Category Archives: Gratitude

Something Good

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1. We saved the Lyric! I absolutely love the design for the t-shirts they made for those who contributed. “Let There Be Light”? Perfect.

We humans are social beings. We come into the world as the result of others’ actions. We survive here in dependence on others. Whether we like it or not, there is hardly a moment of our lives in which we do not benefit from others’ activities. For this reason it is hardly surprising that most of our happiness arises in the context of our relationships with others. Nor is it so remarkable that our greatest joy should come when we are motivated by concern for others. But that is not all. We find that not only do altruistic actions bring about happiness, but they also lessen our experience of suffering. Here I am not suggesting that the individual whose actions are motivated by the wish to bring others happiness necessarily meets with less misfortune than the one who does not. Sickness, old age, mishaps of one sort or another are the same for us all. But the sufferings which undermine our internal peace—anxiety, doubt, disappointment—these are definitely less. ~Dalai Lama

To celebrate, I am going to see a movie there this Thursday with some friends. From the trailer and a few reviews I’ve heard from people I trust, it is going to break my heart.

2. Oh, Mr. Brilliant by Patti Digh. I think I mentioned last week that I was super sad that Patti had just found out her husband had cancer. This post tells a little bit more of their story, ending with a way you can help them. This is further proof of how strange life is, beautiful and brutal.

3. A Weekend of Pies on Soule Mama. You don’t even have to read this post, just look at the pictures and be prepared to drool, (and yes, this list just moved directly from a post about cancer to one about pie, life is like that).

4. Aimee Mann is coming to Colorado! Okay, so maybe Eric is the only reader that really cares about that. We love her, (I have ever since her Til Tuesday days), see her every time she comes to Colorado, so I was really excited when she announced tour dates this morning and I was able to get tickets. Her new album is releasing September 18th, but you can preorder it now.

5. How to Turn Every Email Into a Mini Meditation from Jonathan Fields. I really like this idea, might try it.

6. Fear + Happiness, or Eight Ways to Let Go of Fear from Katie Swanberg. This is a goooood list.

7. And in related news, Go Small, Be Happy from Tammy Strobel.

8. A reminder to let go, from Lao Tzu:

By letting go it all gets done.
The world is won by those who let go.
But when you try and try,
the world is beyond winning.

9. From Austin Kleon, Show Your Work! Episode 1: Vampires.

10. 12 Amazingly Achievable Things To Do Today from Marc and Angel Hack Life.

12. From the utterly brilliant Justine Musk, are you a cup of tea…or a shot of tequila? in which she says:

You want to be a focused, highly skilled, freak version of yourself.

You want to dig down deep to find that unique part, that weird and maybe slightly psychotic part, that beautiful raw fucked-up part, that you spent a lifetime learning to hide in the first place.

13. Piecing Together Connie’s Sky from Judy Clement Wall on her blog A Human Thing. Yes, I am slightly biased here: Judy talks about a post I wrote, and I adore her…but that doesn’t change the fact that this is real and true and important.

14. And to close, a picture of Blue, a most adorable puppy that’s up for adoption at Animal House. That face! *sigh* And I am a sucker for a dog named Blue.

Wishcasting Wednesday

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What do you wish to share?

My light. I am learning bit by bit how important it is to be my true self, to offer that, to show up with an open heart. Chogyam Trungpa said that “Compassion is not having any hesitation to reflect your light on things.” I was reminded of this while at the store this morning. There was the sweetest man in line behind me, saying hello to everyone, helping arrange things on the counter, asking me about the things I was buying (“someone does a lot of writing, yeah?”–colored pens, I was buying birthday presents for my nieces), making things lighter for all of us with his kindness, so simple and yet so important, and not fake, not forced or pushy–you could tell he couldn’t help being nice, it was just his nature. Being genuine, trusting our kindness and our heart, following our basic wisdom and doing what is right and natural is what allows us to offer the precious gift we are to the world.

Do you cringe when I suggest that we are precious gifts, dear reader? I know, I do a bit too, think “who am I to say that about myself?” but I more often than not believe it, am trying. I believe it about you 100%.

We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory…that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others. ~Marianne Williamson.

My joy. Just like the man at the store, I know that the more often I can share my sense of wonder, my happiness, my curiosity and amazement, the better. Joy seems to be contagious.

My gratitude. The same as joy, sharing this sends out waves of kindness. Every time I write an open love letter or say thank you, hearts soften and suffering eases. Telling someone thank you reminds them of their worth, and we all need that from time to time. From that sense of worth, they do better, they say thank you, sharing their gratitude, and the good continues to ripple out and grow.

My wealth. I don’t mean just money. I mean the abundance that is my life. The time I give, the help I offer, the happiness I spread. Whatever I can generate or have that is of use, especially the places where I have excess, so much more than I need, I want to share. I wish to be able to feel full enough, safe enough that I can easily let go and share.

My practices. Writing/reading, walking/hiking, dog, yoga, meditation, art, and love have all been of such benefit to me, and I want to share these practices with others who might find them similarly helpful.

My love. There is always enough to share, and I’m happy to give it all away.

My story. I just know in my gut that there are others out there, struggling like I have, who need a kind word, a gentle conversation, a deep sigh and a good laugh, who need some relief and some support, who could be helped by what I have learned, and it’s my deepest wish to share that with them, to help, to ease their suffering as much as I can.