Brazen Gratitude

Welcome to May, my dear! Beltane, a Celtic fire festival, overseen by Flora, the goddess of flowers, spring, and fertility, and the god Bel, deity of fire and the sun, is a celebration of livestock fertility and community rites to encourage growth and protect the land. A timely remembrance in these insensitive political times that we do not own the land, trees, rivers, oceans, and all things natural to Earth. We are but stewards with an obligation to care for it.

When I first stopped writing for a few months, at one point, I thought I might never again offer an essay up for review. Then, when I felt an almost sudden urge to post something, and I sent my musings to my assistant, I wasn't sure where it would lead. Now, lately, I'm almost inundated with ideas I want to share. I'm trying not to "edit" myself -- there are several topics I've put to the side, for now. Today, I simply asked my spirit guides, "What's next?" and the answer came, "Gratitude". 

Thank & Grow Rich by Pam Grout is one of my favorite books on this topic. In fact, I used her words to title this article.

"Brazen gratitude provides a portal, 

an entry point straight into the heart of the 

very field of infinite possibilities ...

It puts you on an energetic frequency,

a vibration that calls in miracles."

I had little to no concept of gratitude for many years. I was taught to look at the negative as I suspect my parents were also taught. I learned to look for and emphasize problems, shortcomings, injustices and I found plenty of them. Of course I did because, as I say in almost everything I write, where our attention goes, our energy flows. This is the heart of learning to co-create the life we desire. As long as I was sure something bad was going to happen, or that someone was out to get me or it was always "their" fault, I was a willing participant in making it come true. Whatever I focused on, even if I didn't really want it, especially if I didn't think I was welcoming it, I was still giving power to its manifestation. 

It took awhile ... I was probably nearly 50 before gratitude finally fully registered for me. It was knocking at my door for at least ten years before and I would get glimpses of it. I remember loving Patti Labelle's hit song "New Attitude" in my mid 30's:

I'm feeling good from my head to my shoes,

Know where I'm goin' and I know what to do,

I've tidied up my point of view

I got a new attitude.

I'm in control, my worries are few

"Cause I've got love like I never knew

Ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh, ooh

I got a new attitude.

Soon after this song came into my radar, I heard two words joined together that started making sense to me and realized I had unconsciously put them together on my own  -- Attitude of Gratitude. Twelve-step programs use this as a core principle and a necessary part of recovery. 

In 1997, Oprah started talking about her gratitude journal on The Oprah Winfrey Show. I can't say it any better than she does:

"Gratitude is its own energy field.

When you acknowledge and are grateful for 

whatever you have, it allows more 

to be drawn to you and changes the way

you experience life."

Her recommendation (and, mine too!) is to get a journal, notebook, pad of paper and to write down 3-5 things you're grateful for every night. I know some people recommend doing the same thing in the morning and bookending your days with this exercise. The more you look for things to be grateful for, the more you are filling your brain with positivity and edging out the negativity. What you are grateful for does not have to be exceptional or outrageous. In fact, it's my experience that the more we appreciate the mundane or things we might take for granted, the more magical the practice becomes. Going to bed at night and being grateful for your mattress, pillows, and linens can be a place to start. Looking back on the day and remembering something that was easy. In the morning, waking up and acknowledging the gift of a new day or the ability of having a glass of water or cup of coffee -- anything and everything. 

Maybe you already do this stuff. Maybe you've done it in the past, but have let it go recently. Maybe this is all new to you. Wherever you are, you can continue or start now. Give it a try and watch the good stuff come to you, giving you more and more to be grateful for!

If you want to share your gratitude, I'd love to take it in!

Sending Sparkles and Love Your Way!