This is Day 6 of the 14-Day Gratitude Challenge held in Aug 2013, where we practice gratitude for 14 days. The challenge is now over but you can do the tasks in your own time. Visit the overview page for all the challenge tasks.
Hey everyone, welcome to Day 6 of our 14-day gratitude challenge! :D We are nearly at the half-way mark of the challenge. Let’s get started for today!
Day 6: Life
Life. That’s what we are living right now, every day, every second. Our lives basically started when we were brought into this world, out of our mothers’ womb, cleansed of our mom’s placenta, then wrapped in a little cloth and placed in arms of our loved ones.
Since then, much has happened. We grew up, from a baby to an infant, from an infant to an adolescent, then from an adolescent to an adult. Some of us may be in our teenage years right now. Some of us may be in our adulthood. Some of us may be in our middle-age years. And some of us may be past middle age and entering retirement years soon.
Through these years, we have experienced many ups and downs, trials and tribulations, failures and successes, pains and joy. We have experienced heartaches in relationships, disappointments from failures, anger from unaddressed grievances, anxieties from not being where we want to be, and fears from insecurities. We also experienced the joys of living: from the joy of great friendships, to the joy of supportive family members, to the joy of a relationship/life partner, to the joy of successful pursuits, to the joy of life’s little victories, to the joy of touching others’ lives, to the joy of everyday living.
Yet interestingly, despite the richness of our lives, despite the role we play in creating a great life experience, despite our constant pursuit for growth, and despite us working hard to change every difficulty into a success, we are not responsible for our being brought into this world (at least our current selves are not responsible for that). Our life today is made possible by people (our mom, dad, doctors, nurses, midwives, etc.), external powers (socioeconomic factors for example) , and perhaps even higher powers (our higher self, our spirit guides/guardian angels, or even God, depending on your personal belief)–all of whom/which existed before we were born into this world.
Today, your task is to give thanks for your life.
Your Task: Give Thanks For Your Life
Write a note in your gratitude journal today where you give thanks to everyone/everything responsible for your life today.
Specifically, give thanks to:
- People and external/higher powers responsible for your physical birth (and as a result, your life).
- Anyone and anything who have helped make you the person you are today and directly or indirectly brought you to where you are in life today
Your note can be as long or short as you want–there is no word limit. This is an exercise in gratitude where you express your heart’s truest intents. Type/write away and let your heart sing!
Daily Journaling: Write 3 Things You Are Grateful for Today
On top of today’s task, identify 3 things you are grateful for today. These 3 things can be events that occurred today, mishaps which could have happened but didn’t happen, or simply things which have always been in your life but which you suddenly came to feel grateful for today.
3 things I’m grateful for today:
- Ken and I are finally done with our photoshoots in Scotland!! It had been a crazy experience prepping for the shoots (in Glasgow and Edinburgh), from planning out the scenes, to getting the right outfits for the scenes, to liaising with the photographers to execute our ideas for the shoots.
Now that the shoots are over, I can finally take my mind off it and get back to other priorities, such as writing the daily tasks for the gratitude challenge, writing my proposal for a new speaking engagement, and my upcoming speech at Spark Summit this coming Saturday.
- Ken and I are heading back to Singapore today after over two weeks in Scotland. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my stay here, in particular the Edinburgh PE Meetup, but the weather has been getting a little too chilly for me. I also can’t wait to get back home and start working on my to-do’s.
- I’ve a fiance who is so understanding and accommodating. Ken has been there for me every step of the way during this trip, from listening to me rattle on about the photoshoots every day after he return from work, to making sure I’m duly fed during meal times, to buying flowers for the shoots because I felt they would be better with them, to taking care of me every second of the day. I feel incredibly blessed to have him in my life.
Share Your Results!
Who/what have you given thanks for your life? Who/what have you given thanks for your life as it is today?
If possible, share your gratitude note where you gave thanks to these people/things! Take a picture/screenshot and upload it to the comments section!
What are 3 things you are grateful for today?
Share them in the comments section! :)
Once you’re done, proceed to Gratitude Challenge Day 7: Give Thanks to Yourself.
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That’s such a lovely photo of you guys – you’re going to have an amazing life together. Congratulations! x
Aw thank you so much Maths Magpie! Hoping the photos of our engagement shoots turn out well!! :) *Fingers crossed!*
Firstly, if there is a superior force/power in this universe, I have to give thanks to it. Then to my mother, who for months was home for my growing body and consciousness. Next are the doctors and nurses, of course.
