5 Things I'm thankful for

Vitarka Badhane Pratipaksa Bhavanam.

When disturbed by negative thoughts, opposite (positive) ones should be thought of. This is pratipaksha bhavana. (Sri Swami Satchidananda)

A yogi practices a higher way or thoughts; turning the negative into a positive. (Anand)

Yoga Sutra 2.33

Martha shared how she applied this Sutra day after day. For years working as a cashier, she took coupons from people who were ungrateful, unhappy, and often rude. She made a choice to respond in a way that showed kindness, and in her heart she chose to see them differently and be positive.

I've kept a thankful list off and on for years. Growing up with a polly-anna mom, we were to cultivate an "attitude of gratitude". In my house now, we're to have a "happy heart" in all circumstances. More and more research agrees that those who keep a gratitude journal on a weekly basis "exercised more regularly, reported fewer physical symptoms, felt better about their lives as a whole, and were more optimistic about the upcoming week compared to those who recorded hassles or neutral life events." (Emmons & McCullough, 2003).

July 31, 2009

Hood River, Oregon

5 things I'm thankful for:

1. Lack of sleep because there is more laughter

2. Learning

3. Seeing things through others that I want to emulate and some things I don't-- and growing from it

4. My boys

5. A cold refrigerator

Today

Katy, Texas

5 things I'm thankful for:

1. Drew's mischievous behavior (last week: drew on the kitchen floor, in pencil, thank God. yesterday: urinated intentionally in the middle of the garage just to see where the pee would go.)

2. Love of learning (way too much love for this one)

3. Possibilities that come with taking risks and exposing who I really am

4. True friendships (the kind that challenge my thinking and yet love me anyway)

5. Coffee

Thankful,

Mel