Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion into clarity…. It turns problems into gifts, failures into success, the unexpected into perfect timing, and mistakes into important events. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow.

~*~ Melodie Beattie ~*~

To say that there is a lot going on lately would be an understatement of colossal proportions. Take the following ingredients (the election craziness, gas prices, the mortgage fiasco, the war, the economy, AIG Spa Days, etc). Stir in whatever unique items exist in your personal life. Place all the ingredients in the blender of life. Hit the switch for high-speed blending. Climb into that mix yourself.

Quite a picture, huh? LOL

Even without the swirl of the first set of ingredients, life can prove challenging to us on a day-to-day basis. I had a mini-convo with my girl Princess Dominique about blogging and how it seems like folks aren’t as active (posting or commenting) as they used to be. I’m sure some of it is the “normal” ebb and flow of life but the rest of it? *shrug*

From my perspective, I needed to slow down in some ways, to step back a minute and focus on what I was doing (and more importantly what I WASN’T doing) and why. I felt myself either standing still in the midst of my own life, like an extra on stage who’s forgotten their lines. Or either I became this human stationary bike – pedaling for all I was worth and not moving an inch. LOL

So the other evening as I was having my therapy session cleaning house, I put on some of my favorite tunes, lit up some candles and just let my mind roam freely. I found myself making deposit after deposit in my “gratitude bank”. By the time I had lain me down to sleep and prayed the Lord my soul to keep, my heart was full, my spirit was free and my mind was at rest.

Today as I sit calmly while the world swirls around me, I smile from the inside because I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that no matter what my life looks like to whomever may be peeping into it, I am truly blessed beyond measure.

And so, today I pause for the cause of gratitude. Today’s list includes:

1. Life lessons that take my breath away in all the right ways. They aren’t always easy lessons, and they certainly aren’t always pretty but they serve to make me better and I am more than alright with that.

2. My coworkers. I really like working with this group. The work itself? Eh.

3. My “After-the-rain” scented candle. Yum-meeeee

4. Long soaks in a warm bath full with all the accoutrements (good music, delicious bath products, a chilled glass of wine). It’s at times like these that I remind myself, “Stress can’t float”. LOL

5. Friends who happen to call, email, or visit “just because”. And “just because” happens to be just as I am thinking of reaching out to them or the moment when I need a smile, a hug, a “wassup”, a ear, a shoulder, etc. I am so incredibly blessed to have the friends I do.

6. Knowing better. Scratch that. Make it DOING BETTER. Knowing better is good; actually DOING what you KNOW is GREAT.

7. The weekend BABY! LOL Now, I’m always grateful for the weekend but this weekend, I have a to-do list of stuff to get through and I am challenging myself to do more than simply put a dent in it. The goal is to complete each & every item. Realistically? I will push myself (HARD) to do what I can. And then? I’ll just pray over the rest. ROFL

As always, the list of things I’m grateful for could go on but you get the idea. My 401(K) and other investments may have taken a beating but there is never a shortage in my life of things that can generate deposits to my “gratitude bank”.

Bottom line? As noisy, chaotic, out of alignment, stressed, etc. as our lives can get on a day-to-day basis, there is something beautiful, something joyful, something worth celebrating. Find that something – no matter how small you think it is. Hold on to it as you swim your way out of the sea of chaos.

Embrace your blessings!
*~* MsJayy *~*

“There are no ordinary moments.”

Read that quote. Read it again.

Move into your day LIVING as though you truly GET that quote, that you truly understand what it means and that you value each and every moment you are given.

It is a blessing. To know that every moment of your day, every moment of your life is beyond the confines of “ordinary”.

After the unexpected deaths of Bernie Mac and Isaac Hayes this weekend, that quote has fresh meaning for me. After watching my nephew move into the next phase of his life, that quote has fresh meaning. After moving from a semi-dark phase into the light, that quote is definitely on time. Nothing looks or feels the same today. And it shouldn’t because nothing IS the same. Not even me. (Thank God for that! LOL)

“There are no ordinary moments.”

That alone could be my “gratitude list”. Today, it becomes the foundation for that list because there is more - so much more - to add to that list:

1. An ear to “hear” what people are really saying. In the space between the words they speak, in that gap between their thoughts…in the cocoon of their silence.

2. An always grateful heart. Always. Grateful. Always.

3. Discernment.

4. Personal growth and actually being about to see that growth.

5. Missing you. Yes, today I can give thanks for missing you. I don’t always understand it but I realize I don’t have to. While understanding may be fleeting, I am thankful for “missing” you because it mean…you matter to me.

6. My nephew D’s best friend, S. When D was dealing with some choices last week, S sent him a text message to read a specific bible verse. It was so relevant to the situation. S is a good kid and I’m glad he and D are friends.

7. A job that I enjoy and teammates who are easy to work with…even the dude I’ve banned from my workarea (and it’s only been a week!! LOL). Once I work out the parking situation, I’ll be straight. (I’m supposed to take the bus this morning. I’on wanna. LOL Oh well. I’ll get over it.)

Ok, I could continue this list but if I’m going to make my bus, I better get up and get cracking. Enjoy your day.

Living from a grateful heart,
*~* MsJayy *~*

PS. Almost forgot - I’m extra grateful for text messages. LOL Only YOU could make me grateful for that (it’s well known that I’m not fond of texting but for you? It’s like hitting that “EASY” button for Staples. LOL).