I'm Grateful... But...
by Marie T. Russell
 As I reflect on the tradition of Thanksgiving, I am reminded
that Thanksgiving needs to take place every day, and every single moment of eqach day. Maybe that's what mindful meditation is all about... remembering to be
grateful and appreciative for every single thing in every moment. Like what,
you say? We can start being grateful for every breath which gives us life. We
can give thanks for the magnificence of our body which transports us,
transforms the raw materials we eat into energy, etc. We can feel wonder at the
magic of the blessings of each day... food to eat, loving beings around us, the
possibility of creating the life that we dream of. Do you have a dream? Be
thankful for the imagination that helps you envision that reality, and be
grateful that your dream will come true in as much as you are willing to
believe in it.
'Yes, but', I hear. It seems, that even as we express gratitude,
that little babbler inside says, 'yes, but...' If I express gratitude for my
body, it says, 'yes, but' it is not as healthy or in shape as it 'should' be... If
I give thanks for the food I eat, it says, 'yes but' it is grown with chemicals..
When I say I'm grateful for the loving beings around me, my little babbler
says, 'yes but' they're not always loving… And so on and so forth.
Upon reflection, I see that the 'yes but' comes from the
ego. And even though we have given the ego a 'bum rap' it really is there for a
divine purpose — as with every thing and every one else we encounter in our
journey of life. The ego's 'yes but' reminds us that as Divine beings (or
children of a beneficent Universe or Loving Father, if you prefer) we can aspire to greater
heights than we now have attained. The 'yes but' reminds us that we need not
settle for what we have attracted so far, but that we can indeed look forward
to creating heaven on earth. So, when I express my gratitude and hear 'yes but',
I realize that it is not putting down or diminishing in any way my appreciation
at the bounty of the Universe. It is simply pointing me towards the next step.
We as humans never seem to be satisfied. Maybe that is the
inner prodding of Spirit guiding us to rediscover our perfection and to
recreate the Eden that was provided for us all. We might consider that we are
indeed blessed, and that we don't even know the best of it. We have unlimited
treasures at our beck and call, and to reach them we simply need to open the
door and walk through to the other side.
What is the other side? That is the side where we have
absolute faith and trust that whatever we desire (from a Higher perspective) is
provided for us. It is the knowledge that we are safe... that there is no need
to worry, no need to fear. We simply need to do our best, to live our life with
the best of intentions towards ourselves and all living things, and we will
be "re-reimbursed" in kind through the Law of Cause and Effect.
Take time to be grateful first thing in the morning... count
your blessings. And then repeat the process often during the day, and at least
once again before going to sleep. Give thanks for the love in your life, the
support, the blessings, even the small blessings. Thank the Universe, thank
Life, thank the Sun for its energy and light, thank the trees for their supply
of oxygen, thank your car for transporting you ('yes, but' the pollution), give
thanks that electric cars are becoming a reality. There is so much to be
grateful for. We simply need to change our focus from what we don't have, to
being grateful for what we do have, and the miracles of life will reveal
themselves to us.
So in this month of Thanksgiving, focus on what you have and
what you desire, not what you don't have and what you don't want. Remember,
what you focus on expands — so if you focus on crime, lack, cataclysm, you can
expect more of that to affect you directly.
I have found it much more
productive and peace-enhancing to focus on love, peace, healing, prosperity,
and all those good things... and I can see that my world is getting much more
loving, peaceful, abundant, and happy. And if the 'yes but' is saying that's
selfish and unrealistic, on the contrary. The more you focus on love and
healing, the more love and healing there will be, not only in your life, but in
the lives of the people you meet, and in the whole world.
We can create a better world... It starts with each one of
us. `Think positive" is more than a slogan, it is a way of life. So choose your
thoughts, your attitudes, your words carefully. They are the seeds for your
tomorrows, and for the tomorrows of the world around you. Have a "great
full"
month.
Love to you All! Thanks for being here!
Recommended book:
 The Last Lecture
by Randy Pausch.
In this book, Randy Pausch has combined the humor, inspiration and
intelligence that made his lecture such a phenomenon and given it an
indelible form. It is a book that will be shared for generations to
come.
 About The Author
Marie
T. Russell is the founder of InnerSelf Magazine (founded 1985). She also
produced and hosted a weekly South Florida radio broadcast, Inner Power, from
1992-1995 which focused on themes such as self-esteem, personal growth, and
well-being. Her articles focus on transformation and reconnecting with our own
inner source of joy and creativity.
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