PERCEPTION ENHANCED WITH AN ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE

© December 2008

  

Gratitude will make you sing, when you want to cry

Gratitude will make you live, when you want to die

Gratitude will give you hope, when you almost give up

Gratitude will help to fill the illusion of an empty cup

Gratitude will make you smile, when you want to frown

Gratitude will bring you up, whenever you’re down

Gratitude will lift your spirits when you’re feeling low

Gratitude will help to make you grow

Gratitude will open your eyes, when they are tightly shut

Gratitude will keep your sanity when you feel like a nut

Gratitude will give you understanding when you haven’t a clue

Gratitude will help you figure out what to do

Gratitude will bring you peace, when you feel stressed

Gratitude will confirm how very much you are blessed

  

GR8FL Always

 Ginny Gasparre

BEGIN EACH DAY WITH A GRATEFUL HEART and END EACH DAY WITH A THANK-YOU

Easy Ways To Practice Gratitude Throughout The Day

by Sylvia Huang       http://simplereminders.com/20150526230201.html

The benefits of practicing gratitude are innumerable. It helps release toxic emotions such as frustration, envy, regret and resentment while increasing sensitivity and empathy towards others. Being grateful also improves self-esteem and personal relationships by reducing social comparisons and supporting prosocial behavior. While it's common knowledge that cultivating gratitude is good for us, it's not common practice for many of us.

To fully harness the power of the gratitude practice, I've found a few easy ways to incorporate it into my busy days and I hope you'll find them handy too.

1. Give thanks first thing upon waking up
Every morning before jumping out of bed into the new day, I would pause for a few moments and give thanks for the following. I give thanks for the opportunity to live and experience another new day, for the people in my life whom I love and who love me, for the good night rest I just had, for the work I get to go to later, for the clothes that keep me warm and for the commute money I have so I don't have to walk to work.

2. Give thanks before every meal

As I sit before my meal, I'll always make a quick mental note to feel thankful for the food that fuels my body and ultimately aids in the realization of my dreams. I also give thanks to the meals for nourishing me and for giving me a breather to savor life in the midst of a crazy workday. If I happen to be with company, I'll often give thanks for the friendship, companionship and love I receive from the person I'm with.

3. Give thanks when moving or exercising

We often take for granted our good health and the freedom that comes with it. Whenever I'm walking, running or exercising, I'll take the occasion to give thanks for having the ability to move as I wish and to stay fit. Especially when I'm in the midst of a tough workout routine, I'll repeat in my heart, "I'm so grateful for my hands, my legs and my good health". This mantra never fails to keep me going till the end of the session.

4. Give thanks during shower or when getting ready for bed

At the end of each day, I like to wrap up the day by doing the following gratitude practice in my shower or when getting ready for bed. I'll start by giving thanks for the day that has been completed, followed by focusing on the parts of the day that went well. I'll then give thanks for having a home to return to, hot shower to keep me feeling fresh and clean and a warm bed to sleep in later.

5. Each time something wonderful happens or when a problem is solved

Whenever something good happens or when I overcome a challenge or avert a crisis, I'll take a moment to express my appreciation to the universe. It's important to acknowledge the victory and the hard work that went into it and to soak in the relief before getting back into the humdrum of our daily lives. More often than not, it isn't that good things don't happen to us, it's just that we don't pay enough attention to them.

How often do you practice gratitude in your everyday life?

Which of the above ideas would you use?

---

Sylvia Huang, Author, Entrepreneur, Investment Management Professional, Yogi and Avid Traveler

Discovering Gratitude in a Challenge - My Story

Life was good.  I was married to my best friend, we enjoyed our family, we were doing good financially, and we were healthy.......... or so we thought.

Unlike many people approaching retirement age, the LAST thing on my mind was retirement.  I was 63 years old, with a career I enjoyed; employed for 12 years with a successful company, where I was appreciated and compensated with a good salary and benefits.  Coworkers and management were like family.  The only thing I would have preferred to be different was my commute of 60 miles roundtrip daily.  But, nothing is perfect, and even that commute wasn’t terribly awful.  Although I moaned and groaned at times, the drive was worth the effort to be working at a job I loved.

