30 Days:30

The miracle is not to walk on water. The miracle is to walk on the green earth, dwelling deeply in the present moment and feeling truly alive.
                        -Thich Nhat Hanh

  While I would not pass up the opportunity to walk on water seeing how it is a cool fantasy of mine, I like this sentiment by Thich Nhat Hanh.  It reminds us of the value of  being here now and appreciating the experience life is presenting to us at this very second.  To feel the grass beneath our toes, listen deeply while in a conversation, or luxuriate in a hot bath is to ground ourselves in what is going on around us at THIS VERY MOMENT.  And that can be quite a challenge when it seems as if there are a number of things hurling their way at us every minute as they compete for priority on the to do list.

   What can be greater on our to do lists than simply experiencing what is going on around us?  I know it sounds a little wacky, but really, think about it.  How would our days be different if we included being grateful for our lives at the very top of our to do list?

   I think it might have a very powerful impact on our daily living.  What if upon getting cut off  while driving in traffic, getting admonished by a boss, or having a disagreement with a loved one we were able to freeze the frame and take a long, deep unhurried breath?  In this breath would be a calmness, a peace, and a realization that while whatever is going on in causing us discomfort or annoyance, beyond it is our spiritual thankfulness for living the lives we lead.

   It can be easy to think, "Mmm...right."   When we are in those times that we are faced with a challenging situation, it can be very hard to stop reacting to what is going on.  We let the event determine our emotion and our spiritual state.  By freezing the frame,  taking a breath and actively choosing to respond to what is going on from our own centered space,   we let our own truth be our center rather than being in reaction to whatever is coming at us. 

   This is where gratitude comes in.  As we identify areas or moments of our lives for which we are grateful, we are anchoring ourselves in the present moment.  Expressing thankfulness for an element of our lives helps to diffuse any charge that is throwing us off balance.    I like to think of it like judo in which one defeats an opponent by allowing the opponent's momentum play out on itself.  For example, by staying calm in the face of a frustrating situation and allowing the energy to play its own momentum out without reacting against the energy, we are able to stay in our own center and let the destructive energy dissolve itself.  I think of gratitude as the grounding power which allows us in which to remain still thus deflecting the charged momentum. 

    The result is that we  feel calmer, more grounded, and better able to take the next step from a balanced place  rather than feeling a dizziness associated with the tilt a whirl at a carnival.  This anchoring is vital because we get a fuller picture of what is going on in our life and for where we are aiming to go.

  As we make our daily to do lists piled high with errands and chores, remember that adding a moment to pause and connect with our surroundings and enjoy a feeling of thankfulness for where we are or what we have in our lives can uplift our entire day by reminding us to live from our center no matter what comes our way.