I’m grateful for all the people whom I’ve met in my life, both the good ones and the bad ones, because they’ve all shaped my mind, my character, and my personality, making me the person that I am today, creating my life as it is in the present. Biggest “Thank you” goes to my parents who up to this moment (and I’m sure they’ll do this for many years to come, too) have supported me in everything I’ve done. They have raised me with love and care, feeding me, clothing me, guiding me. All my friends had their contribution as well. My professors and classmates have molded me and have tremendously determined my evolution as an individual. Also, the few boyfriends that I’ve had so far have left a mark, influencing my life principles, my approach to love and to relationships, my openness to others.
Three things I’m grateful for today:
1. I managed to clean the meeting-room at the NGO’s headquarters.
2. I talked to a friend who has been on vacation for a week in a foreign country and this way I got to learn something new about the respective country.
3. My father brought home some fruit jam and it is delicious!
My life has been full of a plethora of people (parents, siblings, friends, teachers, co-workers, etc) who have made an impact on my life good and bad that have helped shape me into who I am. The same with life experiences; I’ve had the pleasure and the pain of a variety of experiences, too numerous to mention. Most of what I’ve gone through in my life, the people I’ve met, etc, I’m thankful for. There are a few incidents or people for which I struggle to appreciate and probably won’t appreciate any time soon. I didn’t always make the best of the situations and opportunities I was given, but I am who I am today because of those choices. I work on being happy with myself, but that is a progressive task not yet obtained.
Three Things I am Grateful for Today
1. Books
2. True Friends
3. Living in the USA
My gratitude note for Day 6 Gratitude Challenge…
http://randomthoughts-musings.blogspot.com/2013/08/daily-gratitude-log-6.html
I have to thank my parents for giving my life and make me as who I am today. And, no doubt, I thank to my late grandmother who helped to take care of me since I was a baby. I’m fortunate enough to have them in my life. They take care of me since I came to this world (even before I was born), pamper me with good live, good food, and also, they teach me how to survive out there. :)
3 things I feel grateful today:
1. Every morning, my mum prepares breakfast for my brother and me. Today, I’m on leave today and I woke up early to prepare breakfast for my brother. Just to let my mum rest one day from preparing breakfast. Hehe, it’s simple breakfast with hash brown, fried eggs, and sausage, bread, and fried rice. I made so many so that my brother could choose what he wanted to eat. And, he finally chose hash brown, fried eggs and sausage with bread. ^^
2. Today I went to the music centre, and I got to know that it is the birthday of the person in charge of the music centre. :) We bought a birthday cake for her to celebrate her birthday. I always stay in the music centre to practice zither for hours. She always welcome us to go there, and she taught me some handicraft too. ^^ I thank for her kindness that make me feel like staying in a second home.
3. I thank to my zither mate, who accompany me for a dinner. Although we always practice zither and have dinner together, we always enjoy the atmosphere while we are together. She shared her working experience with me while having dinner just now. ^^
I am thankful to .. for giving life to me ::
¨My parents, the doctor that gave birth
to me, my grandparents, the nurses, the hospital.
¨God
¨The doctors helped me survived while I was weak and tiny, and also
through my life(I was about to die when i was born).
¨The things I ate and drank.
¨Everyone I met, good/bad ones.
¨Everything that has happened to me.
The things I am grateful for, today ::
¨My student, trusted me and talked about her private life with me.
¨The taxi driver who knows me and cared for me.
¨I stood for my right in my workplace, considering the chance of losing my job.( I achieved what I wanted :D)
¨My dad was giving back his debt to me(money), and he gave me more than he should because he was busy doing sth else. I gave him back the extra money, though I really need money nowadays(He doesn’t pay for me, I am financially independent, a good thing, but not the thing I chose).
¨I told my students to make their gratitude journal, and they liked the idea.
¨To myself, because I went to work while I was really
tired and sleepy in the morning.
LIFE
Thank you Creator Source for Life and for my Life. There have been many aspects and experiences to my life, Many ups and downs, and still, it is all about LIFE. Everything and everyone from everywhere and from all of “time” is connected in one way or another.
Sometimes things make sense to me and sometimes they don’t make sense. I have learned and am learning how all of life is a process and that things evolve. I have learned to pay attention to the small details and be thankful for all blessings of love and opportunities to grow, and to enjoy life to the fullest right now in this moment just the way I am. I have surrendered to “what is,” accepting what IS, and if I can change something, that’s good, despite how difficult it is, and if I cannot, then I surrender.and accept life on life’s terms.
I am thankful for Love…the greatest force of all, and its transforming power.
Love is all, and Love is everything. Deep, heartwarming, compassionate, uplifting, inspiring Love.
