“Mimi, look! These thorns have a rose on the end!!” —Lauren Smith, age 4 While similar words were stated quite eloquently in the 19th century by French poet Jean-Baptiste Alphonse Karr, “Some people are always grumbling that roses have thorns. I am thankful that thorns have roses,” my granddaughter, Lauren, had never heard the words of the poet when she
Continue reading » A Daily Practice of Gratitude
The one thing all humans have in common is that each of us wants to be happy, says Brother David Steindl-Rast, a monk and interfaith scholar. And happiness, he suggests, is born from gratitude. An inspiring lesson in slowing down, looking where you’re going, and above all, being grateful. This is a TED Talk that everyone should hear and hold dear. Brother
Continue reading » TED Talk: Want to be Happy? Be Grateful!
"... the more you become a connoisseur of gratitude, the less you are a victim of resentment, depression, and despair. Gratitude will act as an elixir that will gradually dissolve the hard shell of your ego--your need to possess and control—and transform you into a generous being. The sense of gratitude produces true spiritual alchemy, makes us
Continue reading » Connoisseur of Gratitude
"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. It turns problems into gifts, failures into successes, the unexpected into perfect timing, and mistakes into important
Continue reading » One Word: Gratitude
She stepped onto the treadmill next to mine at the gym in a town I was visiting. I had slowed down, being nearly finished with my workout. “Hello” she said with a warm smile. I returned her greeting and we began to chat. She was a cancer survivor, she told me, having spent years enduring radiation and chemotherapy. I noticed the absence of regret or
Continue reading » I Can Only Walk: One Woman’s Story of Triumph
Every tradition and many guidebooks have teachings about how to be happy. Yet that question remains one of life’s great mysteries. As a beginning to understanding happiness, start by asking your self the following questions and then journaling what comes up for you. 1. Write your definition of happiness. Are you living it? If not, are there habits or
Continue reading » Are You Happy? Consider These Five Points
Being grateful means opening our minds and our hearts, non-judgmentally, to learning in every situation and always being thankful for what life brings. We become able to feel a feeling such as sadness and at the same time be grateful for the richness of experience originating from a much deeper place. Fortunately, in my own life, as I sought out learning and
Continue reading » Gratitude: Living a Gracious Life
“Gratitude is the memory of the heart.” ~French Proverb It’s a lovely autumn day ~ leaves brilliant yellows, reds ~ the sky blue, the air crisp. I adore this time of year, as we celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas, my favorite holidays. Instantly my mind pictures festive table settings, a golden, juicy turkey, family, friends and laughter ~ the very best
Continue reading » Are We Grateful Yet?
Walking along the beach at sunset, under a brilliant sky of melon and pink, the gentle breeze cools my sun-drenched skin. As I walk along the surf, I hear the melodious sound of the doves and smell the scent of the lovely Plumeria from the nearby trees. I am experiencing my favorite indulgence: walking along the surf foam on the white sand beach as the ocean
Continue reading » As I Walk Along the Sand, I Make Fresh Footprints
"People usually consider walking on water or in thin air a miracle. But I think the real miracle is not to walk either on water or in thin air, but to walk on earth. Every day we are engaged in a miracle which we don't even recognize: a blue sky, white clouds, green leaves, the black, curious eyes of a child -- our own two eyes. All is a miracle." Thich Nhat
Continue reading » All Is a Miracle
