Today I realized I needed a little more gratitude in my life. I have been engaged in a little too much election coverage and feel myself becoming more and more sarcastic and cynical. And, truth be told, I have been feeling a little sorry for myself too. Boo Hoo! Money is tight, Sarah is choosing celibacy, summer is fading.....
So on my bike ride today, I found myself thinking about how grateful I was to be able to bike on a beautiful off road trail lined with pine trees & cool rock formations a few blocks from my house, and realized that often, my sense of what is "real" and my inability to remain in the present moment is hindered by not fully embracing the things in life that I can be wholehearted grateful for.
So, I decided to carry my camera around, and each day, post a picture of something that that has moved me to feel grateful that day. I am doing this for myself, however, I thought to myself, why not share it with anyone else who would like to see it, and hopefully inspired them to think about what they are grateful for that day. Hell, I figure it beats trying to come up with clever Facebook headings that articulate my disgust for Palin!
I have to be honest here tell you that I also have some resistance to this whole "Gratitude Practice" and feel the need to purge this, if you don't mind....
For me, Gratitude is not:
Forcing a smile
Being Good
Becoming complacent "because of everything we Should be thankful for"
Shoulds
Embracing gratitude to acquire a BMW
Bragging about how awesome I am
Stuffing my complaints
Stepford Wifely Robotics
Forgetting about others
Believing "Gratitude is merely the secret hope of further favors."
So today, I am grateful for my bike with excellent shocks to take me on a beautiful trail just blocks from my house. I am also thankful for Shenpa, who stepped into the picture, who will step into many of my future posts, I suspect!
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