Gratitude

Today we did an activity! We each wrote down something we were thankful for in each of the four directions- air, fire, water and earth. We talked about the power of gratitude and nature is a perfect example of aspects of our life we may take for granted. Re-orienting our thoughts to a space of gratitude for all living things, all elements of nature can be so humbling and powerful. The air that gives us our breath, the fire that gives us passion and transforms us, the water that teaches us of surrender and of our emotions and intuition, and the earth that grounds us. These elements give us life and guide us both literally and metaphorically. So much to learn and be grateful for! Happy Thanksgiving!

"If the only prayer you ever say in your entire life is thank you, it will be enough."

-Meister Eckhart

"If the sight of the blue skies fills you with joy, if a blade of grass springing up in the fields has power to move you, if the simple things of nature have a message that you understand, rejoice, for your soul is alive."

-Eleanora Duse

"The world has enough beautiful mountains and meadows, spectacular skies and serene lakes. It has enough lush forests, flowered fields, and sandy beaches. It has plenty of stars and the promise of a new sunrise and sunset every day. What the world needs more of is people to appreciate and enjoy it."

-Michael Josephson

"Talk of mysteries! - Think of our life in nature, - daily to be shown matter, to come in contact with it, – rock, trees, wind on our cheeks! The solid earth! the actual world! the common sense! Contact! Contact! Who are we? Where are we?”

-Henry David Thoreau, The Main Woods

"Buddhist monks begin each day with a chant of gratitude for the blessings of their life. Native American elders begin each ceremony with grateful prayers to mother earth and father sky, to the four directions, to the animal, plant, a

nd mineral brothers and sisters who share our earth and support our life. In Tibet, the monks and nuns even offer prayers of gratitude for the suffering they have been given: "Grant that I might have enough suffering to awaken in me the deepest possible compassion and wisdom."

-Jack Kornfield

"I truly believe we can either see the connections, celebrate them, and express gratitude for our blessings, or we can see life as a string of coincidences that have no meaning or connection. For me, I'm going to believe in miracles, celebrate life, rejoice in the views of eternity, and hope my choices will create a positive ripple effect in the lives of others. This is my choice."

-Mike Ericksen

"In life, one has a choice to take one of two paths: to wait for some special day or to celebrate each special day."

-Rasheed Ogunlaru

"This is a wonderful day. I've never seen this one before."

-Maya Angelou