The beginning

A new school year is beginning and I am finding myself pondering life. My oldest son just left for college which has tugged at my heart more than I could have imagined the day the doctor first placed him in my arms 18 years ago. We are in the middle of a move that has proved difficult in many ways. Sparing the details let's just say that this past year has been really tough on our family. Murphy's law has new meaning for me now. We've had countless situations and trials roll over us that seemed impossible to overcome...but yet...we did. Funny how life just seems to keep on happening even when you just want to go back to bed and pull the covers over your head. The sun always comes up on a new day. Never fails. And in my musings today I am realizing that even with all we have been through, I would not change a thing. Why? Because of lessons learned. There is a famous phrase that goes something like..."That which does not kill you makes you stronger." To my great surprise, I have discovered that it's true. Pain equals experience, and if you are open and accepting experience can bring both knowledge and joy. And of course perspective...which is the key to peace of mind I think.

So in all of this pondering I have made a discovery. Not new to the universe perhaps, but tender and new to me, and one that I want to explore further. I am coming to believe that gratitude is more important than I once understood. I feel it has great power to unlock the mysteries of happiness and faith and peace among other things. I really am coming to see that gratitude changes everything. It can heal deep wounds and soften hardened hearts. It is the driving force behind commitment and testimony. It is quite common for people begin a prayer with the phrase "I am thankful for this day." We say it so often that I fear we have lost a sense of the power behind that simple statement. Think about it though. Are we thankful for this day that we have to live right now? Or do we take it for granted and miss it's joy and blessings? How would that change if we were diagnosed with a terminal illness? Wouldn't everything shift in that very instant? Wouldn't each day take on new meaning? What would the world look like if everyone in it was deeply grateful in their hearts and souls for all of the wonders their lives had to offer and for the people around them? Would it be a better place? I believe it would. And what if it was just me who made that change? Might the world be a better place for ME and those I love, even if all else remained the same?

I have decided to write this blog because I want to explore the power of thankfulness to heal and to change lives. This is a big concept to completely integrate and one that takes time to embrace. It is so easy to complain, or feel put upon, or jealous, or angry. Why is it that negative emotions seem to come so freely? And positive ones often take more care and thought to cultivate? At least this is true for me. But I feel that if I can make gratitude my heart's "default mode"... to the point that it becomes a natural response and way of living... that my life will be richer and happier for it. It is certainly a goal worth striving for. I am writing this for myself, as a place to put thoughts and ideas on paper as I experiment with thankfulness. I am also writing it for my husband and children to encourage them to seek to have a grateful spirit in their lives as well. And if anyone else out there wants to join me on this journey I welcome that. Grateful people are happy people, and the world could use a lot more happiness couldn't it?

Now let's get started! Each post I plan to begin with a reminder to myself of "things that went right today". I find that too often we focus on things that go wrong and miss the good stuff. Then I will try to think of something profound to say. When I can't think of anything (who can be profound all the time right?) I will wing it...But hopefully I will learn something new in the process each and every day. A dear friend of mine has a quote on her facebook page by, Vivian Greene that reads, "Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain." I love that. So let's dance!