Gratitude Never Grows Old

So, this past weekend was Thanksgiving for those of us in Canada.  And I’ve got to tell you, I love thanksgiving celebrations.  Everything from getting together with family and friends,sharing bountiful meals, and fall weather, be it beautiful and balmy (which it was!) or crisp and cool — heck, even rain has a certain cozy-quality that it evokes for me.  Then of course there’s beautiful fall foliage — bright reds, oranges, yellows that just aren’t to be seen during other seasons — corn mazes to be explored, harvest fruits and veggies to be gathered.  Bottom-line, the whole thanksgiving experience is one which I absolutely savour.

At the very heart of the holiday, beyond all the trappings and trimmings, is the thing that I love the most — the giving of thanks.  Years ago the notion of adopting an “attitude of gratitude” was put forth as a means of experiencing happiness, no matter what your external circumstance.  This idea is based on the premise that gratitude can come first, rather than the circumstance you’re hoping for.  So often, we believe that it has to be the opposite; once we get the “thing” — whatever it might be — then we can be happy.  An attitude of gratitude, however, has us stand in thankfulness for what is, rather than hoping for what isn’t yet, and then continue to be grateful as circumstances evolve, however that might look.

What I tend to notice is this:  when I choose to stand in gratitude, my focus shifts from whatever isn’t working, whatever isn’t present, whatever isn’t perfect, to all that is great.  I can actually feel my heart grow lighter, my mind clear, the space around and within me expand, creating room for more.  It’s purely energetic, I know.  And it’s profound and awesome at the same time.  All the time.  Pure magic.  Little things take on big meaning; big things find their true place in the grand scheme of things.  It’s like everything falls into place.

So, all of this leads me to issue an invitation — for the next month, begin and end your day with gratitude.  Make a list, writing things down for which you are grateful; or keep a gratitude jar, filling it with stones or shells representative of each and every thing for which you express thanks.  Watch your list grow, or your jar fill.  And simultaneously, feel your life get better, in whatever way, shape or form that happens.  Trust me; it will.