I got a newsletter from one of my inspirational Teachers. His name is John Harricharan. I think it will be great to post this letter here, because it is giving us a great chance to see how to cherish what we have and be grateful for every little thing we got used to and take for granted...
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QUOTES TO REMEMBER
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"Thanksgiving is based on the premise that living a
life of appreciation and gratefulness leads to having
more to be thankful for. We have the ability to create
blessings in our lives through the power of our minds
and the choices we make."
-- Sir John Templeton
"Give thanks for unknown blessings already on their
way."
-- Native American Proverb
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ARTICLE: "A MATTER OF GIVING THANKS"
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A John Harricharan Article
In the United States, we will soon celebrate the
"Thanksgiving" holiday. Many other countries have their
own versions of "Thanksgiving." But thanksgiving is not
something that should be celebrated on one particular
day of the year. It is good that a day has been chosen
for this, but it is up to each and every one of us to
be "giving thanks" all year long.
Sometimes we look at our financial situation and
think that there is nothing to be thankful for. Other
times we glance at our relationship or health
challenges and think that giving thanks borders on the
absurd. Yet, if we look around us, we can see that we
are not alone in our trials, that many others are
having to face similar problems.
Being thankful for life itself is a way of making life
better. When we look away from our problems, even for a
short time, and generate joy in our hearts, we find
that the world seems to change a bit. I do not know why
this is so and I don't really need to know. All I know
is that the universe seems to respond quickly to a
grateful heart.
A grateful heart is, perhaps, a heart full of
"greatness." Maybe, the way it works is that when we
break focus with our problems and we take a break from
being miserable, the River of Life flows more gently
and more fully through our being.
Try it for yourself sometime. Stop what you're doing
for one or two minutes and quiet your mind. If you're
really frightened by appearances around you or if your
problems seem insurmountable, you may find that
stilling your mind becomes a very difficult task. But
with a little practice, a minute or two at a time, it
becomes easier to do.
During this minute or two, think of two or three things
or events you are or should be grateful for. Feel how
fortunate you are to have them. For example, I consider
myself extremely blessed to have had my two children,
Malika and Jonathan, grow up the way they have. True,
there were times when I considered running away from
home. And yes, there were moments of anxiety and
concern when I thought to myself that children were
created for the sole purpose of inflicting insanity on
their parents. But I imagine that many of us feel that
way every once in a while? (
OHHHH YEAH :))))LOL)
Yet, with all the ups and downs of being a parent, I
consider myself the most fortunate person on earth to
have Malika and Jonathan as my children. They have
taught me patience, unconditional love and much more
than I can ever list here. I have learned from them. I
could not be who I am without the experience of being
their father. And for this, I'm grateful. I give thanks.
How about unfortunate situations. Am I happy or
grateful that my wife died when she was only in her
thirties? Should I be thankful that I was left with two
young children to raise and an entire life to
reorganize? Of course not! But I am grateful that she
was my wife for the years we spent together. She was
only nineteen when we were married. I am grateful for
her love, for her kindness and compassion and for
making it possible for me to be what I am today.
We could all turn tragedy into triumph and disaster
into divine outcomes if we maintain a spirit of
gratitude and if we listen to our heart and soul. It is
in our quiet times, in our "thanksgiving" moments that
we can hear the universe sing to us. If we listen
carefully, we can hear it say, "You are my child and I
love you dearly. Look around you. All that I have is
yours. Everything is yours. It always has been. Please
unwrap your gifts."
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MORE QUOTES TO REMEMBER
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"When something does not insist on being noticed, when
we aren't grabbed by the collar or struck on the skull
by a presence or an event, we take for granted the very
things that most deserve our gratitude."
--Cynthia Ozick
"Gratitude, praise and thanksgiving activate the divine
laws of abundance. When the universe can see we are
conscious of and grateful for what we have, it is
activated to shower us with more."
--Iyanla Vanzant
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POEM: "DON'T QUIT"
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Author Unknown
When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road you're trudging seems all up hill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest, if you must -- but don't you quit
Life is queer with its twists and turns,
As everyone of us sometimes learns,
And many a failure turns about
When he might have won had he stuck it out;
Don't give up, though the pace seems slow --
You might succeed with another blow.
Often the goal is nearer than
It seems to a faint and faltering man,
Often the struggler has given up
When he might have captured the victor's cup.
And he learned too late, when the night slipped down,
How close he was to the golden crown.
Success is the failure turned inside out --
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt --
And you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems afar;
So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit --
It's when things seem worst that you mustn't quit.
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STILL ANOTHER QUOTE TO PONDER
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"If you woke up this morning with more health than
illness, you are more blessed than the million who will
not survive the week.
"If you have food in your refrigerator, clothes on your
back,a roof over your head and a place to sleep, you
are richer than 75% of this world.
"If you have money in the bank or in your wallet, you
are among the top 8% of the worlds wealthy.
"If you hold up your head with a smile on your face and
are truly thankful, you are blessed because the
majority can, but most do not."
-- Unknown