With my vital signs and blood test results good, my doctors didn’t find any reason to be concerned, even in spite of some stomach issues and arthritis pain.  BUT, that all changed in January 2011, when my leg pain became severely unbearable.  My husband took me to Urgent Care, where it was discovered my left leg was loaded with blood clots.  That diagnosis was scary to hear!  I was put on temporary disability leave from work.

Approximately one month later, my husband was diagnosed with prostate cancer.  We both began seeing specialists, and continued to be tested, monitored and treated for our medical issues.  During the following several months, it seemed all we ever did was go to see doctors.  We laughed about those being our dates, trying to find humor in our medical issues.

It was a long road, but ultimately, my husband’s cancer was cured, as well as side effects from the procedure disappeared.  However, I continued to experience chronic pain; and continued to see specialists and be tested to try to determine what was causing my pain.  During the following months, I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, Osteoarthritis, Nerve damage and Lymphedema, in addition to the DVT.  It was then I was placed on permanent disability and forced to retire from my career early.

At times I felt lost and sometimes useless, and without a purpose any longer.  I had worked for 46 years.  This was a challenging time.  Not only could I not work, but I could not do many things I had previously enjoyed, such as dancing and gardening (to name only two).  Often, I could barely walk.  On the most painful days, it was difficult to avoid depression.  

Throughout it all, I repeatedly searched for gratitude, sometimes wondering if I was delusional.  Did gratitude really exist in this difficult time?  

As I was able to peel off the layers of the challenges, finally I was able to discover the gratitude within, by being mindful and aware. 

Then, suddenly, there was that AHA Moment! 

The message I was receiving was to slow down, and stop the crazy busy stress-filled lifestyle; and enjoy the precious little moments in life.  I became aware of the small, but valuable, things I’d been missing.  

The lessonI learned was to be able to just sit in tranquility, take time to be mindful of the treasures and beauty surrounding us, and to appreciate all of it.  

Although I am unable to work, dance, play in the dirt in my garden, go to the gym, etc., I've learned that there are still many things I am able to do.  I am still alive and do whatever I am able, whenever I am able; even if it means I may need to take a day or so for "time-out" afterwards to gain my strength back.  

I've also learned to be grateful for my down time, when it's needed.  Rest is peaceful and relaxing.  

I am not ready to give up; not yet!  

There is still much life left in this old body, and I intend to live every moment to the fullest!

There truly is gratitude in everything, including in the challenges of life.   

If I had not been blessed with chronic pain and medical issues, I would still be working, instead of being retired; and there are so many treasures and pleasures I'd be missing right now.

With Love and Gratitude,

Ginny   ♥ 

Something my dad used to say a lot:

Her Name Was Marlena

She was my best friend for many years, right by my side at all times.  I guess you could say she was my shadow.  Everywhere I went, there she was.  But, I didn’t mind.  She was the perfect companion for me.  Whatever I liked, she liked too.  She treasured and protected any secret I told her in confidence.  She maintained my sense of humor.  She gave me a sense of safety.    

I’m not sure exactly when it happened, but suddenly one day I noticed, she had disappeared.  She would sneak a peek in everyone once in a while, just to remind me she had not really left.  But, sadly, as the years passed, her visits became fewer and farther between, until she no longer appeared.

With the passing years, tarnish developed in my imagination.  My life got busy, crowding out thoughts of Marlena.  Forgotten memory was only temporary, as everything is.  Then as swiftly as she vanished, unexpectedly her image surfaced once again.  She looked precisely as she had so many years ago.  Immediately I recognized her.  She was a welcome sight, a vision of warmth and friendship; a sense of comfort. 

It was apparent our paths had crossed long ago for a reason.  That purpose was clarified when we were reunited.  And, just as is true of any authentic friendship, even after so many years, we easily picked up, where we left off, as if no time had passed.

The difference is that now she is with me for only brief periods of time.  Now, so many years later since my childhood, my desires have changed, leaving less room in my life for Marlena.  However this whimsical fantasy returns to me, whenever a need exists. 

Created within the depths of my heart, soul and imagination, Marlena has become my sanity.  I am truly grateful for this gift.

