97. smile

This morning while walking home I was met by the smell of apples, that I could not localize, and a smile of an unknown woman. The only thing I could tell you about her is she had a silver cross on the chain. Which made me think that while I last days walked the streets of this small city rather many people greeted me and I now wondered if this is the usual fact of people thinking me familiar (it happens) but not knowing me, am I forgetting people I should know or have I simply spent too long time on the streets of big city last year whilst here people are still old fashioned and feel kinship with people they share street with and greet them. Of course I returned all greetings, but I did not originate them as surely in the big city I do not expect to greet anyone unless they stand in front of me and call my name. When does a group of people turn into fellowship? What does determine such feeling, is it the street you walk, experiences you share, knowledge, title, profession, interest, heart? Perhaps, a smile toward another human being does not require a cause. So, I smile today. 

96. sunrays and milk

I am throwing in here a few things that made me present to the moment, touched, inspired and grateful. Two mornings ago I woke up relatively early and my eyes met the beautiful pinkish red colour of the sunrays reflecting on the wall of our living room, raising sun, it´s warmth, inspiration of another day. Today, I woke up a bit later, thus meeting the golden rays of already awaken sun, but just as beautiful and inspiring.

Another thing so worth keeping here is a taste of milk. After picking up kids at school I needed a small energy boost and took a glass of milk and it tasted revitalizing and comforting at the same time. I always liked milk. I could drink a whole half litar package when I was a kid, and I got to. But at times I simply drink it as I am thirsty or in need of some fast food. Yesterday I stopped with a taste and feeling of it, I remembered how good a simple glass of milk can be. And I am thankful for it.

95. rainbows simply

As car turned into our street I noticed a stripe of a rainbow on my right and looking closer I have seen it go all the way, followed by the second stripe amongst the clouds. And as we rounded the corner again, just above the neighbours house and then our there they were, again, two stripes of a rainbow. Simply a smile of a day. Thank you.

94. violin players

One of the delights of the day was my mother in law playing a violin while I prepared lunch. Listening to music that touches heart is always great, but I had my very own personal happy musician to keep me company and poor happiness of my heart into our plates afterwards. We had rather good time this last days.

And as I was a bit out of writing lately I will add here another event from few days ago, a wedding at which my mother in law was a priest. Groom, a violin teacher, being a friend of my husband, we were there too. I was still feeling somewhat week and eventually went out with children to the grass outside the couple´s home so they could run without turning the place upside down. Just before we were leaving the groom came out with peaches and gave me one and thanked for coming. I ate just before arriving there and most of the food there wasn´t really for me or my family, but peaches, given with such gratitude and care, them taking time for this small personal touch in a day as important as wedding is, I was more then touched and thankful, inspired really, finding myself thought and worth taking note of it.

93. a sweet plate

Today me and kids were watching Junior Masterchef and suddenly there was a masterwork happening in our own kitchen and it all happened in just an hour and it tasted right good. That was a little bit of a miracle of today, a smile and a gift of giving. For I named it a Celebration of Today, as in "here and now and giving it our best". It was fun and uplifting. Gratitude those to the inspirational children, my own children, all the great ingredients, some of which I got from a great Iranian friend of mine who supplied me amongst other things with saffron sugar and simply to the day, to the inspiration of a moment and ability to follow it and smile. Thank you.

92. injustice

I never thought I would be really saying this, feeling this, but life is full of surprises. I do owe my gratitude to all the injustice that is out there in the world that I have witnessed and have been aware of and I owe special gratitude to injustice, that I in time perceived as such, toward myself. I owe my gratitude to those who committed this injustice and to one whose hand placed me in such circumstances.

This is not to say injustice in itself is a good thing, nor any sorrows and difficulties we are presented in life, particularly when we experience them. At that time this insight is often very difficult and very far away. So, this is also not to say that I will stay aware of this gratitude and will not forget it at times to come or that all my perception of injustice or hurt is about to vanish to be replaced forever with such noble thoughts.

But I am to hope however, that with every new injustice there will also be, if but a tiny less dash of heaviness of it and a movement toward this insight of lightness, movement toward insight of gratitude, of purpose, of grace, of beauty in having witnessed the darkness so I could choose what I wish to be, so I could learn, not only to have heard the knowledge but so that I had that knowledge experienced, gratitude and forgivness experienced, till it becomes one with my being and becomes the wisdom.

91. an hour

I realized today that I am still not feeling well, that things are falling out of my hands and I am very unfocused, dizzy and tired. I had to collect myself somehow and I decided to give an hour to myself, not just of half reading half sleeping or simply moving around the day kind of thing, but something that would move my heart the right way. So, I went for, yeah, Rumi. I found some collection of writings spoken on Youtube that I haven´t much heard before and I was hooked. Teamed with a bit of drawing and I felt, if but a bit, better. One of the things I heard that stayed with me was saying that if you are alone and without those that speak your language you will become like dumb. It is a bit like a flower without a sun. Anyhow, I felt what he said and it felt as if finding someone speaking my language. I guess, we all need language, our language of the heart to feel content. And the ultimate song of the soul is always a great touch to learn the proper language and align with to our freedom.

90. remembered

I felt remembered today when a young co-worker of mine came over with some cookies and drink from a yesterday´s festival, both by her and the one whose birthday it was. And I was touched and I smiled. Grateful to them both.

