It's 9:00 and I'm going to write about the things I appreciate until 9:10. I'm told that if I can do this for 30 days, my life will change because I'll be altering my "set point" to a more optomistic point of view. I'm all for that. After all, at the beginning of this year I pledged to learn to live a happier life. So, time's a-wasting. Time for appreciating.
I'll start by appreciating this effort. I'm so glad that I'm on this path. Already it's made a difference. Each day feels fresher and I feel more alive. When I feel myself embarking on a dark path, I notice it and shift my thoughts. It really does change things.
The power to enjoy my life is in my hands, and I'm really learning that as I practice this way of being. It's great to understand that I'm not a victim to my moods, I'm the instigator. Once I realized that, I could make the changes in my patterns of thought that made me feel helpless and powerless to do anything about my unhappiness.
So that's great, and what I'm learning is how simple a satisfying life can be. Sure, happiness can come by achieving a long sought after goal, but the moments that make up each day are truly the life I'm living. How can I enrich each moment? I can appreciate all I have in it. The people I'm with, the place I'm at, the beauty that surrounds me, the love in my heart; I can notice all those things and feel at peace and at one with all that is.
I appreciate the people who provide me with the signposts that keep me on this path. My friend Marguarite said that she's decided that God is the muse of creativity, and harmony is the way that spirit is revealed. She's a singer, but in all things there is truth here. God is the creative spark in us all, and harmonizing with the moment is what helps that spark flame into being.
Aikido is called "The Way of Harmony", and now I understand what that means. Harmonizing with the moment means being in concert with what is, completely accepting what is and aknowledging my responsibility for what is.
Ekhart Tolle, a great teacher, talks about the power of the moment, and how being present to what is helps one feel at peace and alive. It's true. I've noticed that the more I notice everything involved with NOW, the less I worry about LATER. Later takes care of itself if I pay attention to now. I can plumb the depths of now and discover myself, what I enjoy, what is, and the seeds of what will be.
It's 9:10. I feel much better. How about you?