If everyone had an illusion, just like Marlena, this world would be a more peaceful and happier place.

Gratitude for the K.I.S.S.

Gratitude for the K.I.S.S.

I think it was about forty years ago, when I first heard this acronym.  It was at a seminar conducted by Terry Cole-Whittaker.  

The KISS Principle was a design principle articulated by Kelly Johnson.

 

Variants from Wikipedia:   The principle most likely finds its origins in similar concepts, such as Occam's razor, and Albert Einstein's maxim that "everything should be made as simple as possible, but no simpler".  Leonardo da Vinci's "Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication", or Antoine de Saint Exupéry's "It seems that perfection is reached not when there is nothing left to add, but when there is nothing left to take away".

 

K = Keep

I = It

S = Simple

S = Stupid

A good reminder, which I often forget.  I am inclined to complicate things, without intending to do so.  Being detail-minded is a good quality, but I tend to push it a bit too far sometimes.  When writing, I’m often verbose.  In my poetry, I digress, going off on a tangent, compounding the words, resembling an almost novel-length piece of work, instead of a creative sonnet. Sometimes I don’t talk, but rather ramble, on and on and on and on.  I sense the annoyance of that, when my family breathes sighs of boredom.

My boss would remind me to keep it simple, when writing emails.  But, I’d think it was necessary to include all those extra details in order to get the point across to the reader.  Maybe that’s true sometimes, but not usually; and definitely not to the extent I carried it.

I’m writing about this now, as a reminder for me to focus on transforming my complexity into simplicity; and my accumulation into minimalism.

But, how does one undertake this task, after sixty-four years filled with the obstacles of complication and obscurity?  I honestly do not know.  But, what I do know is that it’s never too late for learning a new concept.

Even now, as I write, this would be a good place to end, maintaining brevity.  But, my inner voice tells me to keep my fingers moving on the keyboard, as random thoughts swirl around in my head.

 

For now, I’m telling my inner voice to be silent, while I attempt to KEEP IT SIMPLE.

Lesson one, in this challenge to consolidate my words into simplicity, is to conclude this chapter immediately, without another thought.

THE END ………………………….  for now anyway

Biting my tongue, sitting on my hands, closing my eyes, holding my breath…..

GRATEFUL for the courage to challenge and defy my inner voice

GRATITUDE for the K.I.S.S.

GRATITUDE for Valentine's Day - Past & Present

Reflecting back with fond memories - fourteen years ago (1998), on a very wet, stormy day, we went to a wedding. He asked me to pack an overnight bag, but wouldn’t tell me where we were going. It was a surprise. After the wedding he swept me away to places unknown. The rain was coming down very hard, but he kept driving. Finally we arrived at our destination – The Embassy Suites in Arcadia, CA. He had reserved a special room with the Valentine’s Day Love Package, complete with champagne and chocolate, among other things. On our way to brunch the next morning at the hotel, we watched in the courtyard garden area, as two people (strangers to us) spoke their wedding vows, pledging their love to each other. We had not yet talked about marriage, but I dreamed that one day we would be that couple in that same gazebo in the garden, promising to love, honor and cherish each other forever.

For more than a year, each month, he gave me beautiful fresh roses – each month adding one more than the month before; with the exception of August, when he had thirty amazing roses delivered to me. This represented the thirty years since we had first met in August 1968.


Thirteen years ago (1999), barely awake, still in our jammies, hair not combed, teeth not brushed, we sat in my backyard drinking coffee. He excused himself and went into the house. Shortly he returned with a bouquet of twenty-four red roses, but these were artificial – silk ------ “fake” flowers????? This was so unlike him, or so I thought. But, it was exactly just like him – the wonderfully loving romantic man in my life. As he held the flowers, he explained that unlike real roses, these would last forever, just like his love for me. Then he got down on one knee and proposed.


There was no engagement ring, but it didn’t matter to me. We were in love and we were going to get married to share the rest of our lives together. That’s what was important. When we finally got around to discussing a wedding date, this fifty-four year old man suggested waiting a few years. Wait? A few years? For what? We had known each other for over thirty years! We’d been involved for over a year. We had no doubts about our love for each other. There was no reason to wait. But, we did wait one year, because we wanted to get married close to the date of my parents’ wedding anniversary, February 15th. With my lucky number being 19, it was perfect – the following year (2000) February 19th fell on a Saturday. But, we’ll get to that day in a little while. There’s more to the engagement chapter.


