Daily Gratitude: “In every walk with nature one recerves far more than he seeks,”

Have you ever felt like this? You go for a walk because there’s so much on your mind. You don’t plan on anything but just moving and hopefully working things out. Then, you see something pink up ahead. You go over to take a look and it turns out a beautiful flower. Amazingly as you look at this pink beauty, you see clover and you begin to look for a 4 leaf clover. Then there’s a pretty leaf. And oh look – there’s a funny looking tree.

By the time you get home, you’re smiling and your problems are not as bad as they seemed when you left the house. In fact, it’s possible that you’ve started thinking more clearly about it. If nothing else, you’ve released some stress and anxiety.

Nature has so many gifts for us if we just open our eyes and hearts to receive them.

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?