89. rest

I have been wondering what was it in the yesterday I could thank for. Despite the fact it was a big festival day I decided to stay at home, take it somewhat easy, be with the family and with myself. I decided not to push myself nor to do what could have been an expected thing, but simply listen to myself and give myself rest and time away from people. I needed that. So, I think my primary gratitude goes to my own decision to follow my needs and adapt the day to myself, instead of the other day around. I do not feel bad about it, I feel it was right thing to do. I have done my best for that day. To that insight I give my gratitude. And give thanks for all the blessings of life that ever were there.

88. smiles

I had a dream of a beautiful smile tonight. And I had an inspiring long talk with few ladies at work. There is a shadow gripping my heart too, shadow of things to come, both good and bad. Placing it all at the feet of my Lord tonight I am thankful for everything given and hope to make good use of it and serve it well, with gratitude and respect.

87. small good things

I had to go for a check up this morning and it all turned out surprizingly well. First great thing was that after long time of having to deal with somewhat strange doctors in the past years this one was just great, present, interested, calm and he menaged to get even my husband at peace. Ok, I´ll have to do more check ups, but that was to be expected and it should be good. I must add that even people that came over with the emergency yesterday turned out to be nice, at least the lady there, particularly as she allowed me to stay at home. Indeed, I´d say day has been generous with small seeds of good things to come and for that all I am grateful. I am still tired and not really up and going, but even for that rest I am thankful.

86. life

My son and me ended up again running in the rain. It is something charming in being touched by a summer rain. We picked flowers. And on the way home from my work both of my children touched me by their simple and open appreaciation of life. Water was running down the wall where we parked the car and created a small waterfall. They put their hands onto it and called me over and laughed. And then, one of them barfoot, we walked toward home and they noticed small, tiny frogs jumping around. I lifted my had from all that water and jumping of life and my eyes stopped at one of the garage walls and there was a big red heart on it. Life. There is life happening around us, every moment, in all its forms, in rain, in waters running, in small touches, surprises, glimpses, in laughter and in tears. Thank you for letting me notice it. Thank you for the gift of life. May we use it well.

85. morning

I am still taken by listening to those 4 agreements and in want of more. Today I walked out in the early Sunday morning, that was quiet and peaceful. Morning rays of sun and light wind preparing the world for a new day. Somewhat crisp air of a day that was not yet heated by the summer´s warmth, but pleasant. A touch of nature, of belonging, of my heart feeling the world and finding a drop of joy. Thank you for the day.

84. way to joy

Today two great things happened after I cooked lunch at work. I took a walk with my son and we took photos of flowers around the place and had real good time. Also, he made very happy and lovely drawings for me, one with a flower and a butterfly and a bee and an ant and a catterpilar and a spider and a fly and sunshine and grass. Real cool. For those moments and expressions of beauty and happiness I am grateful.

Then, someone I know posted a quote that caught my attention which made me look closer at the man behind it and I ended up listening to one of his books on Youtube. I love reading, but at times listening is just a great option. And I was taken by what I heard so very deeply, as if there was an echo of my own life and heart. I haven´t yet heard it all, it is some hours of listening I´d say, but here is in short, the 4 agreements: Be impecable with your word, Do not take anything personal, Do not make assumptions and Do your best. Shamanic drops of wisdom that made my day. I certainly agree to do my best trying to keep to them in my life. And thus my gratitude goes to author of the book Don Ruiz, to one that posted the book on Youtube and above all to a friend who posted the quote and made me listen. Thank you. May happiness be returned.

83. family

Well, my biggest gratitude today goes to my husband. He took to finding my allergy medicine today without which I suffered for last two weeks as shelfs in the store stood empty. He found out another place, not so far away that had it and brought it home to me. And, he drove my friends to aerport and drove me to the work and back. May seem a normal thing to you, but I think it is important to notice those close to us who actually daily do things for us, out of care, concern, love and desire to be of help and service to us. It is so easy to miss it, forget it or fall into a habbit of simply expecting it and taking it for granted.

Just like that batterfly last week could have been outside in the sun, so could my family and people close to me and dear to me be doing other things that are attractive and important to them and ignore things that may be useful, helpful, important or gladening for me. When they choose me over them, I owe to notice it and give thanks. Daily. I may not write much about it, but I wished to make sure that at least once I point that out on my daily gratitude writing and hope to still give it thanks in real day to day life. Those things and those people do matter. I am deeply indepted and grateful to them.

82. a fine day

Today was mostly in cherishing the gifts of yesterday. I got a heavy headache this afternoon which was time I had to do some work and talk to people and be present, which combined can at times be difficult. But I made it through and for that I am thankful. Also, I got a short massage of my head on account of it, so that too was good. But, as I still have a headache, I will simply say, day was fine and much good was in it and I am grateful I may leave it all for today and slowly enter the world of sleep.

81. time to honor gifts

I read today some 128 or so pages of a Little Black Book of Robin Sharma, on success. I liked it, for the biggest part. I prenumerate on his newsletter and I got a link in my mail so I did two things with it, I read it and I shared it. I hope that is a way to give thanks to any gift, using it, honoring the given and sharing it, whenever possible. For, I am grateful for that gift.

I read some few other interesting things, inspiring story and was touched by few dear persons today. For that too I am grateful.

I made rakhis (bracelets) today. For tomorrow is a day of rakhi bandan, the tying of the thread. This is first time I actually took proper time for it. We make time for things we like and wish to focus on. So, today, I made time to read that booklet of Robin Sharma and to get material and then take time to make few rakhis for my brothers. I am grateful for inspiration, for focus and for making the time out from what at times may appear as no time. It feels like a small success in a big day. For that I am thankful. Brothers and in general people we love and care for, people that are there in our lives, they are gifts to us from life itself and they deserve time to be made for honoring such gift.