Joyful Discoveries

 Oh, I want to thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you…. Natalie Merchant

If I were to have friends over for dinner, but failed to plan, shop, or prep, my guests would leave hungry. They may also be any combination of mad, surprised, resentful, and hurt, and instead of making a meal, I would be making amends. If, however, a spontaneous get-together occurred, we would raid fridge and pantry, and together come up with something unexpected and fun. There would be no expectations to meet; instead we would feel gratitude for what we had.

My morning meditation and writing is my meal prep. It fills my emotional and intellectual pantries with the food ready for spontaneous sharing. It allows me to acknowledge the many things for which I feel gratitude: the thriving plant on my whimsical side table, the morning breeze, the safety of my home, the encouragement of friends, the wherewithal to be of service to others, that sweet mandarin, the hummingbirds at my patio feeder, homemade soup. There is no end to the gratitude I feel!

When I get up in the morning, I say thank you to the One who makes gratitude possible. When I am able to maintain that ‘attitude of gratitude’, I am open to all the goodness, all the lessons, all the surprises of everyday life, and I can then share my joy.

Thank you! Gracias! Merci beaucoup! Danke schön! Arigato! Spasibo! Mahalo!

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