The Invisible Mentor

Posts Tagged ‘Gratitude’

When was the last time you reflected on what’s going right in your life? We have a tendency to give our energies to all the things that aren’t going so well. In life there are peaks and valleys, and in some years there are more valleys than peaks. But no matter what we are going through at any moment, if we take a minute, there is at least one thing that we can say thanks for. It could be as simple as a child’s smile, a pet doing something really silly.

I have a gratitude journal, and just before I go to to sleep, I write down five things that I am grateful for. I have changed so much over the past few years, and many of the things that I’m grateful for are things that most of us take for granted, like food to eat, a roof over our heads, friendships and so on.

I am also more intentional about being happy and having fun. Yesterday I went to church, after the service, we went up north to Bond Head for carol singing, and later I went to a Hanukkah party. I am not a great singer, I don’t know how to read music, and I’m not Jewish, but I didn’t let that stop me. I danced, I sang and “butchered” the Hallelujah Chorus (Handel’s Messiah) in the process, but I was happy. And, no one around me cared if I was a great singer or dancer.

Just before I went to sleep, I was grateful for the day and for the people with whom I interacted with. What are you grateful for? Your life doesn’t have to be perfect for you to enjoy it. If your life is on hold, let go, it’s not easy, but you can do it. Think about your life right now, what are five things you are grateful for? Consider having a gratitude journals so that when you are traveling the valleys in your life, you can reflect on the things you have been grateful for by reading your journal.

If you cannot view this YouTube video of Handel’s Messiah, click here.

How can you use this information? What do you have to add to the conversation? Let’s keep the conversation flowing, please let me know your thoughts in the comments section below. Many readers read this blog from other sites, so why don’t you pop over to The Invisible Mentor and subscribe (top on the right hand side) by email or RSS Feed.

As 2009 comes to a close I wanted a blog post that wasn’t too heavy, but quite meaningful. I came across an Aesop’s Fable that teaches gratitude. After you have read Androcles let me know what your thoughts are.

Androcles

A slave named Androcles once escaped from his master and fled
to the forest. As he was wandering about there he came upon a
Lion lying down moaning and groaning. At first he turned to flee,
but finding that the Lion did not pursue him, he turned back and
went up to him. As he came near, the Lion put out his paw, which
was all swollen and bleeding, and Androcles found that a huge
thorn had got into it, and was causing all the pain. He pulled
out the thorn and bound up the paw of the Lion, who was soon able
to rise and lick the hand of Androcles like a dog. Then the Lion
took Androcles to his cave, and every day used to bring him meat
from which to live. But shortly afterwards both Androcles and the
Lion were captured, and the slave was sentenced to be thrown to
the Lion, after the latter had been kept without food for several
days. The Emperor and all his Court came to see the spectacle,
and Androcles was led out into the middle of the arena. Soon the
Lion was let loose from his den, and rushed bounding and roaring
towards his victim. But as soon as he came near to Androcles he
recognised his friend, and fawned upon him, and licked his hands
like a friendly dog. The Emperor, surprised at this, summoned
Androcles to him, who told him the whole story. Whereupon the
slave was pardoned and freed, and the Lion let loose to his native
forest.

Gratitude is the sign of noble souls.

Source: Aesop’s Fable

Which character in the tale is most like you? Did you like the tale? Why? Why not? For 2010, let’s try to be grateful and in everything give thanks! Let’s keep the conversation flowing please comment. Many readers read this blog from other sites, so why don’t you pop over to The Invisible Mentor and subscribe (top on the left side) by email or RSS Feed. I created a Mini Learning Toolkit and you can grab a copy by clicking here.

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You may be wondering, what does enjoying the splendor and beauty around you have to do with mentoring? A mentor provides a guiding hand to help you to be the best you. Part of being the best you is to be aware of the simple things around you. When your senses are heightened, you’ll be able to spot the many opportunities around you that you often miss because of busyness.

When was the last time you went on a hike, or to the park and just BE so that you can connect to nature? There are a lot of wonders around us. Take a break and see what’s right under your nose and express gratitude for life’s simple pleasures.

Nearly every day I go for a walk for about an hour, and while walking I often get the most amazing ideas. And I often notice many things that humble me and make me want to be a better person.

What are some tips you can share with us to spot the many little wonders around us. Let’s keep the conversation going, please comment.

Please watch the video below with the astounding imagery. It’s a small step to appreciating the splendor and beauty around us.

American thanksgiving is coming so much attention is on gratitude, but gratitude should be an every day thing, not just a day or week. In Canada we celebrate Thanksgiving in October. In Jamaica where I was born, the church celebrates harvest and they have Harvest Supper, which happened this past weekend. I try to express my gratitude each day, sometimes I succeed and sometimes I fall short, so I try to do it as life unfolds and things happen and that works for me. Here are seven things that I am grateful for.

Family: I am grateful to my family for loving me, even when I screw up and screw up badly. They may lecture me, which I do not like, but I know their hearts are in the right place so I listen and don’t have to agree, but I know that all is well.

Good Friends: I am grateful to true friend who keep me grounded, who give me the space when I need to grow or figure out things for myself.

Health: I am grateful for my health because when I am in good health I can do many things.

Another Day: Each day when I awake I realize that I have been given another day on this wonderful day to do something remarkable and I am eternally grateful even when I do not live each day as if it was my last.

Opportunities: I am grateful for the opportunities that present themselves in my life because they allow me to be remarkable, as well as of service to others.

Freedom: This is something that many take for granted, including myself because we live in a free state. In Jamaica they have a saying that you never know the use of a half until you lose it. This should be a reminder to us that we shouldn’t take what we have for granted.

Adversity: I am grateful for adversity – it took me a long time to figure this one out – because it brings tremendous opportunities. The past five years have been challenging ones for me, but I have grown so much, that I would never trade thge darkest period of my life for promises of sunnier days. I know myself so much better and I am also a better person. It’s a humbling feeling when things fall apart and the good thing you get to put it together again and this time you can use a different template or pattern. My writing has more depth because I been to the School of Hard Knocks.

I am sharing a piece of me with you, what are you thankful for? This is my entry to the 7 Things You Are Thankful For Group Writing Project 2009. Let’s keep the conversation flowing like a river, please comment. Also consider contributing to this Writing Project, what are 7 things that you are thankful for?