For all the teachers and guides and angels and yes, all relationships, I give thanks. Thank you everyone who is in my life, those who love me and those who so not. There is a Higher Purpose for what I do not understand as well as what I may understand. Mom and Dad, I chose you for my parents, and we learned so much and experienced so much together. We still are, aren’t we, even though you both have passed on to another journey, and I am still here on this one. We are still and ever together in our evolving, changing forms.
As long as we have love in our Heart of Hearts, we are safe and sound in the arms of the Creator Source, and we are together as One in that Spirit of Love.
GRATEFUL TODAY
I feel rested after what was not such a long sleep, but it was a healing, restful sleep.
I am here today in the studio with my longtime friend Mark and although we are busy doing our own thing, we are here together in this time and space to learn with each other and to share many beautiful things.
I am also so grateful that despite many details that could be disquieting or distracting me from how blessed I am, I feel peaceful and centered within my soul.
COLOR ME GRATEFUL!
P.S. CONTINUING MY GRATITUDE
Dear Celes, that is such an awesome photo of love with you and Ken IN Scotland!
I am thankful that you two found or rediscovered each other and are now joined together in the beautiful love you share. You two have had such a fantastic sojourn in Scotland….a celebration of your union…two souls as one…life will be twice as fun!!
This trip to Scotland was like an extended engagement party…WHAT A MEMORY!!
I am thankful you have gorgeous photos to commemorate this recent surprise engagement that Ken so extensively and lovingly thought out when he presented you with a ring, proposing to you his life and love forever.
(Factoid…part of my lineage is Scottish…perhaps one day I will also travel to Scotland!)
I am very very grateful to God for my life.
Not just for being alive, but also for the many blessings that has come upon my life, and what He has been using my life to do unto others. He gives me wisdom, Inspirations, Revelations and Directions of life everyday I live.
Three Things to be grateful for today:
1. A spirit filled whole-day fasting
2. I’ve been able to clean and arrange my new apartment
3. Attended to mails, appointments, and this Gratitude Challenge.
I’ve read you blog.
That was splendid.
Good job, Karim.
I wrote five pages to my journal. It’s almost bedtime here, so I’ll just pick five things I found that really made a difference today; people I hadn’t tought before were so imprtant in making me who I am today.
A family friend, who’s son was my age and we spent a lot of time together as children. He was always interested about my opinions, he let me take part in decision-making and told me I was clever and had interestig ideas. He always listened if I had something to say. He is a wonderful man and was such a role-model to me. He served as a father-figure as well. I will make sure to send him a thank-you-note <3
My ballet-teachers for teaching me self-dicipline. I was kind of an all-over-the-place kind of child. I'm still like that but now I'm able to focus my energy in learning some things that really take time to master.
I thank my first girlfriend for showing me it's as natural to me to love a woman as it is to love a man. And that I'm not made to love just one person. Our relationship was filled with difficulties and drama but also with beauty and love.
My high-school Finnish -teacher was always engoursging me to go do theatre. She kept me going and ten years after I first met her, I finally had the courage to apply to a theatre school and got in. Now I'm studying for my final year and I know I'm in the right place after spending 5 years in university trying to convince myself it's an ok-carreer I'm building there. Having one person who believes in your dream makes a huge difference!
My former boss. I was working in a training company as a teacher and in marketing at very young age (from 20 and up). My boss had many flaws but he convinced me I was able to do whatever. At first it was whatever he needed me to do for teh company. Now it is: what ever I want to do ;) He is a big force in my life telling me I'm able and talented enough to success.
I had tons more, but I'll stop here as I need to sleep as well :D
Three things to be grateful today:
1. We decided the exact date to move to India and tomorrow we will buy the flights!
2. The fresh tomatos and apples right from my mum's garden. They taste soooo good.
3. My wonderful coffee break I had all by myself in sunshine: reading a book, eating a small chocolate bar, drinking double espresso I made myself from organic blend. I had some not-that-interesting studying to do and the 20 minute break away from it renewed my spirit for today.
