Get the 'tude.

Last but not least in my best of the best positive habits is Gratitude. I've already talked about gratitude a bit, but it's just that important. I've read story after story of people who healed themselves from broken hearts, depression, divorce, emotional abuse etc. by just focusing on gratitude. For me, when I'm feeling really down, I HATE it when people say the ever so patronizing phrase "count your blessings! see what God hath done!" I then imagine burying those people in the ground with only their heads showing and pulling out the lawn mower for a little landscaping. I'm not a violent person I swear, that's just what this phrase does to me. So don't worry, I'm not going to over simplify all our problems down to "count your blessings". I've got some sure fire ways to getting you into the groove. The gratitude groove. Ah yeeeah!

Let's review. Gratitude journal: you must write down things you are truly grateful for. It does something to your brain to actually see it and review it.
Give out mental awards: This may not seem like something related to gratitude but it's all in the same family. We're trying to get our mind to habitually gravitate towards noticing whats right with the world and our lives, not whats wrong; because Lord knows that comes too easy on it's own!

How could I make gratitude a little more fresh? So when I was meditating yesterday a picture of my Dad popped into my mind. My Dad and I have had a complicated relationship but through it all, he's still my Dad. The reason I thought of him while thinking of gratitude is that he has MS. A disease where your immune system attacks the lining of your brain that deals with muscle function. People with MS quickly learn to cop an attitude of "use it or lose it". Meaning that every muscle that you don't stretch and massage will be lost forever to you. Even so, you will slowly lose muscle function until you become statue like. My father is now in a wheel chair with only limited use of one hand and speech. About a year ago, I noticed a journal sitting out on my parents kitchen counter labeled "Ron's gratitude journal". This was before I'd even thought of doing one myself. I didn't pick it up or look through it but it has occurred to me that probably the things that are in that journal are each and every thing that he still CAN do, and every muscle that he still has some control over. How important would a simple finger be to you? If you're like me, you've probably never even thought about it. Now, how important is that one finger that can still sort of bend to my father? My dad has never once expressed any anger for his situation, and never once have I heard the words "Why me?" come out of his mouth. He's told me that he's grateful everyday that he can still speak to his wife, children, and grandchildren. If someone with only use of one hand and speech can find things to be grateful for I think I can too.

I didn't mean to tell this story as a big bummer, I just can't help but think how much we take for granted good health. Every single toe and every single bone and ligament is amazing. Your heart is the first organ to start working as a fetus and is the last to shut down when we die, but always pumping to keep us alive. So today, thank a body part. Even the body parts that aren't your favorite (ahem, my thighs). Thank them all because someday you could lose them. Although I don't know if I would be sad to lose my thighs...

Ok, that was a little heavy, so here's a joke for the day. Since laughter is a great positivity booster I'll start doing this with every post. yay!

A man and a woman who have never met before find themselves in the same sleeping carriage of a train. After the initial embarrassment, they both manage to get to sleep; the woman on the top bunk, the man on the lower. 
In the middle of the night the woman leans over and says, "I'm sorry to bother you, but I'm awfully cold and I was wondering if you could possibly pass me another blanket." 
The man leans out and with a glint in his eye said "I've got a better idea ... let's pretend we're married." 
"Why not," giggles the woman. 
"Good," he replies. "Get your own blanket." 

Read more: http://www.ajokeaday.com/Clasificacion.asp?ID=48#ixzz1Fw0f8l00


Thanks to all of you who read this convoluted blog. You all rock.
Janae