The Only Appropriate Response

On Nov 22 of 2017, I started my blogging adventure with a piece called "Grate / Full."

I copied it below the line if you're curious.

What I find curious is that this word keeps finding its way back to me.

Gratefulness

I keep a daily journal and begin each day with the date, my One Word, a series of affirmations, and then a statement of gratitude. For the past several months, my One Word has been "mercy." More specifically, "unconditional mercy for self and others." I guess this would be considered my One Statement.

So I have this word to begin each day, mercy. I keep it in my heart and in my mind as often as I can. But this other word keeps coming up. Gratefulness. I fell in love with this word last summer. That's when I heard David Steindl-Rast co-founded a Network for Grateful Living at gratefulness.org. This organization offers a ton of resources including several online courses. Last summer, I took the course titled, Awakening to Gratefulness. It is a beautiful reminder to look for opportunities to be grateful and practice gratefulness in daily life. In one lesson, he discusses how each day is a gift given. And for each gift,

"the only appropriate response is gratefulness."

This past week, I decided it was time for a new One Word. I have chosen the word "gratefulness." In Brother David's writing A Good Day, he begins by saying,

You think this is just another day in your life. It's not just another day; it's the one day that is given to you today. It's given to you. It's a gift. It's the only gift that you have right now, and the only appropriate response is gratefulness.

He then closes by saying,

And so I wish for you that you would open your heart to all these blessings and let them flow through you, that everyone whom you will meet on this day will be blessed by you; just by your eyes, by your smile, by your touch -- just by your presence. Let the gratefulness overflow into blessing all around you, and then it will really be a good day.

It does seem to be the only appropriate response.

And it also seems appropriate to make this my new One Word.

So today, I wish for us that we may continue to have unconditional mercy for ourselves and others.

And I wish for us that we may open our hearts to all these blessings that surround us.

I wish that we be grateful.

And I wish that we may have a good day.

---

Grate / Full

Today is a great day to step back, take a look, and just be.

Be filled with the present moment.

Be thankful.

Be grateful.

Be aware and appreciative of the good in your life.

Take a deep, slow breath, smile, and let it out.

And be.

Then do it again.

Take a deep, slow breath, smile, and let it out.

And be.

Take a moment to relax and clear your mind.

Fill yourself up with right now.

It's great to be full of right now.

Being aware of the good in your life is a satisfying, gratifying, and healthy practice.

It requires a little extra focus, but we can always find someone or something to appreciate.

Today, with every deep breath, slow down, smile, and be grateful.

Be intentional and give it a try.

Be thankful.

Be grateful.

Enjoy the day!