Mindful Appreciation
Dear
Girlfriends,
The economy
stinks; our grocery and gas prices are up, and our stocks are down.
The world
is at war; children are starving; our ice caps are melting. Things have gotten
so bad I feel like I need an antidepressant just to turn on the world news.
But
allowing myself to be negatively influenced by what's wrong in the world is not
the message I want to communicate to Ava. When it comes to mindful
appreciation, I want Ava to see that the things that we should be most grateful
for, the things that bring us the most joy, have nothing to do with the
economy, our jobs, crime, or even the weather. I was reminded of this lesson last
year by two little sweethearts in California.
While I was
visiting with my girlfriend Stacie and her husband Lewis, we sat down for a
beautifully prepared dinner. The children sat patiently waiting for their dad,
to come to the table, to ask the discussion question of the evening. Tonight's
question was: "Girls, what are you most thankful for today?" Caroline, age 6,
and Samantha, age 4, both exclaimed that they were most thankful that Aunt E
had come to visit them. As they went on to ask the blessing for the food, they
extended mindful appreciation for the people, not the things, in their lives.
Out of the
mouth of babes I was reminded that we can't buy happiness - we can't even rent
it. So why do we allow the negativity of the world or work or life situations
to rob us of appreciation for the things that really do bring us personal joy?
Inspired by those two giggly cherubs, I started my personal joy list on the
plane ride home:
- Being with Steve
- Spending time with our kids
- Riding my bike
- Listening to music
- Sitting outside (when it's not
106 degrees)
- Crocheting a gift
- Laughing with my friends
- Writing a Truth Nugget
- Watching the sun set
- A delicious glass of ice tea
And the
list goes on. . .
Because there
is so much in our world that's not right, I believe we must be extra diligent
to observe all the things in our lives that are
right. And to acknowledge those things and people that bring us true joy.
Who and what we love
defines us. -
Alexandra Stoddard
So what
will mindful appreciation look like to Ava? A long list of blessings that Sugar
adds to every day. And what do you think my blessing number 199 is?
Holding Ava
while she sleeps,
Ellen,
a.k.a. Sugar
Posted by Ellen on August 19, 2008 1:37 PM
| Category: What Does It Look Like?
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