I have a dear friend who begins every conversation with me by asking, “What’s on your gratitude list today?” From experience, I can tell you that when I go with it wholeheartedly and reflect upon my gratitude list, it is exponentially rewarding.
It seems that as soon as soon as I find the first thing that I am grateful for, the momentum builds and I find myself in a delightful state of happiness. Suddenly, the floodgates open and gratitude and appreciation flow… at least that’s my experience. It becomes like a game of appreciation tag… noticing random objects and happenstances in my world—the smallest details of the most inconsequential things and events. At this moment, I am grateful for my Van Gogh mug and the peppermint tea that’s inside of it. I am also grateful for the warmth it’s providing on this cold grey autumn day. And I’m grateful that I took the time to notice them just now… hey, it works any time of the day!
And then there’s gratitude for the larger things in life: gratitude for my health, for running water, for my friends, for the patience of my husband, for the caring nature of my father, for the humor and positivity of my best friend. I am grateful to feel safe in this moment.
Pondering the things on your gratitude list generates a shift. That shift is from smallness to grandeur—from automation to consciousness. That shift may be from the limitations of time/space to the wholeheartedness of Being. The human spirit is big enough to hold gratitude and to welcome appreciation.
Happy meditating.