In	principle,	this	always	leads	to	awareness. Gratitude	is	an	access	to	awareness,	and	awareness	is	a	doorway	to	love,
unceasing. It	is	a	turn	of	mind,	a	re-orientation,	a	commitment	in
consciousness	towards	love	and	acceptance	of	what	is. We	all	can	do	this. We
must	only	be	willing. The	practice	of	gratitude	saves	us	from	our	painful
human	storyline,	for	it	requires	us	to	look	deeper	into	our	lives	and	the	people
around	us. The	surface	rarely	holds	depth;	rather,	it	obscures	it. Gratitude
enriches	and	deepens	the	colorful	fabric	of	our	lives	by	allowing	us	to	see
more. It	is	impossible	to	feel	worry,	anger,	depression,	or	any	negative	emotion	of
any	kind	in	the	presence	of	genuine	gratitude. A	beautiful	sunny	day	and	a
dark,	stormy	day	cannot	occur	in	the	same	place	at	the	same	time. So	does	the
practice	of	gratitude	redirect	our	minds	away	from	fear	and	toward	the	truth,
clearing	out	all	negativity,	pain,	and	suffering. I	have	a	preventive
maintenance	program	for	resignation,	cynicism,	and	doubt. Every	day,	more
than	once,	I	search	my	mind	for	all	that	I	have	to	be	grateful	for. Noticing	the
constant	flow	of	prosperity,	riches,	and	wealth	coming	toward	me	leads	to	a
welcome	and	reliable	constant:	peace	of	mind.So,	if	you	are	not	yet	someone	who	on	a	daily	basis	practices	gratitude,	like
an	unending	prayer	or	background	music	for	your	life,	I	invite	you	to	consider
the	possibility	of	doing	so,	beginning	now. Come	up	to	the	higher	room. Gratitude	requires	responsibility. See	and	begin	to	own	your	valuable
contributions	and	talents. Acknowledge	the	people	in	your	life:	those	you	love
and	those	you	may	not	love. In	a	true	sense,	they	are	all	the	same. They	are
your	teachers. Be	grateful	for	them. While	doing	so,	realize	how	powerful	you
are,	how	moving	your	life	is,	and	to	what	extent	you	are	blessed	in	just	being
here. And	then	watch	what	happens. Gratitude	Feels	Good! Sylvia	Friedman
Sylvia	Friedman
	
has	been	an	astrologer,	human	behavior	consultant,	and
handwriting	analyst	for	over	20	years,	and	has	appeared	as	a	guest	expert	on
numerous	TV	programs,	including
	
Oprah
	
and
	
AM	Chicago. A	resident	of
Chicago,	Sylvia	is	the	author	of	THE	STARS	IN	YOUR	FAMILY:	HOW
ASTROLOGY	AFFECTS	RELATIONSHIPS	BETWEEN	PARENTS	AND
CHILDREN. It’s	important	to	set	aside	time	for	gratitude. When	you	look	into	yourself	and
into	your	life,	it	may	be	easier	to	see	the	bad	before	the	good! But	remember:
thinking	negatively	will	bring	down	your	self-confidence	and	will	make
difficult	situations	worse. Those	of	you	who	believe	in	the	idea	of	self-
fulfilling	prophecies	can	understand	that	it’s	better	to	open	your	minds	and
hearts	to	the	good	things	that	can	happen,	rather	than	to	the	bad. I’m	sure	that
most	of	us	can	remember	the	beautiful,	simple	moments	in	life,	such	as
smiling	at	a	stranger	in	the	supermarket	and	receiving	a	smile	in	return. Wouldn’t	it	be	wonderful	if	we	could	freeze	those	moments	in	time	so	that	we
could	fully	appreciate	when	someone	squeezed	our	hand,	shared	a	laugh	with
us	in	the	movies,	or	sat	quietly	by	our	side	to	comfort	us! Each	day	offers	a
reason	for	gratitude,	and	we	need	to	look	for	those	special	moments	and
remember	them. Good	health,	the	ability	to	help	others,	and	the	support	of
good	friends	are	all	reasons	to	be	grateful. Nothing	in	life	should	be	taken	for
granted. Each	day	I	personally	thank	my	parents	for	giving	me	the	freedom	to
make	my	own	choices	in	life. Inner	strength	comes	from	holding	on	to	the	one
person	who	can	help	you—yourself! I	have	always	been	impressed	with	the	song	“The	Best	Things	in	Life	Are
Free.”	Gratitude	is	free—there	is	no	cost. Nature’s	miracles,	such	as	the
flowers	in	bloom,	the	leaves	when	they	turn	bright	colors	in	the	fall,	or	the
sky	when	it’s	blue,	remind	us	of	the	simple	pleasures	in	life. I	remember	a
friend	of	mine	who	was	going	through	a	very	sad	time	telling	me:	“I’mthankful	when	the	sun	is	shining,	as	it	gives	me	a	positive	feeling.”	I	smiled
and	told	her,	“The	sun	shines	not	on	us,	but	
in
	us.”
I	wake	up	each	day,	and	I’m	grateful	to	hear	my	phone	ringing	because	I
know	that	it’s	one	of	my	friends	checking	in	to	see	that	I’m	okay. I	thank	God
that	I	can	look	out	my	window	at	the	lake	and	begin	each	day	with	peace. Many	of	us	have	similar	opportunities,	and	it’s	so	important	to	appreciate
them. Those	of	us	who	have	struggled	to	receive	the	good	can	be	thankful	that
we	have	had	the	energy	and	strength	to	fight	for	what	we	believed	in. If	we
have	faith	in	ourselves,	our	own	self-esteem	will	bring	us	to	the	place	where
we	need	to	be. When	our	path	draws	us	to	the	harder	lessons	in	life,	it’s	best
to	learn	from	them	and	move	on. Hope,	faith,	and	optimism	give	us	the
strength	to	hold	on	to	tomorrow. Life	can	be	a	real	challenge,	but	our	dreams
can	come	true	if	we	are	thankful	for	what	we	have	already	been	given. Finally,	we	can	all	be	grateful	for	the	courage	that	allows	us	to	take	personal
risks,	since	believing	in	ourselves	is	the	most	important	strength	we	have. We
all	have	the	ability	to	gather	love,	friendship,	and	knowledge	before	life
passes	us	by. It’s	up	to	us	to	make	the	effort. Those	of	us	who	understand	the
importance	of	gratitude	can	encourage	others	to	recognize	their	own	special
moments. Gratitude	feels	good! Being	Grateful	During	Life’s	Challenges
Shakti	Gawain
Shakti	Gawain
	
is	the	bestselling	author	of	CREATIVE	VISUALIZATION,
LIVING	IN	THE	LIGHT,	RETURN	TO	THE	GARDEN,	AWAKENING,	THE
PATH	OF	TRANSFORMATION,	and	several	other	books. A	warm,	articulate,
and	inspiring	teacher,	Shakti	leads	workshops	internationally. For	more	than
20	years,	she	has	facilitated	thousands	of	people	in	learning	to	trust	and	act
on	their	own	inner	truth,	thus	releasing	and	developing	their	creativity	in
every	area	of	their	lives. Shakti	and	her	husband,	Jim	Burns,	are	co-founders
of	Nataraj	Publishing. They	make	their	home	in	Mill	Valley,	California,	and
on	the	Hawaiian	island	of	Kauai. It	is	relatively	easy	to	feel	grateful	when	good	things	are	happening	and	life	is
going	the	way	we	want	it	to. Even	then,	we	often	take	things	for	granted. It
feels	so	good	to	take	a	moment	to	express	our	appreciation	to	other	people,	to
the	earth,	to	our	higher	power,	to	life. A	much	greater	challenge	is	to	get	in	touch	with	gratitude	when	we	are	going
through	a	difficult	time,	or	life	is	not	going	the	way	we	think	it	should. At
these	times,	we	are	more	likely	to	be	feeling	hurt,	confused,	or	resentful,
which	is	perfectly	natural. Gratitude	is	the	last	thing	that	would	occur	to	us	at
such	a	moment. There	have	been	times	in	my	life	when	I	felt	more	like
shaking	my	fist	at	the	universe,	wondering	why	it	was	dealing	me	such	a	cruel
blow. It’s	interesting,	though,	that	after	going	through	a	difficult	time,	in	retrospect
we	can	often	see	that	there	was	something	important	and	necessary	about	that
experience. We	may	not	arrive	at	this	perspective	until	months	or	even	years
later,	but	eventually	we	can	see	that	there	was	some	important	lesson	learned,
a	deepening	of	our	wisdom,	an	awakening,	or	perhaps	a	new	door	that	opened
in	our	life	as	a	result	of	events	that	seemed	negative	at	the	time. For	example,	the	loss	of	a	job	may	have	led	us	to	spiritual	or	emotionalhealing. The	ending	of	a	relationship	may	give	us	the	opportunity	to	discover
that	we	need	time	alone,	or	it	may	pave	the	way	for	a	more	satisfying
partnership. At	that	point,	we	may	begin	to	feel	grateful	that	life	unfolded	as	it
did. Usually,	a	painful	time	in	our	life	is	what	I	call	a	“healing	crisis.”	We	are
letting	go	of	something	old,	and	opening	to	something	new. Often,	it	happens
because	we	have	
already
	grown	in	consciousness,	and	therefore	can	no	longer
live	in	the	old	way. Sometimes	we	are	being	confronted	with	a	necessary
change	that	we	must	make	within	ourselves	and/or	in	our	lives. There	is	a
grieving	process	that	we	must	go	through	as	we	let	go	of	something	we’ve
been	attached	to. We	must	allow	ourselves	to	feel	our	fear	and	sadness,	and
we	can	also	remind	ourselves	that	there	is	a	gift	in	this	experience	that	we
simply	can’t	yet	see. So	if	you	are	going	through	a	healing	crisis	in	your	life	right	now,	reach	out
for	as	much	support	and	love	as	you	can,	and	allow	yourself	to	fully
experience	all	the	feelings	that	come	up. Ask	that	the	gift	in	this	experience	be
revealed	to	you	as	soon	as	you	are	ready	for	it. And	remember	that	after	a
little	time	passes	and	you	gain	perspective,	you	will	once	again	feel	grateful
for	the	amazing	journey	of	your	life. Gratitude	Is	a	Sanctuary…
Michele	Gold
Michele	Gold
	
