the right direction .

In gratitude,
Marg

"God's country".

"We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures." - Thornton Wilder

Today I thought I'd "paint" a photo collage  of some of the "treasures"  in my life.  I travelled  by car quite a bit in  my former job .  It was on these long drives that I became aware of the beauty and wonder of nature in my own "backyard".  We often refer to our region as "God's country"  - it is breathtaking  in  it's beauty. As I drove those highways,  a sense wonder, appreciation and aliveness accompanied me along  the way.  I'd like to share that  with you today.
In gratitude
Marg