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At the Intersection of Gratitude and Discontent
Dear Girlfriends,
Over the past several
weeks I have shared with you stories, as told to me, by my girlfriends who sat
at important intersections in their life. Later in the summer, we will come
back to this series so you can benefit, as I have, from the experiences and
truths these gals have gleaned.
But to close out this
phase of the series, I would like you to pause at the intersection you're
sitting at right now. Regardless of our life stage, our socio-economic
condition, our political leanings, or our spiritual understanding, we all sit
at the intersection of Gratitude and Discontent - every morning and at the end
of every day and several times in between.
It is so easy for us
to turn onto Discontent when people hurt us, when business is hard, when our
expectations are not met, and when the brightness of tomorrow seems to never
materialize. It's easy to whine, complain, and demand more out of everything
from our relationships to our hotel stay (a source of my discontent last week -
don't get me started). But to turn onto Discontent is a choice. And it's a choice
that does us absolutely no good; a choice that is not just a "zero" in its effect
on our state of contentment, but a negative. Turning onto Discontent only robs
us of embracing those marvelous things we do
have, and usually in abundance.
So, regardless of
where you are today or what you're doing, I hope you will stop right now and start
a blessings checklist. For every frustration and disappointment, I hope you
will consider its counter - the blessing you have either already received or will receive in the future. And for
every gift that doesn't cost you a thing - those people in your life whom you
love and who love you, nature in her all her splendor, and your next heartbeat -
I hope you will consider those things too, as you drive down Gratitude Way.
I've learned from experience that the greater part of our happiness or misery
depends on our disposition and not on our circumstances. - Martha Washington
Grateful that I had a
bed to sleep in,
Ellen
Posted by Ellen on May 14, 2008 8:45 AM
| Category: Crossroads
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