My One Hundred Gratitudes Today

I am grateful: 1. Many of us experienced the clouds of inaction in earlier periods waiting, waiting, waiting, hoping our circumstances would change, even praying they would, but taking no responsibility for changing what was in our power. Inaction caged us.” This was I. Maybe different now? 2. “We can become quiet with ourselves and let our daydreams act as indicators.” 3. “We have something essential to do, an due are being given all the chances we'll need to fulfill our purpose.” 4. “We can trust in our worth, our necessity to others.” 5. This: “The goals we set should challenge us rather than defeat us before we begin.” 6. And this prayer: “Show me the goals that are realistic for me today.” 7. The very words: “The language of letting Go” 8. “…don't dwell on the negative parts of our experience.” That’s a great thing. 9. And – once again seems to acknowledge, for me, that negative parts of our experience are just PART OF OUR EXPERIENCE! – 10. “Whatever we give energy to, we empower.” 11. The Secret – the law of attraction. I believe it. I’m not talking about finding the right kitchen cabinets kind of stuff, just willing it, surface positive thinking like from the 80’s or something. I’m talking about the innermost BELIEFS – ATTRACTING to us the conditions in which we believe. And since it happens anyway, we may as well attract the POSITIVE! Like, if we believe we DESERVE happiness, and are living cleanly moment by moment, we are more open to noticing and being accepting of the conditions of happiness. … I wish I could say that better. Maybe sometime I can. 12. “…whatever we empower grows bigger.” Wow did I need to hear this today! 13. This: “We've been affirming thoughts and beliefs since we were old enough to speak. The choice in recovery is what we want to affirm.” 14. “Today, I will empower the good in myself, others, and life.” 15. “I'm willing to release, or let go of, negative thought patterns and replace them with positive ones.” 16. “I will choose what I want to affirm, and I will make it good.” I couldn’t have picked more important sentences for myself if I’d tried. 17. From: http://www.shambhalasun.com/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=1756 It says, by Thich Nhat Hanh, “The Buddha and the monks and nuns of his time did not own anything except their three robes and one bowl. But they were very happy, because they had something extremely precious: freedom.” 18. And this: “According to the Buddha's teachings, the most basic condition for happiness is freedom. Here we do not mean political freedom, but freedom from the mental formations of anger, despair, jealousy and delusion. These mental formations are described by the Buddha as poisons. As long as these poisons are still in our heart, happiness can not be possible.” 19. This: “Throughout the day we experience many feelings. Losing something makes us angry. Fighting with a friend makes us sad. Perhaps we're lonely because no one is home. Getting an unexpected treat makes us happy. Our feelings come and go just like the hours of our lives.” 20. And this: “Letting our feelings be whatever they are is good. They'll go away in time. We may not like all feelings; sadness or anger may be uncomfortable, but being human means we'll have many different feelings each day. If we're quiet with them, they'll help us grow and understand others better, and then they will suddenly be gone, replaced perhaps by a feeling we like more.” 21. This: “"The art of living lies not in eliminating but in growing with troubles." Bernard M. Baruch” 22. I just bid on something for charity, for a Christmas present for myself! Not expensive; I want it; money goes to charity. We’ll see: ) 23. “Naturally, we wish to avoid pain and difficulty, but life experience and a measure of reflection show us that most of what comes our way is beyond or control.” Okay. Good. That’s comforting. 24. “Serenity develops, not by eliminating life's difficulties, but by having a reliable relationship with our Higher Power in the midst of it all.” May I DO the prayer and meditation. Daily! 25. “With God as my guide, I will use whatever comes my way as an opportunity for growth.” Good. Okay, good. 26. “Most of us have had to live through the dark part of our lives, the time of failure, the nighttime of our lives, when we were full of struggle and care, worry and remorse, when we felt deeply the tragedy of life.” Yes! I have! And I am again now! 27. (caps mine): “BUT WITH OUR DAILY SURRENDER TO A HIGHER POWER, COME A PEACE AND JOY THAT MAKES ALL THINGS NEW. WE CAN NOW TAKE EACH DAY AS A JOYOUS SUNRISE-GIFT FROM GOD TO USE FOR HIM AND FOR OTHER PEOPLE. THE NIGHT OF THE PAST IS GONE, THIS DAY IS OURS.” 28. Oh yes yes yes yes yes: “I pray that I may take this day as a gift from God. I pray that I may thank God for this day and be glad in it.” 29. “I constantly have new insights and new ways of looking at my world.” 30. Wow. Today’s affirmations are incredible. They are the 5 that popped up on http://www.vitalaffirmations.com/pool/affirmation-cards.htm#.UMeRuRhgPoy 31. Coloring. I might just do some in a little while. 32. M. made my sub plans today. 33. I received a FIFTY DOLLAR gift certificate as a gift! 34. And – I am giving it to HER. She is not biologically related to me, but has been a real sister to me. 35. I’m grateful that I can breathe so easily. So much more easily than years ago! MUCH! 36. I’m grateful because I am ABLE to climb stairs and to walk up the incline at work, and to bend and flex and stretch and to do all the daily things. 37. I am grateful that I quit smoking years ago.23 years ago! 38. I am thankful for my home because it is indoors and shelter and it has a tv and a piano and phones 39. I appreciate that my heart works 40. I appreciate that I can hear 41. I appreciate that I can speak. I remember when I couldn’t. Physical reasons. 