A couple months after his proposal on Valentine’s Day in 1999, we were out dancing.  While moving slowly on the dance floor, wrapped in each other's embrace, he said “Put your hand in my pocket.” I was shocked! What???? He said it again. I said “I am not putting my hand in your pocket out here in public on the dance floor!” As I tried to escape, he took my hand and put it in his pocket, where my engagement ring was hiding. He put it on my finger and proposed again. The ring is not only beautiful, but lovingly thought out. There are two gold angels, one on each side of the stone. He told me these angels are there to protect me always.


Fast-forward to February 19th, 2000, our wedding day. In front of family and close friends, we said our vows, in that gazebo in the garden at The Embassy Suites in Arcadia – the very same place we had watched others get married two years before.


Remember those silk red roses from 1999? Yes, they do last forever! We’ve kept them displayed in our home, ever since he gave them to me.


Fast-forward to today, February 14th, 2012, Valentine’s Day. This morning, he walked over to me, while carrying those same silk roses. He proposed again, very much like he did thirteen years ago; with the exception of getting down on one knee. We laughed when he said his body doesn’t allow him to bend that way anymore. This is something we both understand all too well.


In five days we will celebrate twelve years of marriage together, as soulmates, best friends, and lovers. Life is not perfect. We have our challenges at times. But, we are perfect for each other, and still very much in love.

For this, gratitude fills my heart.

P.S. Last night I came across a love letter that Mike had written to me on Valentine’s Day 2010. I didn’t re-read it, until after I had finished writing this. Some of what he wrote is almost exactly what I’ve just written. Just another example of our amazing bond, and proof that we were meant to be together.

Always and Forever ♥

♥

NUMBER TWELVE

It seems natural to write this on January 12th, 2012, exactly one year after being diagnosed with the life-threatening medical condition of Deep Vein Thrombosis.


As the year 2011 was coming near the end, I was dreading the thought of an entire year known as 2012.


For the past five years, the number twelve has had an adverse effect on me. When that number would surface in my life, in any way, shape or form, I’d cringe, as if a huge dark cloud consumed me. It had become so overwhelming, that I’d avoid that number whenever possible. For example, when playing “Scrabble” or “Words With Friends”, if my score was to end up being twelve, I’d find another word to play, even if it meant a lower count. Never ever would I choose the number twelve, when picking lottery numbers to play. Please don't give me a hotel room with the number 12, and don't offer to seat me at table 12 in a restaurant!  I was allowing the number twelve to control my actions. The twelfth of any month caused uneasiness within me.


You see, on December 12th, 2006, my precious step-daughter was killed in a car accident, at the very young age of only 31. Then on December 12th, 2009, my amazing, loving father passed away.


Although not nearly as devastating as the loss of two very special people, as mentioned above, it was the 12th of January 2011, after an entire day in Urgent Care, when I was given the frightening news of the DVT diagnosis.


In my twisted, grieving mind, the number twelve was causing depression, sadness, and at times, even misery and a feeling of hopelessness. So, it seemed understandable (to me anyway), that the year 2012 was going to be a very long twelve (there’s that number again!) months to survive. I’m not one to “worry”, but yet, I wondered how I would manage.


As the new year of 2012 arrived, I was blessed miraculously with one of those glorious "A-HA” moments! Suddenly the terror of the number twelve transformed into a “Gratitude Moment”! I knew that 2012 would be a wonderful year, filled with magical memories.

All it took was a simple change in perspective - -
an attitude adjustment!

You see, NOW, when the number twelve surfaces for me, a new perspective has transformed my thoughts of loss (of very special loved ones), into precious memories of those loved ones --- wonderful memories dance in my mind and sing in my heart and soul.

NOW, the number twelve sends me reminders of how wonderful these two individuals were, the influence they had on my life, and how my life was better because they had been a part of it.

For this, and for perspective and attitude, I am GRATEFUL.

In gratitude & love, always ♥ 

.