is	the	author	of	the	beautiful	coffee-table	book	ANGELS	OF
THE	SEA:	SACRED	DOLPHIN	ART	OF	ATLANTIS. Her	award-winning
spiritual	artwork	and	storytelling	reflects	dream	imagery,	visions,	myth,	and
the	actual	experience	of	swimming	with	families	of	wild	dolphins. Her	work
has	appeared	in	national	publications	films,	and	has	been	exhibited	in	private
and	corporate	collections	around	the	world. Possessing	a	deep	love	and
respect	for	all	of	life,	it	is	Michele’s	greatest	hope	that	others	will	share	her
compassion	for	these	exquisite	dolphin	beings. Michele	is	a	professional	fine-
art	illustrator,	writer,	photographer,	dancer,	and	musician	who	believes	that
love	is	always	the	answer. My	father	told	me	a	wonderful	story	about	a	father	who	gave	his	young
daughter	a	simple	locket	and	told	her	that	it	contained	a	very	valuable
diamond	sealed	inside	the	locket,	so	if	at	any	time	she	was	ever	in	need,	she
could	crack	open	the	locket,	sell	the	diamond,	and	make	it	through
difficulties. The	daughter	grew	into	a	woman	and	struggled	alone	through	terrible	times	of
poverty,	but	just	the	mere	thought	of	the	diamond	resting	safely	inside	the
locket	she	wore	around	her	neck	gave	her	enough	courage	to	pull	her	through. Many	years	later,	she	had	finally	become	a	success	in	all	areas	of	her	life	and
no	longer	had	to	struggle	for	survival. Her	curiosity	had	grown	to	the	point
that	she	had	to	know	how	much	the	diamond	was	actually	worth. The	woman	took	her	precious	locket	to	the	finest	jeweler	in	the	village	to
have	the	diamond	appraised. The	jeweler	eyed	the	plain,	tarnished	locket	with
a	bit	of	disdain,	raised	a	mallet,	and	with	one	swift	blow	smashed	the	little
locket	into	many	pieces,	releasing	a	small,	shiny	piece. The	jeweler	held	it	up
to	the	light	and	said,	“Why,	this	is	not	a	diamond,	my	lady,	but	a	worthless
piece	of	ordinary	glass!”	Stunned	by	the	news,	the	woman	laughed	and	cried
and	then	laughed	some	more.“No,	kind	sir,	that	is	the	most	valuable	diamond	in	the	world!”	she	replied,
wiping	the	tears	from	her	eyes. Her	father	had	given	her	a	priceless	gem…	the	gift	of	hope	and	the	belief	that
she	would	always	be	all	right,	and	for	this	she	would	always	be	grateful. As	I	searched	over	the	experiences	I	am	most	grateful	for,	my	mind	travels	in
a	spiral. No	matter	how	unique	the	experience,	the	center	is	always	kindness. I	was	delighted	to	discover	that	the	definition	of	gratitude	is	
the	appreciation
for	kindness. I	strive	to	live	my	life	as	a	practice	based	on	gratitude. My	first
teachers	were	my	parents,	brothers,	and	all	of	the	little	bugs	living	under	the
moss	garden	in	our	tiny	backyard. I	remember	understanding	gratitude	when	a
bright	yellow	skipper	butterfly	would	light	on	my	hand	or	when	a	wild	bird
would	let	me	get	close	enough	to	see	her	feathers	up	close. Gratitude	is	not	always	instantaneous. There	are	some	things	that	take	time	to
reveal	what	was	gained,	when	there	can	be	insight. Many	times	a	lack	of
gratitude	can	be	a	powerful	blow	back	on	course. There	have	been	many
times	that	I	have	wandered	too	far	from	my	heart	and	grown	dissatisfied;
these	were	signs	that	a	change	needed	to	be	made,	and	that	unhappy	event
became	a	turning	point,	a	shift	back	in	the	direction	of	love	and	gratitude. As
an	adult,	several	encounters	with	wild	dolphins	further	opened	my	heart	and
mind	to	the	experience	of	unconditional	love	and	appreciation	for	the	present
moment,	for	which	I	will	always	remain	awestruck	and	grateful. A	wonderful	meditation	teacher	taught	me	how	to	set	intent. This	is	a	way	of
creating	a	clear	signal	to	the	Universe	about	your	direction	in	life. You	set
your	course	and	then	adjust	the	sails	on	your	ship	headed	towards	a	sacred
island,	obscured	by	mist	and	miles,	but	your	intuition	knows	it	is	there. You
may	be	diverted	by	powerful,	whirling	winds,	but	set	back	on	course	by
gentle	tropical	breezes. Night	may	fall	again	and	again,	and	yet	you	hold	deep
inside	a	map	guiding	your	mystic	journey. Eventually,	you	will	reach	your
destination	if	you	continue	to	set	your	intent. I	believe	that	gratitude	is	the	way	we	reach	ourselves. Every	morning	and
night,	I	focus	for	a	moment	and	give	thanks	for	the	gift	of	my	life	and	for	the
presence	and	love	of	everyone	in	it. I	give	thanks	for	all	that	I	am	given	and
all	that	I	am	learning. I	give	thanks	for	all	that	I	wish	to	accomplish	as	though
it	has	all	been	achieved. I	offer	thanks	to	all	of	the	guardian	angels	and	NatureDevas	for	their	healing	of	loved	ones	and	the	planet. I	ask	for	guidance	and
seek	dreams	for	answers. I	give	thanks	for	good	health	and	the	richness	of	my
senses. I	give	thanks	for	the	profound	beauty	and	magnificence	of	the	Earth. I
give	thanks	for	the	gift	of	creativity	and	the	ability	to	express	my	feelings
through	paint,	word,	music,	and	dance. I	am	grateful	for	the	wisdom,	granted
through	ancient	stories,	images,	and	Nature,	from	centuries	of	yearning. I	give
thanks	for	the	exquisite	dolphins,	birds,	trees,	and	all	that	is	living. I	give
thanks	for	the	abundance	and	prosperity	that	is	ever-present. And	above	all…I
give	thanks	for	kindness. Many	times,	when	my	life	was	very	painful	and	difficult,	I	was	very	grateful
for	many	gestures	of	kindness. For	years	I	felt	alone	in	my	struggle,	and	yet
some	part	of	me	knew	deep	down	that	I	always	had	a	diamond. I	have	deep
gratitude	for	the	incredible	gifts	of	love	and	life. Always	treat	yourself	as	a	precious,	priceless	being	worthy	of	love. Gratitude	is	a	Sanctuary	that	allows	us	to	love	even	deeper. F
ULL
	C
IRCLE
Swimming	for	thousands	of	years,	under	the
many	full	moons…I	searched	for	you. Lost	ships	and	lost	souls	land	on	warm	places
guided	by	yearning	and	the	angels	of	the	sea. My	heart	wanders,	I	curl	in	and	hold	myself,
longing	for	home,
not	knowing	it	is	always	here. And	in	the	moving	up	and	outward,
of	the	pressing	of	the	rain,
breathing	through	my	eyes,
I	sense	the	coming	sweetness,	of	many
trees	smiling	in	the	knowing	that
those	treasures	buried	so	very	deep	in	my	heart
have	begun	to	sing	the
Song	of	Angels	Dreaming. With	my	Soul	as	the	only	map,
with	which	to	drive,
with	which	to	guide
My	wanting	of	the	world	to	be	smooth	with	the
gentleness	of	tender	hands,glide	so	silent,	of	sweet	music	of	birds
curling	from	the	deepest	place…
I	smile	inside,
I	smile	deeply. Gratitude:	It	Can	Make	Your	Day! Karen	M.	Haughey
Karen	M.	Haughey
	
is	an	award-winning	fine	artist,	poet,	and	designer	whose
work	has	been	shown	in	private	collections	throughout	the	world. She	is	also
the	author	of	the	coffee-table	art	book	ANGELS:	GUARDIANS	OF	THE
LIGHT. When	she	is	asked	what	inspires	her	painting	of	primarily	angels	and
mermaids,	she	replies,	“It	consists	of	looking	within	one’s	self	on	a	visionary
level	through	means	of	meditation	and	comforting	sounds,	such	as	music.”
This,	in	turn,	stirs	and	enlightens	the	creative	intellect,	thus	avoiding
preconceived	logic. Karen	makes	her	home	in	Northern	California. I	would	like	to	begin	by	expressing	my	own	gratitude	to	my	dear	friend
Louise	L.	Hay	for	making	many	of	my	long-term	dreams	become	realities. Her	love,	support,	and	kindness	will	always	leave	me	eternally	grateful! I	am	also	filled	with	gratitude	for	my	God-given	ability	to	paint	angels	as	I
do. Because	the	gift	that	I	have	is	not	about	me—it’s	for	others	and	how	it
affects	their	lives. Life	is	not	meant	to	be	isolated	for	one’s	self,	but	is	meant	to	share	in	the
context	of	love	and	peace. Gratitude	also	comes	by	virtue	of	doing	for	others,
or	what	some	would	call	random	acts	of	kindness,	for	no	reason	other	than
just	wanting	to	do	a	good	deed	for	someone,	whether	it	be	a	total	stranger	or
someone	you’ve	known	all	of	your	life. I	get	complete	satisfaction	from	doing
these	types	of	things. Not	that	I’m	looking	for	it,	but	it	always	comes	back	to
me,	and	I	know	that	God	is	always	watching! I	remember	a	few	simple	incidents,	one	when	I	was	crossing	the	San	Mateo
Bridge,	close	to	my	home	in	the	San	Francisco	Bay	area. I	always	pay	for	the
car	behind	me	in	the	toll	booth. Anyway,	this	very	expensive	car	with	the
tinted	windows	and	the	works	pulled	up	behind	me. I	gave	the	toll-booth
attendant	the	extra	dollar	as	usual	and	asked	that	the	car	behind	me	be	paid
for. She	looked	at	me	a	little	funny,	since	she	was	obviously	comparing	thestatus	of	our	respective	automobiles,	but	she	did	as	I	asked. I	rarely	get	a	reaction	from	people	when	I	offer	this	gesture,	other	than	a	smile
or	a	wave	or	sometimes	a	strange	look,	but	this	time	was	a	little	different. The
aforementioned	car	drove	alongside	me	and	rolled	down	its	windows,	and	two
young	girls	and	their	mom	and	dad	started	waving	and	honking	with	joy	and
excitement	like	I’ve	never	seen,	with	all	of	this	gratitude	and	thankfulness
we’ve	been	speaking	of. You	would	think	by	their	reaction	that	I	had	done	a
lot	more	than	just	pay	their	toll,	and	it’s	such	a	simple	deed. But	seeing	the
surprise	and	happiness	on	those	children’s	faces	and	the	element	of	disbelief
on	the	parents’	faces	was	enough	to	make	anyone’s	day. Another	time,	I	was	driving	through	a	residential	area	and	noticed	that
someone	who	was	parked	outside	a	home	had	left	their	car’s	headlights	on. It
meant	going	out	of	my	way,	but	I	turned	my	car	around	and	walked	up	to	that
house,	knocked	on	the	door,	and	told	the	occupants	that	they	had	left	the
lights	on	in	their	car. The	family	living	in	that	house	thanked	me	over	and
over	as	if	I	had	performed	some	miraculous	deed,	which	obviously	I	had	not,
to	my	own	thinking. So	the	point	I’m	making	is	not	what	you	can	give	on	a	tangible	level,	but	what
you	can	ultimately	give	from	your	heart	and	soul	to	another	human	being
without	expectation. The	gratitude	you	will	receive	will	come	by	way	of	your	giving	it	away. Life	is	a	gift,	and	what	you	do	with	yours	is	completely	up	to	you. Be
thankful	for	this	gift,	and	use	it	to	heal	this	beautiful	planet	we	live	on,	our
Mother	Earth. An	Appreciation	of	Gratitude
Christopher	Hills,	Ph.D.
Christopher	Hills,	Ph.D.,	D.Sc.,
	
