Category Archives: gratitude

In the Gap

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Today I am living in the gap. Yesterday I resigned from my remote contract position at a financial technical services company effective after close of business. Today I took the day off to attend to personal tasks and appointments needing to be done on a weekday. Monday I start my new remote contract position in the academic world at a university in the Pacific Northwest. I am in the gap between jobs, between income streaming in, yet knowing come Monday, I’m back in the flow of financial prosperity. Source is surely with me—I’m not in fear about losing a day’s pay and I feel peaceful. I’m also excited about the change. Often, when I’ve been between contracts, it’s because a contract ended unexpectedly. Then my job is job hunting, a full-time endeavor, that is unpaid. In turn, that means I’m living off savings (which these days I’m grateful to have some), taking away money for other expenditures or future retirement (if that is ever feasible for me). I am grateful that for the past couple years I have been in control of my job role destiny, having started looking for new opportunities before the current one I was in ended … Continue reading →

Spirit’s Computer Lesson

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I am so filled with joy and gratitude for Spirit’s computer lesson I received today! No, I wasn’t enrolled in software training or the like. My personal laptop had an Internet communication connection problem and I got through it with flying colors! That’s why I’m in my joy and gratitude (although the fact that the problem was resolved is nice too). When I say I got through it with flying colors I am referring to the way I conducted myself throughout the three-plus hours of troubleshooting… how I showed up to myself, the automated ISP tech support helper, the human ISP tech support person, and the Geek Squad rep. Since my work laptop was connecting to the Internet just fine, I knew the issue was specific to my personal laptop, so my first step was not to check with the Internet Service Provider (ISP). I started by researching and following troubleshooting tips online; they didn’t solve the problem. Nevertheless, I appreciated the online knowledge share, especially since I know the time and effort that goes into creating such content. I remained calm and peaceful, moving onto the next step. I contacted the ISP so they could check the Wi-Fi router … Continue reading →

Prayer is…

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Over the centuries many folks have expressed their ideas about prayer. When I first got into recovery, easing away from atheism and moving towards coming to believe, I learned “prayer is talking to God, meditation is listening to God.” Here are some other thoughts about prayer gleaned from today’s “In God’s Care*: Daily Meditations on Spirituality in Recovery,” *As We Understand God. Prayer is… … an attitude, an awareness of God’s presence … a feeling that we are not alone—ever … a thankfulness, a silent appreciation of and communion with our source … stepping back and letting go I cannot separate any of the aforementioned—they are all part of my attitude as I step into the evening to relax, being aware of Spirit’s presence and hence assured I am not alone, feeling grateful for my Higher Power, and surrendering the evening and everything else to Spirit.

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Remembering My Higher Power

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“…our Higher Power never moves away. God is as close as our breath, awaiting our invitation to take charge. “It’s our ego that fights giving up control… We are frustrated again and again as we try to force what we think is the best solution; again and again, in the end, after we’ve given up the struggle, God smooths the path. “This program guarantees us a smooth trip every step of the way. All we have to do is give up control to God who is always waiting for us to turn our attention from our problems to God’s presence.” I will feel peace and joy throughout today because I’ll remember my Higher Power’s presence. – “In God’s Care*: Daily Meditations on Spirituality in Recovery,” May 11 *As We Understand God Ya know, I meditate each morning—and remember my Higher Power. I chant as I go through my Naam Yoga poses—and remember my Higher Power. I say an affirmative prayer over my breakfast meal, read spiritual literature and journal while I eat it, remembering my Higher Power. Yet as I move into the work day and the outer world, it seems so easy to forget my practices and the fact … Continue reading →

Love Is All There Is

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I’ve not been pleased with my attitude or behavior towards others of late, yet have not seemed to be able to get back to feeling and behaving as the loving person that I am. I’ve been imploring Spirit to help me. As a gift to myself and as a reminder of the love I am and give, tonight I listened to the What’s App recording of a spiritual mind treatment my dear friend Esther said for me, for us, last month. For some background, you can read a post about our first meeting, now known as our friend-a-versary. We each have individual nicknames, but we share the one of Dahlink, a throwback to the New York City vernacular we both grew up around. Here’s Esther’s heartfelt, affirmative prayer intended specifically for me and our friendship—what an honor she bestowed on me, what a delight! I hope your heart too is touched by the love embedded in her words, reminding you of the love that you are, that love is all there is. I know that love is all there is. And that love is the same thing as what we call God, that infinite, abundant blessing that is divinity within … Continue reading →

