Gratitude

It’s been one of my normal, full on days when the time has flown by. As I moved through the moments one of the things I noticed was the way in which gratitude flowed out and back between people. One of the virtues of being here in human form is to be able to notice how blessed we are. One of my books talks about goodness and the recognition of acts of goodness as being one aspect of Divine bliss. Being grateful, is, I feel, a way to recognise goodness in our lives. Recognising the good, being thankful for the good and acknowledging it to yourself & others is to share a small slice of the Divine bliss.

I have, in the past, found it hard to recognise the goodness and be grateful. I feel that is the case with many of us. We are conditioned to feel lack, compete and live in a fear controlled way. We look for the reasons why we don’t have happiness instead of understanding that happiness is a way of being in the world. We can choose happiness any time we want to step out of the fear. When I began to talk to my Spirit visitors they encouraged me to consider my life in more detail. They wanted me to slow down, pause and be aware of each moment as if it was my last. They asked me to think about my last moment as a human in this lifetime. Would that moment be a happy one? I found that a very hard thing to do. I was so locked into the past mistakes and the future fears that being right here, right now seemed impossible.

With a lot of encouragement I began to leave the past behind me. I realised that there was nothing I could do over. It was what it was. In looking to leave it behind though I had the opportunity to recognise how my past had shaped my present. I began to feel grateful for all the mistakes I had made, the things left undone and the opportunities missed. No matter what the twists and turns, somehow I was still here, having time to be grateful for myself and all of the people who had already been a part of my life. Together we had chosen situations and experiences that had helped me know what misery and happiness meant to me. These good people had also presented me with the choices I now have in my life. Without their willingness to be exactly who they were I wouldn’t know how I can do things differently. Or even perhaps that I have choices.

As I started to work on gratitude about the goodness of my past – even those acts that I put myself through pain for or about –  I became much more concious of the present moment. That I have choices moment to moment about the way I am feeling. I saw a glimmer of happiness emerging from being in the moment. What was holding me back was the fear of the future. Our lives are a brilliant example of running away from the fact that they have to end. We focus instead on the practicalities. Earning a living, paying the bills, escaping on holiday, putting the children through school, college or university. These ‘responsibilities’ drive us forward. We are distracted from recognising the goodness in the moment we are in. Often we reach a stage in life where death is really knocking on the door but we are still wondering did we miss the happiness somewhere along the line? My Guides talked a lot about a life well lived. They wanted me to notice that each moment we have builds up into a long and happy life if we can notice the goodness. If we can be grateful for every extra moment we get.

Taking my lead from these discussions I make an effort to notice gratitude given and received. I am learning the attitude of gratitude. As I see each act of giving and receiving I am also inspired by the positive feeling it creates. For that moment someone feels the goodness or returns the goodness. It may be a thank you, a bunch of perky daffodils, a warm hug, a compliment or donation in a jar. It doesn’t matter what shape or form the gratitude takes. Someone, or me, is saying I appreciate your goodness. You have been kind to me. The connection between us is beyond the simple bond of being humans together. We are sharing an energy inspired by Divine love. There is even gratitude in the rude words, angry conversations, judgemental statements and belittling comments. Each one of these reminds me that I have a choice. I can take myself into the low vibrational energy of shame and blame, accepting what is said as a reflection on me, or I can take these as prompts to rise above the lack of love, of fear and of control.

Happiness is what we create when our lives are lived in loving gratitude. When we practice small acts of goodness towards one another so as to create a wave of positive, overwhelming kindness. When we are kind to ourselves and others we can change our corner of the world. Is it time to change your world? Do you offer and receive goodness, kindness and happiness? Are you grateful for all that you are, all that everyone around you is? Do you share the gratitude? Are you living moment to moment as if it is your last?

Day 152 of my blogging challenge.