is	the	author	of	27	books	on	consciousness,
the	former	president	of	the	World	Yoga	Society,	founder	of	the	University	of
the	Trees	(1972)
—
a	pioneer	in	developing	food	resources	from	algae	to
alleviating	world	hunger
—
and	founder	of	the	Light	Force	spirulina	company. He	is	presently	engaged	in	projects	for	the	homeless,	and	emotional	literacy
in	children. I	am	most	grateful	when	I	have	just	had	a	close	encounter	with	death. Once
the	front	wheel	flew	off	my	Buick	as	I	was	driving	down	a	steep,	curving	hill. I	maneuvered	it	to	the	bottom	of	the	hill	in	a	shower	of	sparks	and
accompanied	by	a	prayer. Another	time	I	was	deeply	grateful	when	I	was
struck	by	lightning	on	the	bridge	of	a	ship	that	hit	the	upright	stanchion	two
feet	away	from	my	face,	and	millions	of	volts	of	electricity	were	magically
conducted	to	Earth	through	the	steel	into	the	ocean	below. I	gave	thanks	and
have	never	forgotten	the	smell	of	burned	air	instead	of	burned	hair. When	I	was	born,	I	was	also	struck	by	lightning	inside	my	mother’s	womb. She	was	badly	burned	on	her	arm,	and	I	came	out	suddenly	with	a	big	red
birthmark	from	elbow	to	wrist	that	lasted	14	years. My	mother	was	so
traumatized	that	she	could	never	hug	me	without	feeling	totally	overwhelmed. I	was	too	young	then	to	be	grateful	for	the	gift	of	life. But	in	retrospect,	I	give
thanks	that	we	both	survived	this	electrical	charge,	and	I	am	still	alive	and
kicking	in	the	human	world. I	can	think	of	many	instances	of	gratitude	that	did	not	come	until	after	I	had
begun	to	appreciate	all	the	goodness	that	life	has	given	me. I	know	now	to
express	that	gratefulness—not	only	in	times	of	peril,	or	greatest	abundance—
but	for	all	that	I	experience. I	am	grateful	not	only	for	incredible	friendships,
but	also	for	those	who	have	been	liars	and	deceived	me,	because	of	the	many
lessons	of	life	that	they	have	brought	me,	thus	sharpening	my	appreciation	of
those	who	walk	their	talk	and	live	up	to	their	spiritual	words.One	of	my	most	grateful	moments	was	when	I	came-to	after	being	knocked
unconscious	in	a	storm. I	was	on	my	yacht	in	the	West	Indies,	taking	guests
around	the	island	of	Jamaica	heading	towards	Port	Antonio. Louise	Hay	and	her	then-husband	Andrew,	who	were,	at	the	time,	my	partners
in	the	spice	trade,	were	among	my	guests	on	that	trip. We	got	into	a	storm
about	a	half	day’s	sailing	from	Port	Antonio. The	big	boom,	over	one	foot
thick,	suddenly	flashed	right	over	in	a	freak	wind	and	knocked	me	from	the
wheel	house	into	the	scuppers. The	side	rail	of	the	boat	was	practically	under
water. Somehow	I	got	stuck	between	the	rails	and	was	lying	there
unconscious,	and	I	blacked	out. The	next	thing	I	saw,	after	what	seemed	like
an	eternity,	was	Louise’s	face	leaning	over	me	and	Andrew	shouting	at	me
and	shaking	me	at	the	same	time. He	was	saying	I	just	had	to	wake	up
because	nobody	else	knew	how	to	sail	the	90	tons	of	deadweight	of	this	ship. No	one	knew	the	course	to	sail	to	Port	Antonio,	and	we	had	lost	sight	of	land. This	was	one	of	my	first	experiences	of	being	absolutely	needed. Without	me,
Andrew	was	saying,	we	would	all	perish. As	I	regained	consciousness	and
realized	what	he	had	said,	I	realized	how	some	people	are	lucky	to	escape
death,	but	there	are	those	whose	destiny	can	be	strongly	interwoven	with
another	person’s	skills. I	have	never	forgotten	my	feeling	of	relief	when	I
found	I	could	still	walk	and	talk! I	had	to	wait	another	eight	weeks	for	my
wrenched	neck	to	stop	hurting	me,	but	all	the	while,	I	thought	about	how
thankful	I	was	to	be	alive	and	how	lucky	for	my	guests	that	I	could	navigate
them	safely	to	Port	Antonio. I	can	still	see	Louise’s	face	as	I	woke	up	in	the	storm,	with	her	makeup	all
washed	off	and	her	hair	wet	and	dripping. I	am	even	more	grateful	that	38
years	after	that	event,	life	has	made	me	even	more	grateful. I	believe	that	I
was	protected	by	some	higher	power	so	that	I	could	take	a	totally	different
course	in	life. I	have	no	name	for	this	power,	although	I	have	heard	many. I
prefer	to	feel	it	as	a	“Goddess	Energy.”	This	energy	comes	to	us	when	we
make	room	for	gratitude	and	appreciation	in	our	heart. It	can	also	come	to	us
as	subtle	intelligence	moving	through	our	natural	environment. Within	our
consciousness,	we	reach	outward	to	this	intelligence,	but	really,	its	frequency
and	energy	are	hidden	within. Gratitude	and	appreciation	taken	all	the	way	to	the	source	of	life	comes	when
we	surrender	to	its	hidden	intelligence. This	Goddess	Energy	has	been	much
forgotten	and	ridden	over	roughshod	in	our	culture. In	many	other
civilizations,	it	is	repressed	entirely	with	not	even	the	dignity	of	human	rights.Under	different	banners,	they	kill	it	by	promoting	“the	one	and	only	way	to
salvation.”	This	is	not	the	way	we	receive	grace. Ultimately,	the	feeling	of	gratitude	comes	from	our	attitude	toward	receiving. It	is	that	form	of	appreciation	that	makes	our	gift	have	real	worth. When	we
do	not	effectively	“receive”	a	gift	by	not	appreciating	it,	then	the	gift	has	not
effectively	been	given. The	attitude	of	giving	gifts	is	not	greater	than	the	attitude	of	receiving. It	is
much	easier	to	give	a	gift	than	to	truly	receive	one. Of	all	our	natural	talents,
the	precious	gift	of	consciousness	is	more	often	taken	for	granted. How	can
we	give	to	others	in	spirit	what	we	have	not	fully	received	and	appreciated	in
our	own	self? I	believe	in	this	case	we	must	first	receive	gratefully	that	which
we	are	giving	to	others,	or	our	gift	does	not	work. I	am	grateful	that	I	can	find	beauty	and	loveliness	in	life	to	shower	my	love
upon	and	remain	in	bliss. Gratitude	is	knowing	that	all	gifts	have	little	value
until	they	are	fully	received. In	reality,	it	is	our	gratitude	that	gives	real	value
to	any	gift. To	be	able	to	forgive	all	injuries	is	the	greatest	gift	that	we	can
bestow	upon	ourselves,	but	few	are	grateful	for	this	choice. If	people	don’t	appreciate	where	the	power	comes	from,	they	are	not	going	to
get	very	much	from	its	source. All	gratitude	is	the	result	of	this	appreciation. To	choose	consciously	to	forgive	the	past	and	any	hurts	that	may	come	in	the
future	is	a	gift	you	can	never	reciprocate	because	it	dissolves	all	karma. To	get
home	free	without	karma	is	only	possible	when	we	honor	and	appreciate	the
deep	power	of	gratitude. In	offering	up	our	gratitude,	we	open	ourselves	to
receiving	and	living	in	a	state	of	grace. This	is	the	gift	of	the	Goddess,	and
she	is	longing	to	bestow	it	on	us	all. Being	so	grateful	even	before	you	receive
—this	is	the	stuff	that	creates	miracles. Gratitude:	The	Key	to	a	Happy,	Healthy,	Successful
Life
Sharon	Huffman
Sharon	Huffman,
	
founder	of	the	Center	for	Enlightened	Leadership,	teaches
inspired	leadership	and	true	empowerment. She	has	been	a	consultant	to
leaders	in	every	field	all	over	the	world. She	coaches	individuals	in	reaching
their	full	potential	and	living	in	balance,	while	making	a	noble	contribution	to
our	world. She	is	a	speaker,	consultant,	and	author. Her	work	is	included	in
WOMEN	OF	VISION,	published	by	Nataraj;	and	CHICKEN	SOUP	FOR
THE	SOUL,	by	Jack	Canfield	and	Mark	Victor	Hansen. This	morning	as	I	took	my	walk,	I	was	filled	with	gratitude. The	sky	was
blue,	the	temperature	a	balmy	74	degrees,	and	everywhere	I	looked	there	was
beauty. Lush,	breathtaking	beauty—green	rolling	hills,	flowers	and	palm
trees,	the	sound	of	waterfalls	and	fountains,	ponds	filled	with	ducks,	a	stork	in
mid-flight	over	the	lake,	and	magnificent	snow-capped	mountains. As	I	took
in	this	opulence	as	far	as	the	eye	could	see,	I	was	overcome	with	gratitude. I	thought	back	to	a	time	three	months	ago	when	I	hiked	in	the	freezing
mountain	snow	and	asked	my	spiritual	source	to	guide	me	to	a	warmer,	more
beautiful	place	where	I	could	take	my	morning	walks. I	remembered	filling
my	heart	with	gratitude	for	all	that	I	had	been	given,	and	almost	without
effort,	I	was	gracefully	led	to	this	beautiful	paradise. In	my	15	years	of	coaching	clients	to	lead	successful,	happy	lives,	I
discovered	a	secret. If	I	taught	them	to	practice	gratitude,	everything	in	their
life	transformed. They	felt	good	about	themselves	and	were	empowered	to
create	the	future	they	desired. The	events	in	their	life	and	their	ability	to
respond	in	a	positive	way	made	a	complete	360-degree	turn. It	was	as	if	they
had	found	a	magic	wand. Gratitude	changes	the	way	we	view	life	and	ourselves. Difficult	situations	thatwere	once	intolerable	and	seemingly	unchangeable,	transform. The	moment
we	feel	gratitude,	the	situation	begins	to	lighten,	and	then	we	can	see	the
opportunities	to	create	change. We	feel	better	about	ourselves	and	our	ability
to	positively	affect	our	environment	and	our	world. Depression	lifts,	conflict
turns	to	harmony,	and	stress	releases	to	peace. When	gratitude	becomes	a	way
of	life,	success,	happiness,	and	health	become	the	norm. Whenever	we	feel	angry,	fearful,	sad,	or	depressed,	we	have	lost	our
gratitude. I	can	remember	countless	times	when	I	felt	resentful	or	down	in	the
dumps	and	have	chosen	to	count	my	blessings	and	feel	grateful	for	all	that	I
have. Almost	immediately,	I	felt	better. When	we	find	something	to	be
grateful	for	in	a	situation	that	has	been	troubling	us,	it	uplifts	and	energizes
us. As	soon	as	we	feel	gratitude,	everything	changes. It	can	transform	a	situation
where	you	feel	sadness	and	loss	that,	in	turn,	draws	more	sadness	and	loss	to
you,	to	one	of	joy	and	happiness. The	
very	same
	situation	is	immediately
transformed	when	viewed	with	a	heart	filled	with	gratitude. In	my	own	life,	it	has	made	all	the	difference	in	the	world. I	first	learned	the
power	of	gratitude	after	the	traumatic	loss	of	my	mate	in	a	plane	crash. After
months	of	feeling	despondent	and	close	to	despair,	I	was	drawn	to	read	the
ancient	wisdom	where	I	learned	that	my	life	had	meaning	and	purpose. As	I
began	to	feel	gratitude,	my	whole	life	changed. First,	my	perspective	shifted. Then	I	started	to	feel	positive	and	empowered	to	begin	again. Suddenly,
instead	of	my	life	ending,	it	was	a	whole	new	beginning. Shortly	after	that,	I	was	diagnosed	with	a	life-threatening	illness	and	given	six
to	nine	months	to	live. As	I	continued	to	practice	gratitude,	I	felt	the	disease
being	flushed	from	my	body	and	my	cells	being	flooded	with	life	and	vitality. I	later	learned	that	feelings	of	gratitude	release	positive	endorphins
throughout	the	body,	creating	health. Gratitude	not	only	heals,	it	rejuvenates	the	body. If	you	doubt	this	for	a
moment,	just	take	a	look	at	someone’s	face	that	has	been	ravaged	by	years	of
resentment. They	will	look	drawn	and	haggard. Then	look	at	someone	who
has	lived	their	life	in	gratitude. They	will	be	radiant	with	health	and	aliveness. The	key	to	a	happy,	healthy,	successful	life	is	gratitude. It	uplifts	us	and
sustains	and	draws	to	us	what	we	want. Just	as	I	did	three	months	ago	on	a
morning	hike,	when	we	focus	on	what	we	want	with	gratitude,	we	draw	it	tous. We	become	a	magnet	for	our	good. When	we	give	gratitude	to	life,	life	gives	back	to	us. When	we	feel	grateful,
people,	as	well	as	the	abundance	of	the	universe,	are	drawn	to	us. If	you	have
money	problems	and	you	find	a	penny,	
feel
	gratitude	with	great	intensity,	and
you	will	draw	more	money	to	you. When	we	give	thanks	for	the	situations	and	events	in	our	life	that	are
challenging,	knowing	that	we	are	being	blessed	with	wisdom	from	this
experience,	the	very	act	of	gratitude	transforms	the	negative	experience	into	a
positive	one. When	we	express	gratitude,	we	draw	to	us	people	and	situations
to	be	grateful	for. That	is	the	magic	of	gratitude. Gratitude	fills	our	hearts	with	gladness	and	allows	us	to	see	the	truth,
empowering	us	to	make	the	right	decisions	and	take	appropriate	actions. With
a	grateful	heart,	we	can	see	the	best	in	every	situation	and	everyone	we	meet,
and	bring	out	their	best. Gratitude	is	also	a	gateway	to	the	Divine. A	grateful	heart	is	an	open	heart	and
continually	lifts	us	higher	until	we	connect	with	the	Divine. A	few	years	ago,	I	took	a	trip	to	Mt. Shasta	in	Northern	California	in	a	desire
to	come	into	deeper	communion	with	my	higher	self. During	the	long	hours
of	driving,	I	placed	my	attention	on	my	higher	self	with	love	and	gratitude. Hour	after	hour,	I	raised	my	focus	to	just	above	my	head,	sending	love	and
gratitude	to	this	beloved	part	of	myself	for	gently	guiding	and	protecting	me
moment	by	moment,	day	after	day. In	the	last	hour	of	the	trip	as	I	was	entering	the	beautiful	pine	forests
surrounding	Mt. Shasta,	I	felt	my	higher	self	descend	and	wrap	her	loving
arms	around	me. As	this	presence	enveloped	me,	I	felt	totally	loved. It	wasn’t
an	intellectual	idea;	it	was	kinesthetic. I	could	actually	
feel
	every	cell	of	my
body	being	enfolded	in	love. Feelings	of	bliss	washed	over	me,	totally
complete	in	this	sacred	union. I	knew	I	was	in	the	arms	of	the	beloved. In	that	moment,	I	understood	what	all	the	mystics	have	said	down	through	the
ages,	that	we	are	never	alone. We	are	all	connected	with	the	Divine. Any
thought	that	we	are	separate	is	an	illusion. Love	and	gratitude	reveal	the
connection. This	state	of	communion	was	the	most	glorious	state	I	had	ever	experienced.During	the	night	when	I	would	awaken,	I	would	immediately	raise	my	focus
to	see	if	this	presence	was	still	there. Of	course	it	was,	and	I	would	fall
contentedly	back	to	sleep. As	this	state	of	communion	continued,	I	found	myself	thinking	that	I	had	to
hurry	up	to	be	somewhere. I	would	hear	in	my	ear,	“Slow	down	and	be	on
time.”	This	was	very	different	from	my	usual	way	of	hurrying	to	keep	up	with
my	schedule. But	as	I	relaxed	into	this	new	way	of	being	and	allowed	myself
to	be	gently	guided. I	found	that	I	always	arrived	at	the	right	place	at	the	right
time. Life	unfolded	in	an	easy,	effortless,	magical	way,	filled	with	wonderful
synchronistic	events. It	was	like	leading	a	charmed	life	with	everything	I
needed	brought	to	me. My	conscious	choice	to	send	continual	love	and
gratitude	to	my	higher	self	was	the	key	that	opened	the	door. It	is	always	our	choice	how	we	want	to	live	our	lives. By	choosing	to
maintain	an	attitude	of	gratitude,	we	are	assured	of	living	a	happy,	healthy,
successful	life. “Gratitude	Is	Heaven	Itself”
Laura	Archera	Huxley
Laura	Archera	Huxley
	
