Nietzsche Quote

 

And those who were seen dancing were thought to be  insane by those who could not hear the music.  Nietzsche

I came across this quote from Nietzsche and though not specifically  about gratitude - for me  it speaks to  being aware of the music in our lives, appreciating it and joyfully responding to it.  The Nietzsche quote reminded me of another similar quote by  Ralph Waldo Emerson:
Many eyes go through the meadow, but few see the flowers in it.

How many times have I driven home after a busy day of work and not noticed the beautiful sunset, or the lilac bushes blooming.  How many times have I rushed out the door, wrapped in my mind, oblivious to the chirping music of the birds?  If I am not aware of the music, the flowers, how can I be grateful for them and how can I respond joyfully?  When we do awake to all the wonders that surround us, others who do not hear the music,  many indeed think us insane.   I remember when I was a student  in my twenties, it was pouring rain and one of my fellow students  put on his bathing suit and danced joyously in the rain.  I thought he was insane...perhaps it was I who was insane not to join him.

What makes you sing or dance in your life?

In gratitude for the music in our lives in whatever form or shape it takes..
Marg

Book of awesome

 I had heard about the "Book of Awesome"  from one of my students and I loved this quote which echoes my thoughts on living fully in the present moment.

Life is so great that we only get a tiny moment to enjoy everything we see. And that moment is right now. And that moment is counting down. And that moment is always, always fleeting. You will never be as young as you are right now.” Neil Pasricha, 

What are some awesome things in my life right now in this moment?

- a fresh cup of coffee, hot and steamy

- my dog quietly sleeping at my feet as I type

-the clear bright blue sky after days of rain and snow

-my cedar tree, tall and graceful, framed by the window

-birds chirping as I step out the door.

All this in the last few minutes - what will the next hour bring?

In gratitude for all the awesome things in my life,

Marg

Day of silence and meditation

I spent the day with  a few other fellow meditators in silence.   We did normal seated meditation as well as walking meditations and ate lunch in silence.  There was some opportunity to discuss with one another , but for the most part they day was spent in silence.  What a wonderful gift, just to go inward into the stillness and peace, without worrying about having to  make "small talk" etc.  A big thank you  to my meditation teacher for organizing   and hosting the day.  I left feeling clam and centered  with the sense that everything is OK, and  is as it should be.

In gratitude for the stillness and silence,
Marg

If you have lived

“If you have lived, take thankfully the past.”  – John Dryden

This quote resonated with me today.   I just returned home from the  funeral of a friend's father.  She was an only child and her father was elderly.  She is absolutely devastated.  In time she will have many cherished memories from the past, but right now the pain is raw.   My mother is also elderly (almost 90) and I am grateful that she is still  with us today, in relatively good health.  Life is a gift to be experienced, lived fully and enjoyed.  I will take the past, indeed embrace it and give thanks for it, as painful as it has been at times.  The past has  brought me to where I am today, has shaped who I am today.... and for that I give thanks.


In gratitude,
Marg

Alive in gratitude

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

I suppose it is all about being conscious, of being awake and aware to all the wonder that surrounds us... to recognize  all the treasures that are present in our lives, instead of looking the other way for more. Treasures such as family, friends, my dog, a house to live in , a car to drive.   According to this quote - my dog is more alive that most of us - everything appears to be a treasure or joy to him - a simple bone, a simple walk - these are all cause for celebration!  Simplicity, and an appreciation of simple, everyday things leads to an abundance.

In gratitude for simple joys,
Marg