42. I am grateful that online, I just learned this concept. Example: Saying “I’m grateful that I finally lost 5 pounds” isn’t really a gratitude, it’s a gripe. The telltale sign? The word “finally.” Good point! And the hint – Watch whether your energy goes up or down after you write the gratitude and you’ll know which one you’ve got. // And that adding “so far” (when you haven’t reached your goal yet) - can convey a more positive sentient and acknowledges that you aren’t finished.” 43. I feel much more positive right now! Grateful for this positive feeling! 44. I am grateful for energy 45. And my Vitamix 46. And the ingredients I have that go so well in it! Green Vibrance, and Acai, and I think another powdery thing I forget, and almonds, and juice or almond milk, and water, and fruit fresh and frozen and ginger, a And so much of it organic! Wow. What wealth and luck and fortune and my own hard work. 47. And parsley… so many choices! And chia seeds. And flax seeds. 48. My genetics. They have given me health, potential longevity, good healing systems, an immune systems, nice breasts, good skin, pretty hair, expressive eyes, lovely feet, an ability to sing on key. 49. I am grateful for the beautiful flowers on my Christmas cactus! So many! And so bright! Want to learn to put pictures here! Will! 50. ***I didn’t realize I’d not finished gratitudes yesterday! Here we go. “Our behavior does influence what another person carries away from our mutual experience.” I like this because it helps give me strength to do the right thing. AND because it helps ME, as the child of a schizophrenic mother, to begin to realize that my actions DO have an impact. Good. 51. “We may have left unfavorable impressions during our using days. on occasion, we do yet. However, it's progress, not perfection, we're after.” I’m grateful for this. I don’t have to be perfect or feel that I’m not. I just have to progress, and I am. By working on it, by being aware of it, I am. 52. “And each day we begin anew, with a clear slate and fresh opportunities to spread good cheer, to treat others with love and respect, to face head-on and with full honesty all situations drawing our attention and participation.” And that means I have the opportunity TODAY! 53. Oh wow: “As I look forward to the hours ahead, I will remember that I control my actions toward others.” I shall remember! I shall! 54. “ 55. We abstain from compulsive overeating day-by-day and meal-by-meal. After breakfast, we do not worry about how we will feel at dinnertime.” 56. “After breakfast we know that we have had an abstinent meal and that we can forget about food until it is time for lunch. If we allow ourselves to start thinking about what we will have for the next meal, and the meal after that, we turn to our obsession.” 57. I am truly grateful that I can sit here with my computer on my lap (laptop) and see, and comprehend what I read, and type it here, and that you are reading it. 58. “The beauty of abstinence is that it permits us to get from one meal to the next without being constantly preoccupied with food. By abstaining from refined sugars and carbohydrates and our individual binge foods, we no longer have to fight the craving for more. By working the Twelve Steps, we fill our minds with nourishing thoughts, which drive out our former obsession with food.” 59. And this: “This meal, which I have planned, is the only one that concerns me now. I do not need to think about other meals or other foods. I will enjoy this meal, and then I will walk away from food into the rest of my life. Keep me abstinent, meal-by-meal.” 60. This!: “Listen: all that we want, all that we need, all the answers, all the help, all the good, all the love, all the healing, all the wisdom, all the fulfillment of desire is embodied in this simple request. We need say no more than Thank you.” And I just prayed for His will and the courage to carry it out. Yay. 61. Oh. Wow. I am so grateful for this: “"Patience is needed with everyone, but first of all with ourselves." Saint Francis De Sales 62. And this: “With patience, we allow ourselves to take chances we might not otherwise explore, and we widen our world of possibilities. Life has been patient with us so far, now it's our turn. What have I failed at that I can try again today?” 63. “…a strong love, a love that trusts in God, is sure eventually to conquer fear.” Wow. That’s a promise I like to hear! 64. Last night I participated in an auction online! First time! And I won! It is a cheap watch and it’s for a good cause. I’m excited! 65. I have made a gift list. I like this. 66. I am grateful that I feel better than yesterday! 67. And we have a nice, little trip today. 68. And that I can see. 69. I am grateful for the woman at the sangha, years ago, who told of her practice of 100 gratitudes a day, which she’d been doing for FIFTEEN YEARS(!) and which had changed her life. 70. I’m grateful that these are good kids, in my class. 71. I’m grateful for the fresh coffee I made this morning. What little luxuries in my life. 72. I am grateful for waterfalls. 73. And that I’ve seen Niagara Falls. On two different trips! 74. For the idea, “don’t hide your light under a bushel.” 75. Flowers. Growing outside. And every time I’ve received them as a gift. And every time I’ve bought them for myself. 76. Nourishing food. 77. That I have been to Barbados! 78. And Bermuda! 79. And Montreal! 80. And Los Angeles! 81. And London! 82. Tea 83. Clean laundry. 84. My days in Community Theater 85. Koko the Gorilla. 86. And how many people I’ve shared her with. 87. And that I have a limited edition of her painted, “Bird,” over my piano. 88. Prayer 89. Beaches 90. Artichokes 91. Cards 92. Inspirational Quotes 93. Affirmations 94. These particular gratitudes. They feel deeper somehow. And they feel like more than a hundred. ? . 95. Getting up early today 96. The chill in the air. Really 97. Heat in the house though, too : ) 98. A warm shower 99. Hairbrush 100. Not feeling bad like I used to, when I’m up in the morning while much of the world around me isn’t. That’s huge! It used to be a real problem!