Daily Gratitude: “The best things in life aren’t things?”

I know I don’t have to write much about this! Wow.

So simple. So succinct. What more do we need to remember.

When we’re sitting at home watching an ad for this or that and about to hit the “order” button, ask yourself if you really need that thing. What will you do with it?

I’m not on an anti-buying campaign here or anything like that. I’m just asking myself what am I missing inside when I am buying something. Maybe the answer is nothing and whatever it is will just make my life easier (like a can opener for instance). Then I’m asking myself what in my life is better than the thing I’m about to buy? All I’m doing is getting myself to appreciate more about my life because there is so so much in that life that I want to appreciate.

Maybe the next question I’ll ask is “will this thing I’m about to buy help me appreciate more in my life?” Again just getting me to think more deeply.

This may not be for you but I want to delve more thoroughly into all the gifts I’ve been given – especially the hidden ones.

Daily Gratitude: “The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts.”

What are you thinking about? Do you even know?

“What? How can I control all that goes through my mind? There’s too much going on.”

It starts with awareness and recognizing what you’re thinking about. Maybe even not them down.

Are you thinking about mundane things? About your next oil change? About the neighbor who plays their TV too loud? About people and things you love? About the world?

Why not make a list of things that make you happy. When you find yourself thinking about something that’s getting your blood boiling, take out that list and pick one item to think about.

For instance, I would have my last little “puppy” (she lived longer than the others – to 14 years), on that list. There’s a lot of construction here in San Antonio and you’re stuck waiting in long lines almost as if in the old days you’d be waiting for the new iPhone. It can get frustrating. But all I have to do is pull up memories of her and I can be smiling with love in seconds. I can even feel it in my heart. And that’s such a better feeling than frustration or anger.

What’s on your happiness list?

Daily Gratitude: “Attention is the beginning of devotion.”

Can you identify with this? Think of a time when you were starting to fall in love with someone (or even something such as medicine for me). Didn’t it seem to take all of your attention? And I mean all of it. Day and night you couldn’t think of anything else. You just wanted to know all there was to know about that person or the thing. That would have been one test you definitely could have gotten a 100 on!

If the relationship continued, your attention remained on that person (it’s also called focus). And with that attention came devotion.

Look at musicians. They focus their entire attention on their instrument or voice or the music. Same with athletes.

Same with anything that sparks an interest in your soul. You’re captivated…and devoted.

Next time you see to be paying a lot of attention to something, ask yourself “am I becoming devoted?” And if so, great (well, great as long as it’s morally ok).

And don’t let anyone say things like “you’re obsessed” because you probably are obsessed but in a good way whereas they are most likely using it as a put down.

Don’t ever let anyone criticize you for being devoted. Just tell them to pay more attention and then they’ll be happier and can mind their own business.