came	to	the	United	States	from	her	native	Italy	as	a
concert	violinist. In	1956,	she	married	Aldous	Huxley. She	is	the	author	of	the
books	YOU	ARE	NOT	THE	TARGET;	HIS	TIMELESS	MOMENT:	A
PERSONAL	VIEW	OF	ALDOUS	HUXLEY;	BETWEEN	HEAVEN	AND
EARTH,	ONE-A-DAY	REASONS	TO	BE	HAPPY;	and	THE	CHILD	OF
YOUR	DREAMS,	which	she	co-authored	with	Piero	Ferrucci. In	the	four	words,	“Gratitude	Is	Heaven	Itself,”	William	Blake,	the	mystic
poet,	expresses	the	essence	of	gratitude. When	gratitude	begins	at	the	time	of	birth,	it	becomes	an	integral	part	of	our
feeling	life. Birth	is	a	miracle,	and	it	must	be	greeted	with	joy	and	gratitude. Unfortunately,	this	is	not	always	the	case. Too	often,	birth	is	surrounded	by
fear	and	unconsciousness. Yet,	the	fact	remains	that	the	marvel	of	physical
birth	is	awesome—no	less	is	the	wonder	of	psychological	rebirth,	and	of	the
physiological	fact	that	the	cells	in	our	body	are	continuously	dying	and	are
immediately	renewed	with	new	cells. Often	called	a	peak	experience,	rebirth
is	felt	as	freedom	from	ancient	and	constricting	conditioning;	rebirth	reveals
the	wonder	of	the	timeless	renewal	of	life	and	of	unexpected	possibilities. In	our	book,	
The	Child	of	Your	Dreams,
	Piero	Ferrucci	and	I	suggest	a	guided
imagery	of	our	ideal	birth,	
which	can	be	experienced	at	any	age. Choose	a
quiet	place	to	read	your	own	ideal	birth	without	interruption;	it	is	a	good	idea
to	make	your	own	recording	of	this	meditation	with	your	own	chosen	music,
inspiring	you	with	love	and	gratitude. Before	you	begin,	breathe	deeply	and
slowly	a	few	times. Let	each	breath	take	you	closer	to	that	place	in	yourself
that	is	untouched	by	all	impressions,	where	the	dramas	of	life	have	left	no
trace. There,	everything	is	still	possible,	no	thought	is	absurd,	and	everything
seems	to	be	happening	for	the	first	time.Create	Your	Own	Ideal	Birth
Close	your	eyes,	relax	for	a	while,	then	let	a	vivid	image	of	the	place	where
you	are	going	to	be	born	to	come	into	your	mind. Look	at	this	place,	smell	its
fragrance,	and	let	go	of	your	present	body. You’re	newly	born,	and	you	are
very	sensitive. You	feel	the	vibration	of	love	and	gratitude	all	around	you. There	is	a	deep,	natural	peace	in	this	birth,	and	you	feel	encircled	by	all	the
beings,	real	or	imaginary,	whom	you	love	and	respect. You	have	the	whole
creation	ready	to	welcome	you. You	see	your	favorite	flower,	which,	with	its
beauty	and	fragrance,	tells	you,	“Welcome,	I	am	grateful	you	are	born! Welcome	into	the	world,	into	the	world	of	flowers.”
Now	look	at	the	creatures,	each	welcoming	you	in	its	own	language. It	may
be	your	favorite	animal	welcoming	you	into	this	world,	perhaps	a	dog	giving
you	a	gentle	lick	or	a	dolphin	with	a	miraculous	flip	or	a	butterfly	with	its
fluttering	wings—they	all	welcome	you,	saying,	“I	am	grateful	you	are	born. The	world	of	creatures	welcomes	you.”
Now	you	see	the	stars	in	the	cosmos,	twinkling	everywhere. They,	too,	are
speaking	to	you,	saying,	“Welcome. I	am	grateful	you	are	born! Welcome	into
the	world,	into	the	world	of	stars.”
You	feel	your	entrance	into	a	world	that	respects	and	welcomes	you. You	feel
the	gratitude	of	this	world	enveloping	you. You	breathe	it	so	that	it	circulates
in	your	bodymind. You	feel	this	joy	of	entering	life,	of	a	welcoming	world
where	you	can	do	so	many	beautiful	things,	where	you	have	the	potential	of
giving	love	and	evoking	gratitude	in	others. Now	think	of	some	of	the	great	people	in	the	history	of	the	world—painters,
philosophers,	musicians,	poets. Think	of	your	favorite	ones	convening	here	to
celebrate	your	entrance	into	the	world. In	their	great	knowledge,	there	is
gratitude,	also. Beauty,	intelligence,	and	love	are	here,	gratefully
acknowledging	your	birth. You	are	a	miracle,	and	everyone	has	come	to	tell
you	so. It	has	taken	millions	of	years	of	evolution	to	produce	You,	a	noble
being	with	Godlike	potential. Plants	and	flowers,	animals	and	people,	are	all
here	to	remind	you,	to	tell	you:	“You	are	noble,	you	are	beautiful,	and	we	are
grateful	that	you	have	come	into	this	world.”	And	in	this	birth	there	is	joy. You	see	smiling	faces,	smiling	flowers,	smiling	creatures	dancing	around	you. The	whole	creation	rejoices	and	is	grateful	to	you. You	are	entering	a	world	where	everyone	is	caring,	a	world	where	giving	andreceiving	are	just	as	natural	as	breathing. You	are	grateful	for	this	new	world. This	gratitude	is	sinking	deep	into	you,	flowing	into	you,	and	becoming	one
with	your	own	blood. Now	your	Soul	and	your	Body	know	that…
Gratitude	is	heaven	itself! “Love	Is	the	Way	I	Walk	in	Gratitude”
(A	Course	in	Miracles)
Gerald	G.	Jampolsky,	M.D.,	and	Diane	V.	Cirincione
Dr.	Gerald	Jampolsky
	
and	
Diane	Cirincione
	
are	married	and	live	in	Tiburon,
California. Gerald	is	a	psychiatrist	and	founder	of	the	first	Center	for
Attitudinal	Healing. Diane	has	been	an	entrepreneur	with	25	years	of
experience	in	both	corporate	and	private	business. They	are	the	co-authors	of
WAKE-UP	CALLS,	a	book	that	reveals	how	we	may	achieve	peace	of	mind	by
utilizing	spiritual	principles	in	all	aspects	of	our	lives. Their	philosophy	is
based	on	concepts	from	A	COURSE	IN	MIRACLES. “
Love	is	the	way	I	walk	in	gratitude”
	is	a	quote	from	
A	Course	in	Miracles. It
is	a	walking	meditation	that	we	love	to	do	with	each	other. Every	step	that	we
take	we	remind	ourselves	that	Love	is	the	way	we	walk	in	gratitude. And
what	beautiful	peace	and	serenity	it	gives	to	us. Another	one	of	our	favorite	quotes	is	from	Meister	Eckhart,	who	states	that
the	most	important	prayer	in	the	world	is	just	two	words:	“Thank	you.”	It	is
our	deep	belief	that	everything	that	happens	to	us	is	a	lesson	that	God	would
have	us	learn. Our	lives	become	more	peaceful	when	we	stop	interpreting
everything	that	happens	to	us,	and	instead,	experience	everything	that
happens	to	us—no	matter	what	its	appearance—as	a	blessing	in	disguise. When	we	walk	our	pathway	in	life	with	a	“Thank	you”	in	our	hearts,	a
“Thank	you”	in	our	minds,	and	a	“Thank	you”	on	our	lips,	whatever	fear	we
may	have	been	holding	on	to	disappears,	and	the	purity	of	love	reappears. As
we	make	the	choice	to	lift	ourselves	up	from	the	perceptual	world	and	live	in
the	world	of	God’s	love,	“Thank	you”	becomes	a	way	of	life. The	teacher	that
resides	in	our	hearts	would	say	that	everything	that	happens	to	us	in	the
perceptual	world	is	but	a	new	opportunity	to	choose	the	belief	system	of	love,
of	God,	a	world	where	there	is	no	form,	just	love. By	surrendering	to	love,	by	surrendering	to	God,	we	can	go	through	each	dayacknowledging	one	another	with	gratitude. Imagine	what	the	world	would	be
if	the	only	words	we	spoke,	to	God	and	to	one	another,	were	“Thank	you.”
Each	time	we	express	our	gratitude	by	extending	our	love	to	all,	we	believe
that	there	is	a	little	more	light	in	the	world	and	a	little	less	darkness. How	quickly	our	world	changes	as	we	learn	to	return	all	the	love	that	is
continuously	given	to	us	by	our	Source. What	greater	gratitude	can	we	give	to
our	Creator	than	choosing	to	love	one	another	and	ourselves	by	seeing	the
face	of	God	in	everyone	and	knowing	that	it	is	a	reflection? There	is	a	prayer	that	Jerry	wrote	some	years	ago	that	we	both	like	doing	in
the	morning. I
N
	G
RATITUDE
	T
O
	Y
OU
My	whole	being	pulsates
with	the	fire	of	desire
for	our	everlasting	union. My	very	breath	is	but	Yours. My	heart	is	a	limitless	beacon
of	Your	Love. My	Spirit,	being	Yours,	is	the	Light	of	the	World. My	eyes	but	radiate	and	reflect
our	Perfect	Love. My	very	essence	vibrates	with	You	as	the
harmony	of	music	not	yet	heard. My	vision,	being	Yours,	can	only	bless. My	prayer	is	but	an	eternal	song	of	gratitude,
that	You	are	in	me,	and	I	am	in	You
and	that	I	live	in	Your	Grace	forever. Noticing	the	Abundance
Susan	Jeffers,	Ph.D.
Susan	Jeffers,	Ph.D.,
	
has	helped	millions	of	people	overcome	their	fears	and
move	forward	in	life	with	confidence	and	love. She	is	the	author	of	FEEL	THE
FEAR	AND	DO	IT	ANYWAY,	OPENING	OUR	HEARTS	TO	MEN,
THOUGHTS	OF	POWER	AND	LOVE,	and	END	THE	STRUGGLE	AND
DANCE	WITH	LIFE,	among	other	books. As	well	as	being	a	bestselling
author,	Susan	is	a	popular	workshop	leader	and	public	speaker	and	has	been
a	guest	on	many	radio	and	television	shows. She	has	also	created	many
audiocassettes	on	fear,	relationships,	and	personal	growth. When	I	worked	with	the	poor	in	New	York	City,	I	was	always	amazed	at	the
gratefulness	in	the	hearts	of	so	many	who,	in	a	material	sense,	had	very	little. What	were	they	grateful	for? They	were	grateful	to	be	alive,	to	have	food	on
their	table,	to	enjoy	the	sun	on	a	beautiful	day,	to	have	their	health,	their
friends,	their	family,	and	to	be	a	contributing	member	of	their	community. At	the	same	time,	I	was	always	amazed	by	the	lack	of	gratefulness	in	the
hearts	of	so	many	who,	in	a	material	sense,	had	so	much. If	you	were	to	ask
me	which	of	the	two	were	happier,	without	hesitation,	I	would	say	the	poor
with	gratefulness	in	their	hearts. What	I	am	talking	about	here	is	very	simple:
When	we	focus	on	abundance,	our	life	feels	abundant;	when	we	focus
on	lack,	our	life	feels	lacking. It	is	purely	a	matter	of	focus. It	is	true	that	we	can’t	be	in	denial	about	the	pain	in	our	life. That	is	damaging
to	our	physical	and	emotional	health. And	just	as	importantly,
We	can’t	be	in	denial	about	the	abundance	in	our	life! I	suggest	that	you	create	a	“Book	of	Abundance”	for	yourself. Each	nightbefore	you	go	to	bed,	jot	down	at	least	50	wonderful	things	that	happened	to
you	that	day. “Fifty	things,	Susan! I	can	hardly	think	of	three!”	Obviously,
you	have	not	been	noticing	the	blessings	in	your	life! The	purpose	of	this
exercise	is	to	help	you	do	so. Some	of	the	items	you	can	include	are:
My	car	started	•	I	am	able	to	walk	•	I	have	food	to	eat
	•	
Someone	paid
me	a	compliment
	•	
My	kids	haven’t	gotten	into	any	trouble	today
	•	
I	felt
the	sun’s	warmth	on	my	face
	•	
I	spoke	to	one	of	my	best	friends	•	The
flowers	are	starting	to	bloom
	•	
I	have	hot	water	in	my	shower
	•	
I’m
breathing	•	The	sun	came	out
The	items	in	your	Book	of	Abundance	do	not	have	to	be	splashes	of
brilliance. In	fact,	it	is	better	if	they	are	not. Always	keep	in	mind	that	if	we
focus	only	on	the	splashes	of	brilliance,	so	much	of	our	life	will	seem	drab…
which	it	definitely	is	not! Take	breathing,	for	example. Isn’t	it	incredibly,
wildly	extraordinary?! In	the	beginning,	finding	these	50	things	to	be	grateful	for	may	take	a	LONG,
LONG	time. Soon,	however,	the	blessings	will	pour	easily	onto	the	paper. That	is	because	you	will	spend	much	of	the	day	LOOKING	FOR	the
blessings	in	your	life	so	that	you	will	have	new	material	to	add	to	your	Book
of	Abundance	that	night. And	you	will	find	them! The	benefits	are	obvious…
As	you	start	looking	for	the	good,
your	focus	automatically	is	taken	off
the	bad…and	you	feel	blessed! If	you	can	make	noticing	the	abundance	a	habit,	your	life	will	be	transformed! I	remember	sitting	with	my	mom	in	her	living	room	on	a	cold,	dreary	winter
day	just	months	before	she	died. She	was	in	much	pain	and	was	feeling	very
weak. At	one	point	when	I	was	in	pain	about	her	pain,	she	looked	at	me	and
said,	“It’s	cold	outside…I’m	warm	and	cozy	inside. My	daughter	is	here…
sometimes	you	get	lucky.”
Wow! I	was	focusing	on	her	pain. She	was	focusing	on	her	blessings. Thanks,
Mom,	for	that	beautiful	lesson! “In	Everything	Give	Thanks’’
(I	Thess. 5:18)
Ione	Shockey	Jenson
Ione	Shockey	Jenson
	
