Gratitude as a way of life, gratitude as a spirituality, requires the same as all other spiritualities – sacrifice, discipline. Focus is one requirement. You focus on the positive. You throw your lot in with the positive. You appreciate the gift of life, though you may not understand it. There are all kinds of cycles going on in the eternal – seasons, the earth revolving around the sun, tides, galaxies forming and dissolving. The life and death cycle of trees, birds, dogs, our friends, ourselves. This gift of life we’re given offers a brief glimpse into that beauty and mystery. A philosophy of gratitude, a spirituality of gratitude, allows us to best appreciate that gift. 

Living with gratitude means focusing on the beauty of this meal, of the friendship of the person sitting right in front of you. It means being thankful for what you have rather than what you want. The more uncertain your next meal, or your meals next week, the more you are inclined to be grateful for the one in front of you, especially if lovingly prepared.

Good thoughts and actions can never produce bad results, bad thoughts and actions can never produce good results. This is but saying that nothing can come from corn but corn, nothing from nettles but nettles. We understand that law in the natural world, and work with it; but few understand it in the mental and moral world –- although its operation there is just as simple and undeviating -– and they, therefore, do not cooperate with it.
      - James Allen, As You Think

 

When I started counting my blessings, my whole life turned around.
     - Willie Nelson

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Below, a two page spread from the upcoming Heron Dance journal, Nurturing The Song Within.

Pre-order the Collector’s Edition printed by a high-end art book printer here.
These are available just on pre-order. There are now a couple of payment options including four equal monthly installments.
After publication, these journals will be printed by a print-on-demand printer at the same price.

You can download a PDF of the two-page spread below by clicking on the image.