For my life today I give thanks to:
– set of circumstances that brought my mum and my dad together and making them in love with each other,
– my mum’s desicion not to have an abortion (she is/was a young mum), although her parents wanted her to do it,
– my grandma and my great-grandma for carefree holiday vacations as a child,
– my mum, cause she always took care for me,
– persons: A – for being my best friend, B – also for being my best friend, C – cause of him I love sports and working out, D – for giving me a dog, E – for teaching me yoga, F – for volleyball, G – for employing me, H – to teach me about my work, I – for not being my co-worker anymore, J – for writting articles about self growth, K – for sharing the same interests, L – for having a free workshop about self growth, M – for introducing me to my back then future boss, N – also for employing me, O – for unconditional acceptance of me, P – for writting a blog called Personal exellence, R – for renting me an apartment and for her honesty and trust, S – for being my adversary, T – for working out with me,
– the force in me which helped me to step out of my comfort zone,
– opportunities,
– taking opportunities,
– all creative ideas of how to be more productive at work,
– all the souls that crossed my path,
– the truth,
– surfing and teachings of the ocean (that is actually also a book – Teachings of the ocean)
– authors and their books about self growth and self awareness,
– every second of my life,
– eating healthy food and choosing a healthy life style,
– customers at my different jobs, who liked me,
– my dog,
– nature for its beauty,
– love,
– the universe for giving me everything I need,
– experiences,
– “aha” moments,
– support and safety,
– courage,
– change.
Today, I am grateful for:
– my hairdresser telling me I have dadruff, cause I didnt noticed,
– new hairbrush,
– taking my bike to servis,
– getting up early,
– my fast working computer at work,
– colorous
I thank my parents for, um, obvious reasons. For bringing me into the world, bringing me up. I also thank them, for nourishing my body and my mind, supporting me into becoming the person I am. They accepted my quirks and supported my interests, did their best to make sure I could do and learn all the things I wanted to.
I thank my siblings for loving me in their own ways and for being there when I need them.
I thank Dr. Matute for saving my life 10 years ago.
I thank my ballet teacher for teaching me discipline and testing my determination, helping me bring my body to a new level of being.
I thank my karate teacher for all the work he put into me. He trained me hard, bought me hard and his work still touches my life to this day.
I thank all my clients who put their trust in me and my abilities.
I thank my friends for every step of the way they walked beside me.
I thank all the teachers I’ve had throughout the years, whether directly or indirectly through personal contact or their written or recorded words.
I thank the authors of the countless books that have added to my knowledge and helped me shape my view of the world.
And I thank the countless souls who have inspired me through their words and their actions,
big and small.
Hi Ffion!
So nice of you to thank the authors of the books you read! Any particular favourites?
I would have to thank the great Roald Dahl for writing such amazing childrens’ books!! I enjoyed every one I read, and they really shaped my fantasy, which turned out to be a great asset in life!
Thank your soul for inspiring me ;)
Oh my, many many favourites :)
Roald Dahl is amazing, I loved Mathilda and James and the Giant Peach and The Witches (is that what the last one was called?).
Non fiction wise I absolutely adore “The Creative License”, which is absolute eye-candy to look at as well as filled with great content, “The Path of Least Resistance”, “The War of Art”, “The Art of possibility”, “Start with Why”, “Whatever you think, think the opposite”… Currently I’m reading Twyla Tharp’s “The Creative Habit” and it’s absolutely great so far. Very down-to-earth and no-bullshit. (Very biased towards books with creativity as a subject… :) )
I love the Chrestomanci Chronicles, Grimms’ Fairy Tales, The Snow Queen, Varjak Paw, Chronicles of Narnia, The Old Kingdom series, The Bartimaeus Trilogy, The Lost Years of Merlin, The Cherub series by Muchamore, The Spook’s Apprentice, Lord of the Rings & The Hobbit, Alice in Wonderland, Harry Potter, Artemis Fowl, Howl’s Moving Castle & Castle in the Sky (which were originally books before the movies came out :) )… I could go on and on. I love books that may be more intended for children & young adults :)
My absolute favourite book is “The Haunting of Alaizabel Cray”. I can’t even tell you why exactly that is, but it’s a book from my childhood that I return to over and over and over again.
I think I should stop now, I could go on and on and on :) Thank you for putting my mind back among some of its old favourites <3
Thank you for your wonderful comment!
Wow, thanks! This looks like my new To Read List! ^.^
Will definitely look for some of these in the library! Thanks for the inspiration!
Great stuff, let me know if you enjoy them :) Do you have any recommendations for me? :)
Really great! I loved the Harry Potter books, and was so pleasantly surprised by Alice in Wonderland! It just made me smile everytime I opened it on the train, often making my day ;)
You might like the much talked about Eat, Pray, Love by Elisabeth Gilbert; Haruki Murakami books (like Norwegian Wood, After Dark, and many more!)
I honestly have little time to read, which I regret very much! This summer, I also read Seth Godin (about marketing, but written in a very fun way!) – The Purple Cow is really great! Even if you don’t want to start a business or work in marketing, it just gives you so many new ideas on everything!