is	a	counselor,	dream	therapist,	and	teacher	who	holds
degrees	in	education,	psychology,	and	counseling. She	is	the	coauthor	(with
Julie	Keene)	of	WOMEN	ALONE:	CREATING	A	JOYOUS	AND
FULFILLING	LIFE. She	is	also	the	author	of	the	self-published	book
EMPOWERING	THE	CHILD	FROM	WITHIN:	EDUCATION	AND
PARENTING	FOR	THE	TWENTY-FIRST	CENTURY. For	the	past	several
years,	Ione	has	been	conducting	workshops	and	doing	private	spiritual
counseling. She	is	co-founder	of	the	Holo	Center,	a	retreat	community	in
Hayden	Lake,	Idaho. Learning	about	and	understanding	the	concept	of	gratitude	has	been	a	lifelong
process. I	was	fortunate	to	be	born	into	a	family	who	believed—even	though
times	were	hard	and	we	didn’t	always	have	much	in	the	way	of	worldly	goods
—that	if	you	were	grateful	for	what	you	had,	God	would	always	provide	the
rest. And,	of	course,	we	always	had	what	we	needed	plus	a	little	more	that
could	be	shared. Both	my	ideas	and	understanding	of	the	concept	of	gratitude	have	grown	and
expanded	through	the	years. As	a	child,	sitting	between	my	parents	in	church
on	Sunday	mornings,	I	often	heard	these	words	read	from	scripture:	
“In
everything	give	thanks!”
	And	my	young	mind	responded	with:	“Yes,	one
needs	to	be	grateful	for	every	good	thing	that	happens	in	one’s	life.”	From
time	to	time,	through	the	years	of	my	youth,	those	words	replayed	in	my
consciousness,	and	I	learned	to	be	grateful	for	many	obvious	things. I
expressed	gratitude	for	gifts	received,	kindnesses	bestowed,	educational
opportunities	not	anticipated,	and	all	the	good	times	and	friends	I	experienced
in	the	course	of	living. As	a	young	farm	wife,	I	learned	to	be	grateful	for	wondrous	and	simplethings,	such	as	the	cooling	rain	that	came	down	on	a	hot	summer’s	day	to	give
our	thirsty	crops	the	moisture	they	needed	so	badly. And,	one	year,	after	a
sudden	thunder-and	hailstorm	devastated	our	corn	crop,	I	was	even	able	to
feel	gratitude	for	the	meager	crop	insurance	that	would	help	us	survive	our
loss	and	enable	us	to	stay	on	the	farm	another	year. It	was	easy	to	be	grateful	when,	as	a	young	mother,	I	sent	joyful	and
unbounded	thanks	for	the	precious	gift	of	my	children. It	was	with	an
overflowing	heart	that	I	cared	for	them	and	watched	them	grow	and
eventually	develop	into	the	beautiful	men	they	have	become. My	life	was
filled	with	gratitude	for	the	warmth	and	closeness	of	our	family. There	were
always	so	many	things	to	be	appreciative	of,	and	I	have	often	offered	sincere
prayers	of	gratitude	as	I	counted	my	blessings. As	an	educator,	I	took	great	pride	and	joy	in	my	work	and	was	always	grateful
that	I	could	labor	at	something	I	loved,	something	that	could	make	a
difference	in	the	world. I	was	grateful	that	I	could	touch	the	young	lives	of	so
many	children	and	be	the	recipient	of	so	much	love	and	so	many	unlimited
opportunities. I	did	indeed	feel	blessed. “In	everything	give	thanks.”
	Then,	as	it	sometimes	happens,	one	day	(21
years	ago)	while	browsing	through	a	bookstore,	my	eyes	caught	a	glimpse	of
a	book	with	an	intriguing	title:	
From	Prison	to	Praise,
	by	Merlin	Carothers. This	book	introduced	me	to	an	intriguing	idea. The	author	expressed	the
conviction	that	giving	thanks	in	EVERYTHING	meant	being	grateful	for	all
things—good	and	bad	alike. While	the	concept	was	a	novel	one	to	me,	the
case	made	by	Mr.	Carothers	was	convincing,	and	I	decided	to	try	it	out. Not
surprisingly,	I	discovered	a	new	dimension	of	gratitude	and	found	that	there
was	power	in	giving	gratitude,	even	during	the	“bad	times.”
Expressing	gratitude	even	when	things	went	wrong	was	much	more	difficult
to	do,	but	I	was	also	amazed	at	the	outcome	of	doing	so. I	discovered	that	the
scripture	
“God	inhabits	the	praise	of	His	people”
	was	to	remind	us	that
gratitude	releases	an	energy	that	could	begin	turning	things	around,	and	when
I	did	so,	it	imbued	me	with	the	strength	and	ability	to	surmount	whatever	was
happening	in	my	outer	world. Eventually,	I	would	see	that	what	had	often
appeared	as	a	negative	circumstance	was	really	the	pivotal	point	for	a	new
direction	that	I	would	take. Often,	in	retrospect,	I	could	see	clearly	that	it	had
been	a	blessing	in	disguise	and	had	led	me	into	a	deeper	and	more	meaningful
place.In	the	years	since	discovering	that	wonderful	aspect	to	thanksgiving,	I	find
that	being	grateful	for	each	new	day	as	I	awaken	fills	all	my	days	with
anticipation	as	I	look	for	the	blessings	all	around	me,	and	as	one	by	one,	they
unfold	in	magnificent	synchronicity. Each	morning,	I	bless	my	body	for	being
the	“outermost	layer	of	my	soul”	and	for	serving	me	so	efficiently	and	well	as
I	move	through	my	life’s	lessons	and	pleasures. I	am	grateful	for	the
friendship	and	cooperation	that	my	body	and	I	enjoy. Many	years	ago,	I	began
using	my	daily	newspaper	as	my	prayer	list,	and	as	I	pray	for	those	whose
stories	are	written	across	its	pages,	I	find	much	to	be	grateful	for	in	my	own
life. I	have	been	a	student	of	dreams	for	many	years,	and	occasionally	my	psyche
bypasses	the	symbolic	process,	and	I	awaken	with	a	word	message—a
sentence	or	two	running	through	my	mind. I	immediately	write	the	message
down	lest	it	be	forgotten,	and	one	morning	I	awoke	with	the	words,	“Proceed
through	your	days	in	an	attitude	of	gratitude.”	As	I	pondered	the	levels	of
meaning	inherent	in	those	words,	I	realized	that	gratitude	can	be	an	act	of	will
as	well	as	an	emotion	or	feeling. Gratitude	can	become	a	chosen	lifestyle. “In	everything	give	thanks!”
	Now,	I	can	be	equally	in	awe	of,	and	grateful
for,	a	coastal	sunset	or	the	learning	process	inherent	in	an	illness	or	a	time	of
confusion. I	can	be	grateful	for	my	unshakable	faith	in	Divine	Order	as	my
child	faces	a	life-threatening	illness	over	which	I	have	no	control,	and	in
which	I	have,	as	yet,	to	fully	discover	all	the	lessons	and	meanings	it	holds. I
am	grateful	for	the	times	of	connection	with	those	I	love,	and	I	am	equally
grateful	for	the	times	of	disagreement	and	estrangement	that	mirror	for	me
new	lessons	to	learn	and	insights	to	be	discerned. I	am	truly	GRATEFUL	for
discovering	the	power	of	gratitude	in	my	life,	and	I	shall	always	continue	to
give	thanks	in	EVERYTHING! Grateful	Is	Good
Elizabeth	A.	Johnson
Elizabeth	A.	Johnson
	
is	the	author	of	AS	SOMEONE	DIES:	A	HANDBOOK
FOR	THE	LIVING;	and	is	co-author,	with	Lucia	Capacchione,	of	LIGHTEN
UP	YOUR	BODY,	LIGHTEN	UP	YOUR	LIFE. She	has	produced	music,
dance,	and	theatrical	performances	throughout	the	United	States,	and	also
promotes	numerous	arts-in-education	programs. A	long-time	student	of
Eastern	and	Western	movement	and	philosophy,	Elizabeth	is	a	certified	T’ai
Chi	instructor,	as	well	as	a	jazz	and	tap	dancer. I	am	not	fond	of	snow. Cold	wet	winds	neither
exhilarate	nor	enthuse	me. To	praise	with	joy	the	glory	of
harsh	winter
would	be—for	me
—
to	sing	a	lie. And	yet
What	graceful	glory,	serenity	of	silence,	as	the	full	fat	moon	sends	tiny	beams
to	reflect	on	snowflakes	resting,	like	bridal	lace,	on	the	arms	of	great	trees. The	absolute	stillness	of	mid-winter’s	eve	unites	above	with	below	in	such
perfect	symmetry	that	my	heart	swells,	and	I	almost	cry	at	the	deep	beauty,
deeper	quiet,	deepest	Oneness	of	it	all. Thank	you. I	am	not	particularly	pleased
with	things	that	slip	and	slide	about
on	ice
—
like	cars	and	feet
—
or	single	digit	temperatures
on	either	side	of	zero. And	stillI	thank	Beauty	Blue—my	car—and	the	fine	folks	who	produced	her	Die	Hard
Long	Life	battery;	along	with	most	sincere,	incredibly	sincere,	really	truly
sincere,	appreciation	to	whoever	invented	car	heaters. And,	in	the	like	line	of
motion,	I	take	a	moment	to	thank	my	feet	for	dancing	(tap	tap	tap),	and	I	send
a	warm	wish	to	every	winter	dancer	who	de-ices	a	path	to	the	studio	door	and
bundles	up	for	the	warm-up. I	thank	T’ai	Chi	for	everything! My	spirit	does	not	gleefully	jump	at
soggy	mittens,	wind	weepy	eyes,	cold	ears,
red	nose,	almost	frozen	fingers	and	toes,
icicles	forming	in	my	hair,	or
leaving	my	gloves	in	the	car
overnight. And	also
Happily	I	extend	heartfelt	gratefulness	to:	soup,	fuzzy	slippers,	a	big
bathrobe,	ear	muffs,	gospel	choirs	with	clapping	hands,	the	sun,	spring	floral
potpourri,	down	comforters,	snooze	alarms,	hot	water,	the	fireplace,	bright
blue	skies,	red	socks,	the	good	idea	of	dressing	in	layers,	the	sun,	flannel
sheets,	my	dog	who	climbs	snow	drifts	and	my	cat	who	does	not,	hot	tea	with
milk,	leg	warmers,	friends	in	big	sweaters,	the	sun,	sheep	who	share	their
wool,	snow	men/women,	new	winter	haircuts	and	Lady	Clairol,	the	sun,
toddlers	toddling	in	snowsuits	of	color,	a	hot	toddy,	boots,	flowers	of	any
kind,	and,	oh	yes,	the	sun. It	is	not	terribly	thrilling	for	me
when	parts	of	life	are	closed	or	canceled
like	school	and	work,	all	dance	classes,	and
airports,	roads,	the	grocery	stores,	the	gas	station. Snow. Snow. Shovel. Snow. Scrappy	little	snowflakes! And	so
Auriel	Rose,	my	angel,	giggles	as	I	turn	to	the	window	and	see	laughing
teenage	neighbors	snow-blowing	my	driveway	and	the	mailman	in	hip	boots
maneuvering	his	route,	singing	loud	and	clear. I	am	reminded	that	God	loves
to	smile. So	I	sit	in	my	kitchen,	crystal-induced	rainbows	flitting	on	the	walls. Nothing	to	do	today. The	snow	is	quite	massive. There	is	nowhere	to	go. Nothing	to	do	today. What	a	concept! What	fine	fortune! Nothing	to	do	today.So	I	think	I	will	think	today! Think	about	many	things	today. Past-present-
future	things. All	connecting	things. Big,	little,	loving	things. The	Universe
and	me	things. Way	upstate	New	York	things	and	Christenstaad,	St.	Croix
things. Happy	things,	reflective	things. Thank	you—thank	you—thank	you
things. And	when	the	moon,	my	sister,	is	brilliantly	high	in	the	sky,	Auriel	Rose	and	I
will	visit	outside,	and	each	of	us	will	make	one	perfect	snow	angel. That	will	be	the	wonderful	winter	thank-you	note. Then	all	can	see	our
gratitude	and	how	joyful
it	is. Great	Days
Patrice	Karst
Patrice	Karst
	
