TED Talks: Simple Gratitude

My beautiful cousin Courtney shared this video via her own blog and it's so lovely from start to finish that I had to watch it 2 times in a row. From Louie's stunning video images to his poignant and simple message, to the child (who reminds me physically of my sister as a kid, which of course just about bursts my heart) and her wise-beyond-her-years mindset on imagination (praise God, there are children who still yearn to play and explore) to the elderly man and his sentiments on gratitude--sentiments I could only dream of so eloquently expressing someday--this TED talk is perfection. Absolute perfection. It would be a sin not to share it with you all here:

"I didn't have much money, but I had time and a sense of wonder."

"Beauty and seduction [are] nature's tool for survival because we protect what we fall in love with. It opens our hearts and makes us realize we are a part of nature and we are not separate from it."

"And when you explore, you get more imagination than you already had and when you get more imagination it makes you want to go deeper in so you can get more and see beautifuller things..."

"It's not just another day...it's the one day that is given to you, today...and the only appropriate response is gratefulness."

"In this present moment, on this day, all the people you meet--all that life from generations and from so many places all over the world--flows together and meets you here, like a life giving water if you only open your heart and drink."

Can you imagine what would happen if we collectively decided to wake up each day with the attitude of gratitude? If we opened our hearts to the blessings all around and shared blessings with others in the numerous ways we can just by being present, aware, open? In the past few weeks I've given myself the assignment of  "being here". When I engage with others--ordering coffee,  sitting with friends, answering questions from customers at work--I have pushed myself to be as present as possible. To make eye contact, to listen without rushing to respond, to be patient and kind even in frustrating situations. I've taken notice of people's voices, their body language; I've brought awareness to moments where I would normally act out of fear or from ego and instead consciously chose to move forward only with love. The shift I've felt has been incredible. Has it been a piece of cake? No. Human beings will test me until the day I leave the planet. But this is my day, my gift. Our connectedness, nature included, begs us to recognize this; to be one with it. 

Joyful in it. 

Trusting of it. 

Grateful for it.

Who am I to stop this flow?

"Let the gratefulness overflow into blessing all around you. Then, it will really be a good day."

Inspired, grateful, here, now. 

Love and Light,

Trish