Enjoy reading ;)
Awesome, thanks for the tips, I’ll definitely be checking those out! :D
Here’s the note I made in my pinterest journal: “To my Savior, my parents, my family, my friends/enemies in school, my church family, my fellow Scadians, my theater family, my workmates, thank you! You have made a positive impact in my life and I wouldn’t be
where I am today without you. Again, from the bottom of my heart, thank you.” You can see it here, if you like: http://pinterest.com/pianolady32/gratitude-thanks-encouragement/
And the three things I’m grateful for today are: 1) the items for my current project idea are finally all together and read to be assembled; 2) accomplishing my goal at work; and 3) my local library.
Give Thanks for Life
To
thank all the people and things responsible for my life today is a daunting
task that I am not even sure how I could finish. There are so many situations
during our daily lives that mold us. Be
it the server at a restaurant or a delivery person showing up at your door,
there are so many folks that we see who touch our existence. Many times we fail
to grasp their names, and if we do it is only to keep them straight in our
heads from other strangers. I wanted to
start first by thanking those people who I have met in my life.
My life
has had four defining locations with situations in each that have shaped me
now. I was born to a wonderful set of
parents, though even they did not know the power each would have in my life at
the time. My father first off was only
around for the first year of my life having died in an auto accident. The impact that he left behind though has
been something I have dealt with for years, only recently gaining a grasp on. On the other hand my mother was and will be
my “first best friend” as she is the one person I have been connected with my
entire life. Yes there are other family
members who have influenced me, but I would say I owe the most to these two
people.
I have also seen three new locations in my lifetime that
have made a home in, each of which has formed me into the person you see
today. I grew up in a small town in the
middle of Florida, and into a family that did not have a lot of money. Being “poor” gave me drive to work for the
things I have now, and an appreciation for those things. I left home and moved to the big city for
college and to begin work. The time I
spent brought me out of my childhood shell and developed me into being the
outgoing man I have become. I developed friendships during this time that have
stuck with me, and have learned lessons from each of them. I took all of this to my new home, moving
several years ago for work. My life
today is not perfect, but has given me the opportunity to provide for myself
and achieve personal goals.
Along the way I have been blessed to have some great
teachers in my life. There are people I
can look back upon and notice how their guidance and attention have helped me
learn the crafts I use now. Be it a
music instructor in school, an old manager or co-worker at a job, or even just
a friend looking out for my interest they have given me tools that are usable
now. Each saw potential in me, and
showed me a way reach the next level.
Lastly (because why be like others and put this first) there
is an internal spiritual force that has helped me along. Call it God or just dumb luck, but there is
something out there pulling some sort of strings for me. I have seen some bad situations and have been
in jams that I should not have gotten out of.
Only by grace and faith have I overcome them. Living with a dead father there has always
been in my head a connection with things not seen. That is lastly something I can only be
thankful and grateful to have in my life each day.
Three Things Grateful for Today
–
Had some extra time this morning before
work. I was able to actually able to sit
down and have a real breakfast. Many
mornings if I have anything it is a banana, or bowl of oatmeal or worse. I am
usually hungry not long after and dragging for the day. Instead this allowed me to start fresh and
have energy that lasted.
–
Taco Tuesday at Tijuana Flats. I am very partial to this place since I
worked for a location before getting into my current profession almost ten
years ago. The deal they serve each week
is an affordable treat for me, and it is nice to go to a place where the staff
knows who you are and gives special attention to your order.
–
My new cell phone arrived today. It is the Droid Maxx by Motorola, and it is
SICK!!! This thing honestly makes the iPhone look like a child’s Fisher Price
toy. If you don’t know go do some
research. I have been having trouble with my old phone and tablet seeing that they
are now showing their age. This update
should fix that and provide me with technology that will take me into the
future.
Of course, I have to thank my mom and dad, who not only brought me into this world, but raised me. I have never been hungry, or un-sheltered, or for want of anything I need — in fact, much of what I want, I’ve had the fortune of receiving.
Thank you for those who I’d never know, who assisted in my actual birth, and raised me while I was too young to take care of my self.
Thank you to all of my teachers, who taught me everything I know. Thank you to my family, who has always been by my side (whether I want them, or not ;) ). Thank you to all those who served to create the material possessions I have, or the services I receive.
Thanks especially go to my friends. I have a few I love dearly, and many more whom I’m not as close with but still consider special. I thank them for all the times they’ve heard me complain, helped me through my depressed moments, and bear with me when I’m fearful, illogical, or just plain annoying. I thank them for understanding me when I needed someone to, telling me what I need to hear and not just what I want to. I thank them for giving me the connection, the love, and the lessons I didn’t quite get at home. I thank them for teaching me so much. I love them all and don’t think I could ever explain that to them so that they could understand (and without sounding like a clingy, crazy person Dx).