is	the	author	of	the	book	GOD	MADE	EASY. She	has	been	a
writer	and	spiritual	seeker	most	of	her	life. She	speaks	to	audiences	about	the
wonder	of	bringing	God	into	their	lives	in	whatever	form	they	feel
comfortable	with. She	lives	at	the	beach	in	Los	Angeles	with	her	son,	Elijah,
where	they	enjoy	hiking,	ice	cream	parties,	and	gazing	at	shooting	stars. As	the	mother	of	a	small	child,	I	have	often	found	myself	suffering	from	the
“poor	me”	blues. Raising	a	child	alone	is	the	greatest	challenge	that	I	have
ever	been	confronted	with—emotionally,	physically,	and	spiritually. When	the
loneliness,	fear,	tedium,	and	exhaustion	have	had	their	say,	it	can	get	really
old. And,	no	matter	how	much	I’ve	told	myself	that	compared	to	most	of	the
other	six	billion	souls	on	the	planet	I	lead	a	charmed	life,	I	realized	recently
that	I	still	wasn’t	getting	to	that	state	of	peace	I	desired. So,	I	came	up	with	a	project	to	get	busy	and	take	my	focus	off	my	struggle. Each	night	before	I	fall	asleep,	my	ritual	is	to	thank	God	for	something	that
has	occurred	during	the	day,	something	I	am	truly	grateful	for. Well,	guess
what	happened? A	miracle! I	find	myself	walking	around	in	a	state	of	grace
and	gratitude	most	of	the	day. And,	as	my	mind	goes	through	the	day
searching	for	its	“homework	assignment,”	I	can	see	just	how	many	precious
events	occur	during	each	24-hour	period. From	the	most	simple	moments,	such	as	the	sound	of	my	neighbors’	wind
chimes	tinkling	in	the	breeze,	to	the	kind	smile	on	the	gas	station	attendant’s
face,	to	the	warmth	in	my	heart	when	my	son	Eli	runs	in	from	play	just	to	tell
me	he	loves	me	“bigger	than	the	ocean,	sky,	and	a	hundred	trillion	moons,”	I
now	seem	to	have	a	long	list	each	night! I	remain	in	awe	(and	profound	relief)	that	no	matter	how	overwhelming	and
scary	this	journey	called	“life”	is,	when	I	slow	down	enough,	I	realize	that	it’s
all	just	made	up	of	hundreds	of	thousands	of	“moments,”	most	of	which	arepretty	darn	wonderful	if	I	just	take	the	time	to	witness	and	appreciate	them. May	we	all	remember	to	see	and	feel	the	Divine	in	everything—from	a	cool
iced	tea	on	a	balmy	day,	to	the	warmth	of	the	blankets	that	cover	and	comfort
us	all	night. And	may	we	pay	attention	to	all	the	miracles	that	truly	do	dance
all	around	us	when	we	have	the	eyes	to	see	and	the	ears	to	hear. Bless	It	All! Julie	Keene
Julie	Keene
	
was	formerly	a	professor	at	Ferris	State	University	in	Michigan,
then	went	on	to	serve	as	a	minister	in	Unity	churches	throughout	the	country. She	is	the	co-author	(with	Ione	Jenson)	of	WOMEN	ALONE:	CREATING	A
JOYOUS	AND	FULFILLING	LIFE,	and	has	also	authored	an
autobiographical	work	called	FROM	SOAP	OPERA	TO	SYMPHONY. She
now	works	and	lives	in	Gainesville,	Florida,	where	she	conducts	workshops
with	a	focus	on	spiritual	and	psychological	growth. Gratitude	and	trust	are	closely	related. In	order	to	be	thankful	for	everyone
and	everything	in	my	life,	I	need	to	trust	that	the	Universe	makes	sense,	that
everything	my	soul	has	chosen	to	experience	this	lifetime	has	been	for	my
ultimate	Highest	Good. I	trust	that	when	it	appears	I’m	failing,	I’m	only
learning. I	make	a	great	effort	to	bless	my	life	just	as	it	is,	both	the	so-called
triumphs	and	disasters. A	line	from	Kipling’s	poem	
If
	often	comes	to	mind:
“If	you	can	meet	with	triumph	and	disaster	and	treat	these	two	impostors	just
the	same.”
When	I	remind	myself	that	I	am	a	student	in	Earth	School	choosing	those
lessons	that	enhance	my	soul’s	purpose,	it’s	possible	to	more	readily	bless
every	circumstance	of	my	life. Of	course,	from	a	more	unenlightened	segment
of	myself,	I	sometimes	wonder,	“Why	did	I	choose	this	particular	misery?”
Yet,	gratitude	for,	and	trust	in,	the	ultimate	justice	of	the	Universe	is	the	best
antidote	for	the	poisonous	emotions	of	self-pity	and	resentment. I	find	it
impossible	to	experience	gratitude	and	negative	emotions	simultaneously. Author	Elisabeth	Kübler-Ross	reminds	us,	“Should	you	shield	the	canyons
from	the	windstorms,	you	would	never	see	the	beauty	of	their	carvings.”	I’ve
learned	to	bless	and	give	thanks	for	the	windstorms	that	have	shaped	my	life. When	my	soul	arrived	in	Earth	School,	it	set	up	some	challenging	lessons. Many	years	went	by	before	I	learned	to	see	the	blessings	in	these	experiences. When	I	could	honestly	begin	to	understand	their	purpose	and	to	feel	gratitudefor	them,	I	made	an	escape	from	the	darkness	of	a	victim’s	prison	into	the
light	of	freedom	and	joy. Although	“illegitimate”	was	stamped	on	my	birth	certificate,	I	am	grateful	I
now	know	God	has	no	illegitimate	children. I	acknowledge	God’s	indwelling
presence	and	embrace	my	innate	worth	as	I	go	about	completing	my
legitimate	Earth	School	assignments. Although	I	was	physically	and	sexually
abused	as	a	child,	I	am	grateful	that	I	now	know	my	Spirit	is	indestructible
and	cannot	be	harmed	by	anything	done	to	the	Earth	Suit. Although	I’ve
experienced	“failed”	relationships,	I’m	grateful	that	every	relationship
presents	unique	opportunities	to	practice	love	and	forgiveness,	opportunities
to	learn	about	myself	at	deeper	levels. I’m	grateful	that	it’s	possible	to	learn
from	relationships	after	they	are	over. My	oldest	son	Richard	died	when	he	was	nine,	and	I’m	so	very	grateful	that	I
know	that	each	soul	chooses	its	Earth	School	experiences,	including	the
manner	and	time	of	departure	from	the	Earth	plane. In	Reality,	there	is	no
death;	the	soul	is	ageless	and	eternal,	and	love	knows	no	barriers	of	time	or
space. My	second	son	Robert	nearly	died	when	he	was	two	and	suffered	brain
damage	as	a	result	of	the	illness. I	am	grateful	that	I	know	that	Robert	chose
this	Earth	School	lesson,	and	as	his	mother,	that	I	chose	the	experience	with
him. I’ve	felt	much	pain	watching	him	struggle	with	life,	but	he	has
demanded	from	me,	and	thus	has	taught	me,	unconditional	love. Such	a	great
gift! Looking	back	over	my	life,	I	can	see	the	beauty	that	the	windstorms	have
carved. I	trust	current	and	future	challenges	to	facilitate	additional	soul
growth. My	heart	is	filled	with	gratitude	for	all	the	people	and	events	in	my
life	because	I	now	understand	their	Higher	Purpose. My	heart	overflows	with
gratitude	for	the	Divine	Love	that	enfolds,	guides,	protects,	and	sustains	us
all! Gratitude:	One	of	Life’s	Most	Important	Lessons
Kimberly	Lockwood
Kimberly	Lockwood
	
is	a	traveler	on	the	spiritual	path	whose	sunny,	positive
outlook	on	life	makes	her	an	inspiration	and	role	model	for	her	family	and
friends. She	is	most	grateful	for	her	role	as	wife	and	mother	to	Barry	and
Brittany	Lockwood,	respectively. She	credits	her	family,	and	the	Church	of
Religious	Science	as	important	catalysts	for	her	own	growth	process. She	is	a
resident	of	La	Costa,	California. Gratitude	is	one	of	life’s	most	important	lessons. It	can	also	be	one	of	the
simplest,	if	we	learn	it	the	first	time	around. As	a	child,	when	I	said	thank	you,	I	was	saying	what	my	parents	had	taught
me	to	say. I	did	not	have	that	true	feeling	of	gratefulness. It	was	just
something	I	did;	it	was	what	my	parents	called	“good	manners.”
As	I	grew,	this	practice	just	became	a	good	habit:	“Always	be	polite,	always
respect	your	elders;	always	say	’Please’	and	’Thank	you.”’
As	an	adult,	I	began	to	appreciate	the	things	around	me—how	beautiful	the
mountains	are	in	the	fall,	the	snow-capped	peaks	in	winter,	the	vibrant	colors
of	spring	flowers,	and	how	fresh	and	clean	the	air	smells	after	it	has	rained. I
started	to	see	the	beauty	in	the	world	around	me. Was	this	gratitude	I	was
feeling? Time	went	on,	and	I	enjoyed	life	and	what	it	had	to	offer. I	found	the	most
wonderful	partner. We	became	friends	and	then	grew	to	love	each	other. We
went	through	some	tough	times,	but	we	grew	stronger	as	a	couple	as	a	result. A	year	or	so	later,	we	were	married. Everything	was	wonderful! It	was	now	time	to	settle	down	and	start	our	life
together. But	instead,	we	went	a	little	crazy	for	a	while,	just	doing	whatever
we	wanted,	whenever	we	wanted. If	we	wanted	something,	we	bought	it. Itdidn’t	matter	whether	we	had	the	cash	or	not;	we	simply	charged	it. After	a	while,	we	stopped	and	looked	at	what	we	were	doing	to	ourselves. It
was	not	a	pretty	sight! Where	did	our	gratitude	go? We	were	taking	things	for
granted,	not	appreciating	what	we	had. Just	wanting	more,	more,	more. Okay,	time	to	straighten	ourselves	out. We	started	a	savings	account,	only
paid	cash	for	things,	and	stopped	going	overboard	with	gifts. Family	and
friends	will	love	us	no	matter	how	much	we	spend	on	them,	we	realized. Times	were	very	tough	while	we	dug	ourselves	out	of	our	financial	hole. So,	I
can	tell	you	that	I	am	really	excited	to	have	a	little	cash	in	my	wallet	these
days! As	time	went	by,	I	became	pregnant—a	wonderful	surprise	to	my	husband
and	me. As	the	months	passed	and	that	little	life	grew	inside	of	me,	so	did	our
gratitude. Being	able	to	experience	this	miracle	was	the	greatest	gift	we	had
ever	been	given. On	the	day	our	daughter	was	born	and	she	was	handed	to	my	husband,	I	have
to	say	that	watching	his	face	was	incredible—his	eyes	filled	with	tears	of	joy. You	could	see	the	love	he	was	feeling. Then,	he	placed	her	in	my	arms,	and
all	I	could	say	was,	“Thank	you,	God!”	Tears	streamed	down	our	faces. We
had	truly	been	blessed. As	I	looked	into	my	daughter’s	eyes,	I	was	completely
overwhelmed	with	love	and	gratitude. She	was	an	angel	from	God. I	finally	got	it—the	ultimate	feeling	of	gratitude. I	carry	that	feeling	with	me
every	day. Gratitude	is	a	special	gift. Don’t	take	anything	for	granted. Love
and	appreciate	everything	in	your	life. It’s	there	for	a	reason—learn	from	it. And	remember,	when	you	say	thank	you,	really	feel	thankful. I	do! So	Many	Blessings
Sir	John	Mason
Sir	John	Mason
	
