Over the years, life has handed me my share of life experiences. Some awesome, others very difficult. But I have to say, I'm a firm believer in finding the silver linings. Looking for and seeking out the beauty in life. Some may say this is how I cope and I would agree. It's a practice I believe one must cultivate. I believe it's a lifestyle one chooses. I would rather be in a world where you look for magic. I'd even go as far to say, there is even beauty in the brokenness and in the flaws!
Yup, I'm that girl! Hehehehe.....
We all have moments when we get a snippet of someone's life and think..... “if I could just have, be, or do that” Then I'd be happy. We tell ourselves the lie, “Then life would be perfect.” Most, even go as far as actually trying to attain those things, labels, or experiences. Then we find they don't fill that void. This is part of our humanness.
Life had given me a gift in my early years. At the tender age of 22 I was diagnosed with a large tumour in my brain. Yes, I call it a gift now. This changed me in so, so, soooooo many ways.I'll need to write a separate post on it! Ha! But one of the most important ways it changed me, was allowing me to see things clearly. This is ironic, because the doctors had diagnosed me with approximately 2 years left of eye-sight, due to the growth in my brain. (Thankfully things turned out different than the doctors predicted.) One important insight from this brain tumour gift, was life is a gift, and it is mine to cherish. This brain tumour was wrapped in pain, disappointment, grief, heart ache, growing pains and struggle. But, once I unwrapped it, I was given gratitude. Anyone who has had a life threatening disease has a profound new appreciation for the mundane, the simple everydays, the normal days, the glorious highs and the tumultuous lows. But regardless.... the fact that you can live in and through it, is a gift. A newfound gratitude runs deep, that one can not even explain. I find it hard to manifest the words to say how truly thankful I am.
This practice of gratitude extends itself in every area of my life. From my home, my marriage, my health, my family, my friends, my neighbourhood, my community, my work, my hobbies etc…...
The grass is always greener where you water it!
I like this expression because it marries ownership and gratitude together. Yes, it's about thankfulness, but you're not off the hook just by being thankful. One must water it! It will shrivel up and dry out if you don't quench it. This is intentional gratitude. My life is mine to water. It's mine to care for and tend to. It's my life to acknowledge and live fully. It's my life to open my eyes and heart. To see the beauty. To treasure the moments. Intentional thankfulness even when life is so hard you think you're gonna break. It's asking yourself how to look inward and upward in your life and move towards fertilising it. Looking at your gifts and the talents you were equipped with to make this life of yours magnificent.
How about you? How do you cultivate intentional gratitude in your life? How do you water your life?
Well, for me..... living authentically, simple fun, belly quenching laughter, play, adventure, gratitude, creativity, generosity, and moments of being awe-struck. All these things help me water my own grass. Simple things like not comparing my life to others, resting, taking good care of my whole being, practicing gratitude and serving others. Feeling my feet running beneath me, my lungs inhaling and exhaling, hearing my children laughing, my hubby and I dancing, my mom and I chatting, watching my sister navigate the task of mothering a toddler, finger painting, gardening, cooking a nourishing meal with friends, listening with my whole heart.
These things all water the grass I live in.
with love,
MO
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