I thank God, the higher powers, whatever it/He/She is…for creating a life that’s just so incredibly amazing, even if I don’t always see it as such. I’m so thankful for the chance to experience this world, this life. Life and all of it’s intricacies are so very beautiful, and I’m fortunate to be in such a place that I can experience them and appreciate them.
My gratitude for the day:
1. My mom bought me two new pairs of jeans today, which is awesome because now I have a fairly large collection of pants to wear!
2. I began packing for my return to school today, and found two of my “lost” posters in the process!
3. I got to enjoy fun music while packing, listening to Pandora on my dad’s awesome sound system.
To answer the first question Who/what have you given thanks for your life? I would like to quote Bill Bryson (A Short History of Nearly Everything). I just love this book and especially the beginning which goes:
‘Welcome. And congratulations. I am delighted that you could make it. Getting here wasn’t easy, I know. In fact, I suspect it was a little tougher than you realize. To begin with, for you to be here now trillions of drifting atoms had somehow to assemble in an intricate and
intriguingly obliging manner to create you. It’s an arrangement so specialized and particular that it has never been tried before and will only exist this once. For the next many years (we hope) these tiny particles will uncomplainingly engage in all the billions of
deft, cooperative efforts necessary to keep you intact and let you experience the supremely agreeable but generally underappreciated state known as existence.’
…
‘Not only have you been lucky enough to be attached since time immemorial to a favored evolutionary line, but you have also been extremely-make that miraculously-fortunate in your personal ancestry. Consider the fact that for 3.8 billion years, a period of time older than the Earth’s mountains and rivers and oceans, every one of your forebears on both sides has been attractive enough to find a mate, healthy enough to reproduce, and sufficiently blessed by fate and circumstances to live long enough to do so. Not one of your pertinent ancestors was squashed, devoured, drowned, starved, stranded, stuck
fast, untimely wounded, or otherwise deflected from its life’s quest of delivering a tiny charge of genetic material to the right partner at the right moment in order to perpetuate the only possible sequence of hereditary combinations that could result-eventually,
astoundingly, and all too briefly-in you.’
So very grateful to all my atoms – you are doing a splendid job (at least most of the time) and my ancestors for being so successful at running away from bears, wolves and other enemies. Of course there are also people who have a more immediate influence on the fact that I am here and I am especially grateful to my mother for carrying me nine months and giving labour and taking care of me ever since.
Who/what have you given thanks for your life as it is today?
The person that always comes first to my mind is my mum. I am not only grateful to her for giving birth to me and nourishing me but also for teaching me right from wrong and how to survive in this world; providing for me, always being there for me and especially for always putting her children first and in this way teaching us how strong motherly love is.
As for other ‘teachers’, unfortunately I have always been stubborn and had difficulties learning from people, I prefer to learn from books. However there are still people who have made a positive impact on my life and I am grateful to them.
I am grateful to my best friend for always excepting me the way I am with all my bad sides and despite the fact that I have not always been nice to her. I wish I had been more open to other peoples’ opinions in my teenage years – I could have learned a lot from her if I had been. But like they say better late than never :-)
I am grateful to my uncle who spent a lot of time with us children and took us to swimming pool and other places as opposed to my father who was just not comfortable around kids. However I am grateful to my father for always providing for his family. This is just his way of showing love. People are different and they can’t always be the way you want/need them to be. But on the other hand my father has always been kind.
I am grateful to my gym teacher – because of her I have developed love of sports. As a child, I was awful at sports, I was clumsy and I HATED gym classes but all of a sudden I have achieved some success in one of the disciplines and my teacher’s encouragement and the fact that she even nominated me for some competitions outside school has made me embrace sports and they have been part of my life ever since. As opposed to my music teacher who singled me out when I was singing in a choir as the person singing the wrong tune. I have felt uncomfortable singing in front of people ever since :-(
I am grateful to all the people I have met during my travels and for all the kindness they have shown to me and all their help always when I needed it most.
I am grateful to a friend at the other end of the world for all his encouraging words and how he is telling me that I am an attractive woman because at the moment I really need someone to boost my confidence in this department.
And last but not least, I am grateful to all the writers that wrote books which have helped me grow. Especially I am grateful to an Indian writer who has helped me discover meditation and mantra although I still pretty much suck at it but I am working on it :-) And to you Celes for your blog and challenges which is making me explore myself and learn about myself.
And thanks to all the people who have touched my life and letting me touch theirs. All you guys are doing this with your posts in this challenge. Thank you.