was	born	in	Manchester,	England,	in	1927. He	was	educated
at	Manchester	Grammar	School	and	Cambridge,	where	he	graduated	with	a
Master	of	Arts	in	history. He	served	in	the	British	Army	during	World	War	II
and	the	Korean	War,	where	he	reached	the	rank	of	Captain,	John	served	in	the
British	Foreign	Service	from	1952	to	1984,	serving	in	Rome,	Warsaw,
Damascus,	and	New	York. From	1976	to	1980,	he	was	British	Ambassador	to
Israel;	and	from	1980	to	1984,	he	was	British	High	Commissioner	to
Australia. He	retired	in	1984	and	settled	in	Australia,	where	he	has	been
chairman	of	many	large	companies. He	is	a	dual	British-American	citizen. In
1954,	he	married	Margaret	Newton,	and	they	have	a	grown	son	and	daughter. John	was	knighted	in	1980. I	am	68	years	old,	and	I	have	nothing	in	my	life	not	to	be	grateful	about. I’m
grateful	to	all	the	people	who	have	given	me	so	many	reasons	to	be	grateful. I
have	so	many	blessings	that	I	lose	count	of	them. I	will	first	try	to	count	some	of	my	personal	blessings	and	then	those	that	I
share	with	others	in	the	world. Personal	Blessings
My	parents	gave	me	high	intelligence,	motivation,	and	a	secure	and	happy
home. They	encouraged	me	to	win	the	scholarships,	which,	thanks	to
excellent	teaching,	paid	for	my	education. It	may	not	be	politically	correct	to	say	so,	but	I	count	myself	fortunate	to	have
been	born	hetero-sexual	because…the	greatest	blessing	of	my	life	has	been	40
years	of	marriage	to	a	wonderfully	patient	and	loving	lady,	to	whom	I	am,	of
course,	endlessly	grateful. I	hope	I	remember	to	tell	her	so. She	gave	us	two
admirable	children,	who	are	not	only	happy	and	fulfilled,	but	also	on	speakingterms	with	each	other	and	ourselves.
_OceanofPDF.com_Gratitude_-_Louise_Hay.txt
Summarize the following text section accurately and concisely. Maintain specific details and numerical information, and use anti-repetition mechanisms:

        In	principle,	this	always	leads	to	awareness. Gratitude	is	an	access	to	awareness,	and	awareness	is	a	doorway	to	love,
unceasing. It	is	a	turn	of	mind,	a	re-orientation,	a	commitment	in
consciousness	towards	love	and	acceptance	of	what	is. We	all	can	do	this. We
must	only	be	willing. The	practice	of	gratitude	saves	us	from	our	painful
human	storyline,	for	it	requires	us	to	look	deeper	into	our	lives	and	the	people
around	us. The	surface	rarely	holds	depth;	rather,	it	obscures	it. Gratitude
enriches	and	deepens	the	colorful	fabric	of	our	lives	by	allowing	us	to	see
more. It	is	impossible	to	feel	worry,	anger,	depression,	or	any	negative	emotion	of
any	kind	in	the	presence	of	genuine	gratitude. A	beautiful	sunny	day	and	a
dark,	stormy	day	cannot	occur	in	the	same	place	at	the	same	time. So	does	the
practice	of	gratitude	redirect	our	minds	away	from	fear	and	toward	the	truth,
clearing	out	all	negativity,	pain,	and	suffering. I	have	a	preventive
maintenance	program	for	resignation,	cynicism,	and	doubt. Every	day,	more
than	once,	I	search	my	mind	for	all	that	I	have	to	be	grateful	for. Noticing	the
constant	flow	of	prosperity,	riches,	and	wealth	coming	toward	me	leads	to	a
welcome	and	reliable	constant:	peace	of	mind. So,	if	you	are	not	yet	someone	who	on	a	daily	basis	practices	gratitude,	like
an	unending	prayer	or	background	music	for	your	life,	I	invite	you	to	consider
the	possibility	of	doing	so,	beginning	now. Come	up	to	the	higher	room. Gratitude	requires	responsibility. See	and	begin	to	own	your	valuable
contributions	and	talents. Acknowledge	the	people	in	your	life:	those	you	love
and	those	you	may	not	love. In	a	true	sense,	they	are	all	the	same. They	are
your	teachers. Be	grateful	for	them. While	doing	so,	realize	how	powerful	you
are,	how	moving	your	life	is,	and	to	what	extent	you	are	blessed	in	just	being
here. And	then	watch	what	happens. Gratitude	Feels	Good. Sylvia	Friedman
Sylvia	Friedman
	
has	been	an	astrologer,	human	behavior	consultant,	and
handwriting	analyst	for	over	20	years,	and	has	appeared	as	a	guest	expert	on
numerous	TV	programs,	including
	
Oprah
	
and
	
AM	Chicago. A	resident	of
Chicago,	Sylvia	is	the	author	of	THE	STARS	IN	YOUR	FAMILY:	HOW
ASTROLOGY	AFFECTS	RELATIONSHIPS	BETWEEN	PARENTS	AND
CHILDREN. It’s	important	to	set	aside	time	for	gratitude. When	you	look	into	yourself	and
into	your	life,	it	may	be	easier	to	see	the	bad	before	the	good. But	remember:
thinking	negatively	will	bring	down	your	self-confidence	and	will	make
difficult	situations	worse. Those	of	you	who	believe	in	the	idea	of	self-
fulfilling	prophecies	can	understand	that	it’s	better	to	open	your	minds	and
hearts	to	the	good	things	that	can	happen,	rather	than	to	the	bad. I’m	sure	that
most	of	us	can	remember	the	beautiful,	simple	moments	in	life,	such	as
smiling	at	a	stranger	in	the	supermarket	and	receiving	a	smile	in	return. Wouldn’t	it	be	wonderful	if	we	could	freeze	those	moments	in	time	so	that	we
could	fully	appreciate	when	someone	squeezed	our	hand,	shared	a	laugh	with
us	in	the	movies,	or	sat	quietly	by	our	side	to	comfort	us. Each	day	offers	a
reason	for	gratitude,	and	we	need	to	look	for	those	special	moments	and
remember	them. Good	health,	the	ability	to	help	others,	and	the	support	of
good	friends	are	all	reasons	to	be	grateful. Nothing	in	life	should	be	taken	for
granted. Each	day	I	personally	thank	my	parents	for	giving	me	the	freedom	to
make	my	own	choices	in	life. Inner	strength	comes	from	holding	on	to	the	one
person	who	can	help	you—yourself. I	have	always	been	impressed	with	the	song	“The	Best	Things	in	Life	Are
Free. ”	Gratitude	is	free—there	is	no	cost. Nature’s	miracles,	such	as	the
flowers	in	bloom,	the	leaves	when	they	turn	bright	colors	in	the	fall,	or	the
sky	when	it’s	blue,	remind	us	of	the	simple	pleasures	in	life. I	remember	a
friend	of	mine	who	was	going	through	a	very	sad	time	telling	me:	“I’mthankful	when	the	sun	is	shining,	as	it	gives	me	a	positive	feeling. ”	I	smiled
and	told	her,	“The	sun	shines	not	on	us,	but	
in
	us. ”
I	wake	up	each	day,	and	I’m	grateful	to	hear	my	phone	ringing	because	I
know	that	it’s	one	of	my	friends	checking	in	to	see	that	I’m	okay. I	thank	God
that	I	can	look	out	my	window	at	the	lake	and	begin	each	day	with	peace. Many	of	us	have	similar	opportunities,	and	it’s	so	important	to	appreciate
them. Those	of	us	who	have	struggled	to	receive	the	good	can	be	thankful	that
we	have	had	the	energy	and	strength	to	fight	for	what	we	believed	in. If	we
have	faith	in	ourselves,	our	own	self-esteem	will	bring	us	to	the	place	where
we	need	to	be. When	our	path	draws	us	to	the	harder	lessons	in	life,	it’s	best
to	learn	from	them	and	move	on. Hope,	faith,	and	optimism	give	us	the
strength	to	hold	on	to	tomorrow. Life	can	be	a	real	challenge,	but	our	dreams
can	come	true	if	we	are	thankful	for	what	we	have	already	been	given. Finally,	we	can	all	be	grateful	for	the	courage	that	allows	us	to	take	personal
risks,	since	believing	in	ourselves	is	the	most	important	strength	we	have. We
all	have	the	ability	to	gather	love,	friendship,	and	knowledge	before	life
passes	us	by. It’s	up	to	us	to	make	the	effort. Those	of	us	who	understand	the
importance	of	gratitude	can	encourage	others	to	recognize	their	own	special
moments. Gratitude	feels	good. Being	Grateful	During	Life’s	Challenges
Shakti	Gawain
Shakti	Gawain
	
is	the	bestselling	author	of	CREATIVE	VISUALIZATION,
LIVING	IN	THE	LIGHT,	RETURN	TO	THE	GARDEN,	AWAKENING,	THE
PATH	OF	TRANSFORMATION,	and	several	other	books. A	warm,	articulate,
and	inspiring	teacher,	Shakti	leads	workshops	internationally. For	more	than
20	years,	she	has	facilitated	thousands	of	people	in	learning	to	trust	and	act
on	their	own	inner	truth,	thus	releasing	and	developing	their	creativity	in
every	area	of	their	lives. Shakti	and	her	husband,	Jim	Burns,	are	co-founders
of	Nataraj	Publishing. They	make	their	home	in	Mill	Valley,	California,	and
on	the	Hawaiian	island	of	Kauai. It	is	relatively	easy	to	feel	grateful	when	good	things	are	happening	and	life	is
going	the	way	we	want	it	to. Even	then,	we	often	take	things	for	granted. It
feels	so	good	to	take	a	moment	to	express	our	appreciation	to	other	people,	to
the	earth,	to	our	higher	power,	to	life. A	much	greater	challenge	is	to	get	in	touch	with	gratitude	when	we	are	going
through	a	difficult	time,	or	life	is	not	going	the	way	we	think	it	should. At
these	times,	we	are	more	likely	to	be	feeling	hurt,	confused,	or	resentful,
which	is	perfectly	natural. Gratitude	is	the	last	thing	that	would	occur	to	us	at
such	a	moment. There	have	been	times	in	my	life	when	I	felt	more	like
shaking	my	fist	at	the	universe,	wondering	why	it	was	dealing	me	such	a	cruel
blow. It’s	interesting,	though,	that	after	going	through	a	difficult	time,	in	retrospect
we	can	often	see	that	there	was	something	important	and	necessary	about	that
experience. We	may	not	arrive	at	this	perspective	until	months	or	even	years
later,	but	eventually	we	can	see	that	there	was	some	important	lesson	learned,
a	deepening	of	our	wisdom,	an	awakening,	or	perhaps	a	new	door	that	opened
in	our	life	as	a	result	of	events	that	seemed	negative	at	the	time. For	example,	the	loss	of	a	job	may	have	led	us	to	spiritual	or	emotionalhealing. The	ending	of	a	relationship	may	give	us	the	opportunity	to	discover
that	we	need	time	alone,	or	it	may	pave	the	way	for	a	more	satisfying
partnership. At	that	point,	we	may	begin	to	feel	grateful	that	life	unfolded	as	it
did. Usually,	a	painful	time	in	our	life	is	what	I	call	a	“healing	crisis. ”	We	are
letting	go	of	something	old,	and	opening	to	something	new. Often,	it	happens
because	we	have	
already
	grown	in	consciousness,	and	therefore	can	no	longer
live	in	the	old	way. Sometimes	we	are	being	confronted	with	a	necessary
change	that	we	must	make	within	ourselves	and/or	in	our	lives. There	is	a
grieving	process	that	we	must	go	through	as	we	let	go	of	something	we’ve
been	attached	to. We	must	allow	ourselves	to	feel	our	fear	and	sadness,	and
we	can	also	remind	ourselves	that	there	is	a	gift	in	this	experience	that	we
simply	can’t	yet	see. So	if	you	are	going	through	a	healing	crisis	in	your	life	right	now,	reach	out
for	as	much	support	and	love	as	you	can,	and	allow	yourself	to	fully
experience	all	the	feelings	that	come	up. Ask	that	the	gift	in	this	experience	be
revealed	to	you	as	soon	as	you	are	ready	for	it. And	remember	that	after	a
little	time	passes	and	you	gain	perspective,	you	will	once	again	feel	grateful
for	the	amazing	journey	of	your	life. Gratitude	Is	a	Sanctuary…
Michele	Gold
Michele	Gold
	
