Tuesday, October 19, 2010

The Power of Gratitude

“The stars are alive, child. Did you know that? Everything out there is alive, and there are grand purposes abroad! The Universe is full of intentions, you know. Everything happens for a purpose.”
                                                                  From The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman


Is the current economic situation affecting your life and your family? Millions who never thought they would sink are now under water. We all know of at least one family on the verge of desperation. Perhaps you are, or fear you will become, one of them.

We cannot be misled by those who say, ‘to change the economic situation we need only to change the majority in Congress;’ this crisis is the result of ten years of shortsightedness and poor fiscal management and will not be resolved quickly or easily. It is projected by most financial experts to last not more months, but more years. It’s time to tighten our belts.

Here’s the good news: we can still gain clarity, courage and confidence by recognizing who we are as individuals; our talents, our gifts and our wonderful personalities. “How is that going to pay the bills?” you may ask. The answer is this: by focusing on what we have that is permanent and cannot be taken away from us, we anchor our power and take the first step toward improving every area of our lives. No matter what of our belongings we may lose, we do own valuable gifts that we will keep forever, ones that save us from feels of decimation and get us through the toughest of times. The jewelry designer, robbed of all his jewels, could fall into dejection, or he could remember that it is his ability to make jewelry that is his treasure. We are the creators of our realities, and we create by the choices we make every day. We may focus on loss or focus on gratitude; one weakens us and the other gives us strength. No it’s not easy; but so what? We are more than equal to the challenge.

The way to recognize your unique gifts is to make a list of your blessings, either on paper or mentally while you’re trying to fall asleep. Here are a few to start with: your mind, your body, your family, etc. We accept those blessings gratefully because it is through that process that we gain strength. The seeds of gratitude plant themselves in universal consciousness and grow into gardens of clarity, courage and confidence.

The bottom line of the Trask Triangle expresses the following four affirmations, I am loved, I am blessed, I am safe, I am free. How could anyone feel those assurances and not be grateful? You might consider repeating these affirmations twenty-five or more times whenever you are feeling stressed, frightened or cannot sleep and watch how quickly uneasiness melts away. I use them often and their good effects continue to build.

Interested in personal coaching? I’m available. Call 425-868-9-8448 or write bob@arasfoundation.org

A bit of English humor for you:
We begin with a box, and the plural is boxes,
But the plural of ox becomes oxen, not oxes.
One fowl is a goose, but two are called geese,
Yet the plural of moose should never be meese.
You may find a lone mouse or a nest full of mice,
Yet the plural of house is houses, not hice.

If the plural of man is always called men,
Then shouldn't the plural of pan be called pen?
If I speak of my foot and show you my feet,
And I sell you a boot, would a pair be called beet?
If one is a tooth and a set are called teeth,
Then shouldn't the plural of booth be called beeth?
We say one is that and several are those,

Yet hat in the plural would never be hose,
We speak of a brother and also of brethren,
But when we say mother, we never say methren.
And the masculine pronouns are he, his and him,
But imagine the feminine: she, shis and shim!

And, in closing, If teachers taught, shouldn’t preachers have praught?
and if Father is Pop, how come Mother's not Mop?

Our Heroine This Week:
Cindy Van Wambeck is a woman for all seasons. We honored her husband, Steve a few weeks ago and here we are honoring another member of that family. Perhaps that is not so strange, good fruit most often comes from the same tree.

The lives of thousands of families are uplifted by the tireless efforts of Cindy Van Wambeck every year. No matter who cries out for help, or at what hour of day or night, Cindy will be there. As a rescue team member and coordinator, a licensed emergency radio communications operator and the Volunteer Coordinator for The ARAS Foundation her activities are visible to many. What is not so easy to see is her constant traveling to pick up groceries, clothes, toys and books for low income or homeless families, cooking meals for Tent Cities, packing and delivering grocery and clothes bags to needy families and refurbishing homes for poverty families. As a massage therapist Cindy is as busy as anyone, yet she always finds time to reach out and uplift the lives of others. The only pay she gets is the satisfaction of uplifting those in need. People from Ghana, Africa to Washington State thank this lady who puts her caring into action every day to make their lives better. And if you ask her, she will tell you that she grateful for being able to contribute so much.

Cindy Van Wambeck, it is our honor to acknowledge you as our heroine.

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