3 Things I am grateful for today – Day 6
1. I managed to stay completely calm during a longer than usual shopping
trip with my mother and aunt (I sometimes get annoyed)
2. My co-worker treating me for lunch because I forgot my wallet
3. For being very efficient at work
Thank you to the following people who contributed to my birth, growth, and development into the present:
1. All my past lives- good job past selves! I am grateful for this karma.
2. My guides. Thank you from the deepest part of me for making
yourselves known. The harmony and understanding I have with all things
is because of our constant conversation.
3. Mom & Dad- thanks for everything.
4. My beautiful sisters- what a joyous ride. Thank the powers at be
that we get to be on the same roller-coaster. Now that we’re older and
know better- let’s raise our hands as we fly!
5. My spiritual mentor, guide, and confidant- Bethany Miller. I am grateful to share this adventure with you.
6. My spiritual mentors: Babalowo, Boethius, Saint Augustine, St.
Teresa of Avila, Buddha, Eckhart Tolle, Louise Hay, Doreen Virtue, Joseph
Campbell, Lynn McTaggart
7. Various writers. Books have always guided me to the next big thing in my life.
8. Friends throughout time, valuable lessons learned on both sides.
9. Ex-boyfriends, thanks for the lessons.
10. My schooling and teachers. You guys were alright…
11. My soul family. I am so grateful we are all finding each other- teaching and sharing our respective truths to one another.
3 things I am grateful for today:
1. My landlord who is getting us a new washer.
2. Funston beach- the best place on Earth per Roxy & Charlie.
3. My Toastmasters crew- thanks for all the praise, support, and guidance.
– See more at:
http://inspirehappy.com/2013/08/20/gratitude-journal-challenge-day-6-give-thanks-for-your-life/#sthash.Pvr2B2Wl.dpuf
I have so many people to thank for my life, and making it what it is now, and me into the person I am. Of course, my mum and dad who gave me life and love me unconditionally, and my sister too for always being a part of my life. My grandparents, for having such a good influence on me and being a big part of my life, especially when I was younger. My college tutors for seeing my talents and encouraging me to do what I love. My work colleagues past and present, as I have always had good relationships with people I work with and have not had to suffer with conflict and bad feeling at work. My lovely husband, for loving me and taking such good care of me and our family. His family, for taking me into their lives and loving me as their own. Ian’s Nanny Rob, for being such a positive and inspiration person – always feeling lucky for what she had, even in the most difficult circumstances, and never complaining – something that I always try and remember. My friends – for bringing such a lot of happiness into our lives. Lastly, but most importantly – our two children, who I am very proud of, for enhancing my life and bringing so much joy. Love all these people dearly – thank you for being part of my life.
Three things that i am grateful for on day 6 of the challenge are :
Sitting in my garden in the glorious sunshine for10 minutes with a relaxing drink – bliss.
A cup of tea brought to me in bed.
My eyesight and contact lenses, so I can see so well.
xx
http://donettas.wordpress.com/2013/08/21/day-6-nettahontas/
I am very grateful for my life. My mom had 4 miscarriages between my older sister and me (we’re 10 years apart) and I was the last time they were going to try for their second child. Bedrest and lots of hormone shots and I made it! I’m a fiery redhead who has been living ever since. Interestingly, I’m not like my parents or my sister except that we look a lot alike. I consider myself the “black sheep” of the family but in other terms I look at it as I’m just more fun than my conservative family. I wouldn’t be here without them though. My sister was in Catholic school and she and the nuns were praying for a baby sister. She got one!
I thank the Universe for the life it has given me. Even when I’ve been so low and depressed and wished I had not been born, those times have made me the person I am today and I love her and am glad she’s here.
Three things I’m grateful for today:
1) My friends who are responding to my invite for my annual party. They say such sweet things and are very excited to attend;
2) The beautiful weather we are having which makes my flowers beautiful;
3) An easy week at work so far!
Hey there!
This was a great task, Celes, because it reminded me of a funny story my mother told me about the absolute beginning of my life on my own.
There it goes :
Thanks to the doctor who went jogging on his Sunday afternoon, having said to my mother a few days before : “It seems like the baby wants to stay in there a little longer”; but anyway came literally running back to the hospital when I decided to start this life.
Thanks to my parents, for deciding they wanted children. Thanks to my godmother and godfather who took on the responsibility for this little human being.
Thanks to my 3rd year (Elementary School) teacher for giving me extra challenges so I wouldn’t get bored in class. Thanks to my 2nd year (Secondary School) teacher for
believing in me when others no longer did.
Thanks to my thesis professor for supporting my subject choice, even if it was far away from her specialty.
Thanks to my mentor in Italy for helping me feel at home there and learn something new every single day.
Thanks to my all of my best friends, for always being there for me along the way, for never giving up on me!
