 In the Beginning... Years ago, as a young teen, I began reading something so out of the ordinary for teenagers. I read Dr. Wayne Dyer’s The Erroneous Zones. Actually, I have come to realize this is not typical reading for adults either. It is more popular today than it was, well..., 40 years ago. That began an amazing journey of awakening. The principles of awakening and consciousness are, as far as I’m concerned, simple yet hard to explain to others and even harder to practice when the concept is so foreign to you. There have been a host of spiritual teachers who have shown up, at just the right time, to teach me the lesson I needed at that time. There is no way I could write about my awakening without mentioning and crediting Eckhart Tolle. I, honestly, would have to write a book to attempt to describe the effect Eckhart has had on my life. But for those who get it (and those who don’t), one word sums it up. Everything! Thank you Eckhart Tolle! Fast Forward to Today... Today, I absorb, perceive and participate in life in such a special way. I am an integral part of life in expression. Frankly, this is not even a snippet of what it means to be awakened but this teaching really does require a course of sort. There is something more, however, that goes hand in hand with being awakened. And this is concept is no stranger to you. Everyone says, “Thank you” under various circumstances. We all express gratitude in life. We generally all say, “Thank you,” when we receive something or something goes our way or someone says something to our liking. But there is a deeper “gratitude practice” that changes lives in dramatic ways. Finding things to be grateful for helps us to always be reminded that there are, indeed, things to always be grateful for. No matter what is going on in our lives, there is something or someone that to be so thankful for. The gratitude should pull at our emotions so much that we cannot help feeling and expressing the gratitude for whatever evokes this emotion from us. Now, some people have a hard time finding things to be grateful for but the funny thing is when we make an effort to be grateful for all that we have, being grateful always comes naturally. As Thanksgiving approaches, many gather with family and friends and even reach out to the less fortunate to make their day a little brighter. These celebrations and practices often reflect the gratitude we have for our own lives. This is great. It really is. But there is still so much more to the life of gratitude we could all experience – year-round. Why not!? Our reasons for being so thankful that we hold feasts and feed strangers exist every day of the year. We have loved ones, health, our faculties and shelter, to list a few. Some might feel they are less fortunate in some areas than others but we all so much more than we typically or frequently acknowledge and celebrate with actions or words. We have breath. We have the promise of hope. Tomorrow... Waking up and immediately expressing gratitude for as many things as time will allow, before moving into your day, will pave the way for a more fulfilling day. The expressions of gratitude act as seeds for more things to be grateful for. The more we celebrate what we have, the more we are given to celebrate. Even when we encounter sadness, heartbreak and loss, something for which to be thankful is still either embedded in or born out the experience. Practice being thankful in all things and the magic will happen. This whole thought and life of being thankful in all things are nothing new. They are biblical. They are also the essence of The Magic by Rhonda Byrne. I am a fan of Rhonda Byrne projects. I own The Secretbook and DVD and The Power. Now, I am reading The Magicand following its 28 days of gratitude practice. As familiar as I am with Byrne’s work, I am still amazed and moved by the impact this book is having on me. And I am only three days into the 28 days! I cannot imagine what I will feel and how my life will change by day 28 or beyond but I am excited about the journey. I would encourage you to practice writing out things for which you are grateful. They do not necessarily have to be material things but can be. Whether you are grateful for certain people, your vehicle that gets you from here to there, a state of health or other physical, mental or emotional condition, give thanks. Practice finding several reasons for being thankful and do this each day. Truly feel grateful as you write the reasons for your gratitude because it is the power of feeling that connects to your soul and incites further action in you and your life. In time, you will see your disposition heightened and what brings you joy will increase. Your life will change. The Gift... One of the greatest gifts from expressing gratitude regularly, each day, for all we have is what it gives us in return. I find giving continual thanks is freeing and empowering. Freeing because recognizing, acknowledging and celebrating that which is good act as a Light that extinguishes that which is dark and binding. Empowering because no longer being bound, we are strengthened to pursue and act upon that which is good, better and best. Whatever makes us thankful is, itself, a gift and the thanks we give for it begets more things to make us thankful. The gift is a gift that keeps on giving unto us. I could never list all those for whom or all that for which my heart and soul sings with gratitude day and night. I must not close this message without expressing my deep gratitude for my mother and my brother, family and loved ones who have come and gone in body but left spirit behind, and a few very special friends who are like family. By the way, I am Carol and, while I have not met you, I am grateful for you too. Thank You. Thank You. Thank You. 
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Photos used under Creative Commons from DFID - UK Department for International Development, COD Newsroom, verchmarco, aaron_anderer, kimmy aoyama, Seattle Municipal Archives, colinpoe, Javcon117*, Rod Raglin, Phil Roeder