is	the	author	of	the	beautiful	coffee-table	book	ANGELS	OF
THE	SEA:	SACRED	DOLPHIN	ART	OF	ATLANTIS. Her	award-winning
spiritual	artwork	and	storytelling	reflects	dream	imagery,	visions,	myth,	and
the	actual	experience	of	swimming	with	families	of	wild	dolphins. Her	work
has	appeared	in	national	publications	films,	and	has	been	exhibited	in	private
and	corporate	collections	around	the	world. Possessing	a	deep	love	and
respect	for	all	of	life,	it	is	Michele’s	greatest	hope	that	others	will	share	her
compassion	for	these	exquisite	dolphin	beings. Michele	is	a	professional	fine-
art	illustrator,	writer,	photographer,	dancer,	and	musician	who	believes	that
love	is	always	the	answer. My	father	told	me	a	wonderful	story	about	a	father	who	gave	his	young
daughter	a	simple	locket	and	told	her	that	it	contained	a	very	valuable
diamond	sealed	inside	the	locket,	so	if	at	any	time	she	was	ever	in	need,	she
could	crack	open	the	locket,	sell	the	diamond,	and	make	it	through
difficulties. The	daughter	grew	into	a	woman	and	struggled	alone	through	terrible	times	of
poverty,	but	just	the	mere	thought	of	the	diamond	resting	safely	inside	the
locket	she	wore	around	her	neck	gave	her	enough	courage	to	pull	her	through. Many	years	later,	she	had	finally	become	a	success	in	all	areas	of	her	life	and
no	longer	had	to	struggle	for	survival. Her	curiosity	had	grown	to	the	point
that	she	had	to	know	how	much	the	diamond	was	actually	worth. The	woman	took	her	precious	locket	to	the	finest	jeweler	in	the	village	to
have	the	diamond	appraised. The	jeweler	eyed	the	plain,	tarnished	locket	with
a	bit	of	disdain,	raised	a	mallet,	and	with	one	swift	blow	smashed	the	little
locket	into	many	pieces,	releasing	a	small,	shiny	piece. The	jeweler	held	it	up
to	the	light	and	said,	“Why,	this	is	not	a	diamond,	my	lady,	but	a	worthless
piece	of	ordinary	glass. ”	Stunned	by	the	news,	the	woman	laughed	and	cried
and	then	laughed	some	more. “No,	kind	sir,	that	is	the	most	valuable	diamond	in	the	world. ”	she	replied,
wiping	the	tears	from	her	eyes. Her	father	had	given	her	a	priceless	gem…	the	gift	of	hope	and	the	belief	that
she	would	always	be	all	right,	and	for	this	she	would	always	be	grateful. As	I	searched	over	the	experiences	I	am	most	grateful	for,	my	mind	travels	in
a	spiral. No	matter	how	unique	the	experience,	the	center	is	always	kindness. I	was	delighted	to	discover	that	the	definition	of	gratitude	is	
the	appreciation
for	kindness. I	strive	to	live	my	life	as	a	practice	based	on	gratitude. My	first
teachers	were	my	parents,	brothers,	and	all	of	the	little	bugs	living	under	the
moss	garden	in	our	tiny	backyard. I	remember	understanding	gratitude	when	a
bright	yellow	skipper	butterfly	would	light	on	my	hand	or	when	a	wild	bird
would	let	me	get	close	enough	to	see	her	feathers	up	close. Gratitude	is	not	always	instantaneous. There	are	some	things	that	take	time	to
reveal	what	was	gained,	when	there	can	be	insight. Many	times	a	lack	of
gratitude	can	be	a	powerful	blow	back	on	course. There	have	been	many
times	that	I	have	wandered	too	far	from	my	heart	and	grown	dissatisfied;
these	were	signs	that	a	change	needed	to	be	made,	and	that	unhappy	event
became	a	turning	point,	a	shift	back	in	the	direction	of	love	and	gratitude. As
an	adult,	several	encounters	with	wild	dolphins	further	opened	my	heart	and
mind	to	the	experience	of	unconditional	love	and	appreciation	for	the	present
moment,	for	which	I	will	always	remain	awestruck	and	grateful. A	wonderful	meditation	teacher	taught	me	how	to	set	intent. This	is	a	way	of
creating	a	clear	signal	to	the	Universe	about	your	direction	in	life. You	set
your	course	and	then	adjust	the	sails	on	your	ship	headed	towards	a	sacred
island,	obscured	by	mist	and	miles,	but	your	intuition	knows	it	is	there. You
may	be	diverted	by	powerful,	whirling	winds,	but	set	back	on	course	by
gentle	tropical	breezes. Night	may	fall	again	and	again,	and	yet	you	hold	deep
inside	a	map	guiding	your	mystic	journey. Eventually,	you	will	reach	your
destination	if	you	continue	to	set	your	intent. I	believe	that	gratitude	is	the	way	we	reach	ourselves. Every	morning	and
night,	I	focus	for	a	moment	and	give	thanks	for	the	gift	of	my	life	and	for	the
presence	and	love	of	everyone	in	it. I	give	thanks	for	all	that	I	am	given	and
all	that	I	am	learning. I	give	thanks	for	all	that	I	wish	to	accomplish	as	though
it	has	all	been	achieved. I	offer	thanks	to	all	of	the	guardian	angels	and	NatureDevas	for	their	healing	of	loved	ones	and	the	planet. I	ask	for	guidance	and
seek	dreams	for	answers. I	give	thanks	for	good	health	and	the	richness	of	my
senses. I	give	thanks	for	the	profound	beauty	and	magnificence	of	the	Earth. I
give	thanks	for	the	gift	of	creativity	and	the	ability	to	express	my	feelings
through	paint,	word,	music,	and	dance. I	am	grateful	for	the	wisdom,	granted
through	ancient	stories,	images,	and	Nature,	from	centuries	of	yearning. I	give
thanks	for	the	exquisite	dolphins,	birds,	trees,	and	all	that	is	living. I	give
thanks	for	the	abundance	and	prosperity	that	is	ever-present. And	above	all…I
give	thanks	for	kindness. Many	times,	when	my	life	was	very	painful	and	difficult,	I	was	very	grateful
for	many	gestures	of	kindness. For	years	I	felt	alone	in	my	struggle,	and	yet
some	part	of	me	knew	deep	down	that	I	always	had	a	diamond. I	have	deep
gratitude	for	the	incredible	gifts	of	love	and	life. Always	treat	yourself	as	a	precious,	priceless	being	worthy	of	love. Gratitude	is	a	Sanctuary	that	allows	us	to	love	even	deeper. F
ULL
	C
IRCLE
Swimming	for	thousands	of	years,	under	the
many	full	moons…I	searched	for	you. Lost	ships	and	lost	souls	land	on	warm	places
guided	by	yearning	and	the	angels	of	the	sea. My	heart	wanders,	I	curl	in	and	hold	myself,
longing	for	home,
not	knowing	it	is	always	here. And	in	the	moving	up	and	outward,
of	the	pressing	of	the	rain,
breathing	through	my	eyes,
I	sense	the	coming	sweetness,	of	many
trees	smiling	in	the	knowing	that
those	treasures	buried	so	very	deep	in	my	heart
have	begun	to	sing	the
Song	of	Angels	Dreaming. With	my	Soul	as	the	only	map,
with	which	to	drive,
with	which	to	guide
My	wanting	of	the	world	to	be	smooth	with	the
gentleness	of	tender	hands,glide	so	silent,	of	sweet	music	of	birds
curling	from	the	deepest	place…
I	smile	inside,
I	smile	deeply. Gratitude:	It	Can	Make	Your	Day. Karen	M. Haughey
Karen	M. Haughey
	
is	an	award-winning	fine	artist,	poet,	and	designer	whose
work	has	been	shown	in	private	collections	throughout	the	world. She	is	also
the	author	of	the	coffee-table	art	book	ANGELS:	GUARDIANS	OF	THE
LIGHT. When	she	is	asked	what	inspires	her	painting	of	primarily	angels	and
mermaids,	she	replies,	“It	consists	of	looking	within	one’s	self	on	a	visionary
level	through	means	of	meditation	and	comforting	sounds,	such	as	music. ”
This,	in	turn,	stirs	and	enlightens	the	creative	intellect,	thus	avoiding
preconceived	logic. Karen	makes	her	home	in	Northern	California. I	would	like	to	begin	by	expressing	my	own	gratitude	to	my	dear	friend
Louise	L. Hay	for	making	many	of	my	long-term	dreams	become	realities. Her	love,	support,	and	kindness	will	always	leave	me	eternally	grateful. I	am	also	filled	with	gratitude	for	my	God-given	ability	to	paint	angels	as	I
do. Because	the	gift	that	I	have	is	not	about	me—it’s	for	others	and	how	it
affects	their	lives. Life	is	not	meant	to	be	isolated	for	one’s	self,	but	is	meant	to	share	in	the
context	of	love	and	peace. Gratitude	also	comes	by	virtue	of	doing	for	others,
or	what	some	would	call	random	acts	of	kindness,	for	no	reason	other	than
just	wanting	to	do	a	good	deed	for	someone,	whether	it	be	a	total	stranger	or
someone	you’ve	known	all	of	your	life. I	get	complete	satisfaction	from	doing
these	types	of	things. Not	that	I’m	looking	for	it,	but	it	always	comes	back	to
me,	and	I	know	that	God	is	always	watching. I	remember	a	few	simple	incidents,	one	when	I	was	crossing	the	San	Mateo
Bridge,	close	to	my	home	in	the	San	Francisco	Bay	area. I	always	pay	for	the
car	behind	me	in	the	toll	booth. Anyway,	this	very	expensive	car	with	the
tinted	windows	and	the	works	pulled	up	behind	me. I	gave	the	toll-booth
attendant	the	extra	dollar	as	usual	and	asked	that	the	car	behind	me	be	paid
for. She	looked	at	me	a	little	funny,	since	she	was	obviously	comparing	thestatus	of	our	respective	automobiles,	but	she	did	as	I	asked. I	rarely	get	a	reaction	from	people	when	I	offer	this	gesture,	other	than	a	smile
or	a	wave	or	sometimes	a	strange	look,	but	this	time	was	a	little	different. The
aforementioned	car	drove	alongside	me	and	rolled	down	its	windows,	and	two
young	girls	and	their	mom	and	dad	started	waving	and	honking	with	joy	and
excitement	like	I’ve	never	seen,	with	all	of	this	gratitude	and	thankfulness
we’ve	been	speaking	of. You	would	think	by	their	reaction	that	I	had	done	a
lot	more	than	just	pay	their	toll,	and	it’s	such	a	simple	deed. But	seeing	the
surprise	and	happiness	on	those	children’s	faces	and	the	element	of	disbelief
on	the	parents’	faces	was	enough	to	make	anyone’s	day. Another	time,	I	was	driving	through	a	residential	area	and	noticed	that
someone	who	was	parked	outside	a	home	had	left	their	car’s	headlights	on. It
meant	going	out	of	my	way,	but	I	turned	my	car	around	and	walked	up	to	that
house,	knocked	on	the	door,	and	told	the	occupants	that	they	had	left	the
lights	on	in	their	car. The	family	living	in	that	house	thanked	me	over	and
over	as	if	I	had	performed	some	miraculous	deed,	which	obviously	I	had	not,
to	my	own	thinking. So	the	point	I’m	making	is	not	what	you	can	give	on	a	tangible	level,	but	what
you	can	ultimately	give	from	your	heart	and	soul	to	another	human	being
without	expectation. The	gratitude	you	will	receive	will	come	by	way	of	your	giving	it	away. Life	is	a	gift,	and	what	you	do	with	yours	is	completely	up	to	you. Be
thankful	for	this	gift,	and	use	it	to	heal	this	beautiful	planet	we	live	on,	our
Mother	Earth. An	Appreciation	of	Gratitude
Christopher	Hills,	Ph. D. Christopher	Hills,	Ph.
It saves us from our painful human storyline, and it enriches and deepens the fabric of our lives.
According to the authors, what is the result of practicing gratitude?
To set aside time for gratitude, and give thanks for the good things in our lives.
What is the first step in cultivating gratitude, according to the authors?
It is impossible to feel worry, anger, depression, or any negative emotion in the presence of genuine gratitude.
What is the author of this book saying about the importance of gratitude?
Focus on the good and beautiful things in life, and you will draw more abundance to you.
What is the author saying about the connection between gratitude and abundance?
It is a sanctuary that allows us to love even deeper, and it can also be a gateway to the Divine.
What is the author saying about the concept of gratitude?