Special thanks to my boyfriend, for showing me the world ^.^
I never thought I would want to thank so many teachers, but it’s true, the best ones really help you shape your future life and I am very grateful to them for believing in me!
I liked your entry, particularly using a poem to express your gratitude :)
Thanks Jackson and Sulthana for reading my blog…:)
I’ve completed Day 6, here it is: http://sulthanabegum.tumblr.com/post/59004867841/give-thanks-for-your-life
Even after I finished writing the note, I realised it was only scratching the surface. There is so much to be grateful for.
Thanks to my mother and father and all of my ancestors for the relatively healthy physical body I received; thanks especially to my mother for carrying, nursing, providing for, and raising me, taking care of all of my material needs.
Thanks also to the spiritual beings who lent themselves to my creation and aided in my creation and guided my upbringing.
Thanks to all the beings of this world who have inspired and assisted me in my growth and development. Thanks especially to M for showing me a different attitude, even though you don’t know it, and to SKY for showing me how to be positive and peppy :) And thanks to all the other people who have made me stop and think about who I am and who I’m becoming.
I kept mine short and sweet! Here is my journaling, and of course you are welcome to come see more images of gratitude at my Pinterest board entitled “Gratitude-ish Things”:
Here is my Day 6 post. I have chosen to use my blog as my journal instead of a tangible, “in real life” journal.
Of course, thanks to my mum and dad for having borne me and continuing to bear with me. They have had to endure difficulties of lower-middle class, and yet they’ve managed to bring me up in a good way. They’ve forgone pleasures for themselves and in a way dedicated their lives for their children. The unconditionality of their love is amazing. A few years ago, mom was telling that if any of us in her family would turn blind she would obviously donate an eye. If our kidneys failed she’ll obviously donate one. There’s no question of mulling over it. It’s something she’ll do in the blink of an eye. They wouldn’t mind giving life to me, over and over again, no matter what it costs them. Dad is always there for me. When I’ve had accidents, and many friends found themselves too busy to even come and visit in the hospital, dad found time to rush me to the hospital, and take off from office and stay with me in the hospital for as many days as was required. “Of course”, he would say. There’s but no other way of being for him. And so, lucky I am to have been blessed with parents who love and care so deeply.
I’m also grateful to the universe, the entire creation for having brought me forth. For stringing across molecules, chaining them specifically to make me. To the sea of well-meaning people that has always surrounded me. To the innumerable lives that have served me as my food. To the thousands of people who’ve blessed me with their direct presence in my life. Who’ve changed the course of my life. My neighbors, my classmates through my school and college, my colleagues, my collaborators, my friends.
Each one of them has played their part in making my life what it’s right now. I’m blessed to have so many genuine, wonderful people in my life. Every moment they make my life what it is. They make it better. They make me feel things newer. This network of nature and people around me. This wonderful network. How could I ever thank it enough?
My brother. He used to be my best friend in childhood. We were adversaries too when we played. Always the captains of the two teams that were formed. We’ve fought. We’ve quarreled. We’ve always connected at a level very deep. Eventhough life has diverged our paths now, we still can blindly trust and rely on each other whenever there’s need.
My friends. My lovely friends. So many of them. Blessed to have so many friends who think of me as family. They’re so loving and caring and they’ve managed to continuously make me grow. My colleagues at office have all been such awesome teachers. There’s so much to learn from them. I don’t know how, but through the eight years of my working life, I’ve never come across what they call office-politics. Truly blessed to have been among some wonderful people.
My collaborators in the various art-forms I’ve pursued till now – theater, playwriting, and now dancing, they’ve all been such wonderful people. Artists truly know how to live life to a depth unknown to most others. They express. They feel. They are what they are, unabashedly. They don’t hide. They pour. What a blessing their companionship has been in my life.
Write 3 Things You Are Grateful for Today
– Today I’ll be watching an award winning play along with many lovely friends. And then dinner with them and I’ll also be staying over at one of their places. Tonight’s gonna be a good night :)
– I’ve a series of interesting work lined for me. I’ll get to learn things I’ve been wanting to learn for 2-3 weeks now. Looking forward to the presentation I would need to give this Thursday after going through all the learning material.
– I’m grateful to the bike I have. It gives me such freedom. Today I could go from my home to office, to the theater then, and to my friends place thenafter. All at different corners of the city.
Celes, All this appears to Wonderful; But i anticipate coming to Singapore & would like to meet you, although i find you so ‘insulated’ i cannot contact you > So i will try it here ….fyi I spent 30 years in ‘outside sales & have seen several Top Motivators ;)
Ciao , Robert in San Diego,Calif
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