Gratitude is a Distiller of Emotions

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“Gratitude is a distiller of emotions. When you give thanks, you are purifying your emotional response to life by focusing on love and leaving fear, doubt, worry, shame and blame behind.” – Diane Harmony, “Science of Mind Magazine,” April 27, 2022 I’ve never heard it put this way, but I would agree: Gratitude is a distiller of emotions. When I am in a grateful state of mind, I find myself in the present moment, and hence am not focused on fear, doubt, or really anything else. It’s like time stands still and I am just right here. And even when I’m writing my evening gratitude list about things from the past events of the day, I am brought back to the present moment as I think about the person, situation, etc. that has made me feel grateful. Gratitude stirs my heart, opens it up further to Spirit and love. Years ago, as a devout atheist, “gratitude” was another word not in my vocabulary nor something I experienced. Today, I find much peace and solace in gratitude, another avenue to Spirit.

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Body, Mind, and Soul

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I’m back home tonight, Monday evening, from my trip to the Big City. It was brief but rich, and today has been busy and eclectic, exhausting my body, mind, and soul. After meditating in my hotel room, I managed to arrange the room so I had sufficient space to do my Naam Yoga stretches and poses as I chanted. After breakfast and some computer work, I packed and it was off to my naturopathic doctor (NMD) for a 90-minute session, a treat. On the drive over, stopped at a red light, a man was standing in the hot Phoenix sun and heat seeking money. NO ONE, should have to do that to survive. I opened my window and handed him a $5 bill, and said “God bless.” As I drove away, I was in tears, so touched by this person’s situation. I may not have stood in the hot sun seeking money, but I’ve been without a home, without sufficient funds. I didn’t care what he used the money for—alcohol, food, water, rent—just as long as he could know that there are people who care and want to help. No matter what has put him in that situation—mental illness, alcoholism, … Continue reading →

A Light to All

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“What we once enjoyed and deeply loved we can never lose, for all that we love deeply becomes a part of us.” —Helen Keller Today marks four years since my dear friend Samara passed over to the other side. I’ve really been thinking about her a lot in the last two weeks or so. She was very intuitive, a trait I strive to develop. She was about eight years’ older than me and quite a wise woman; hence, she was like an older sister to me. That was delightful especially since I’d never had a sister. We met in NYC and it was clearly a Spirit-orchestrated coming together, so meant to be—even if our meeting was delayed a bit. I was researching colonic hydrotherapy and seeking a colon therapist; Samara was the only professional to return my call. After being a devout atheist for many years, thanks to joining (and working) a 12 Step program, I was on a conscious spiritual path for about 18 months when we met. I was still so thirsty to talk about Spirit, learn about the various concepts of the Divine, know more about the Universe in a way I’d never wanted to before. While … Continue reading →

Happiness Comes From Giving

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“Beginning with childhood, we all receive messages that getting is the purpose of living: we must have romantic love, sexual fulfillment, possessions, and prestige to be happy. “God has a different message: Help one another. We learn from experience in our program that happiness comes from giving—whether it be time, talent, money, or other things. Experience tells us that giving what we have to help someone else makes us a lot happier than keeping it to ourselves.” – “In God’s Care*: Daily Meditations on Spirituality in Recovery,” April 14 *As We Understand God Growing up, my parents were caring, giving people, but not strong role models of volunteerism. I did some volunteering as I grew older, but still wasn’t all that much into being of service. That changed dramatically when I joined a 12 Step program. Service and giving of one’s time, talent, and money is a huge part of the Program; it is the final step after working through the other ones: “Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these Steps, we tried to carry this message to compulsive eaters, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.” Step 12 is the culmination of a spiritual … Continue reading →

Spirit, Thank You for This Day

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Dear Spirit—  Thank You for this day, thank You for how it unfolded—not according to MY plan, but certainly more adventurous!  As always, I am grateful for the morning sabbath, the time I am usually the most focused on Thee during the course of the day.  I am grateful I have a job, which allows me to be financially abundant, and in which I am able to work from home, my cocoon. And, I am grateful for the flexibility permitted in my schedule, when I need it.  I am grateful for the folks I interacted with at work, while running errands, and via emails, texts, and voice messages.  I am grateful for my healthy eating habits, my vibrant well-being, and my youthful spirit.  As I make my way towards dreamland, I pray to have a restful night’s sleep and dream sweet dreams, along with receiving messages from You that I remember when a new day dawns.  I am grateful that I came to believe, and that as I am a part of You, Spirit, Your Power and Your Presence are forever with me.  And so it is. When the title for this blog post came to me, I remembered Karen … Continue reading →