THOUGHTS
ON GRATITUDE
Many of us Peeps ("We the Peeps"!) from time to time write our gratitude lists in the posts. It is GooooD for me to read these, and to be reminded how important it is--to know and recognize that God is the constant Giver, and I, the undeserving receiver. I am SO grateful for SO many things which I take SO for granted.
All the Peeps here know what I'm about to reiterate, and I do not pretend to be preaching--must LESS preaching to the choir--grin! The gratitude of which I speak is SO much more than a "list" of what I consider "goodies".
Gratitude, when boiled down, is about getting outside of myself, and helping someone else. Who, How, When, Where, and What are not as important as, say, WHY. Motive is what must drive true love, and the work of true gratefulness.
Opportunities for helping another (others) abound--while living at home with family, when driving, walking, running, working, shopping, waiting--yes, WAITING!--playing, performing, blogging, traveling, e.g. Almost every waking activity will introduce a Peep in need of something. And usually, there is an antidote--maybe an anecdote?-- which I can supply. Maybe as little as a smile, a kind word, kindness itself...how about LOVE? The most powerful force in the universe--love--is seconded by KINDNESS. (Third most powerful force is FEAR. After that is anyone's choice...mine is HUMOR).
I am grateful to be in a choir, rehearsing, singing masses, and so the action for me is, that I will suit up and show up two or three times a week, even for the extra services,
e.g., we sing in the cathedral in ten days!
I am grateful for sobriety, and so I go to AA meetings, sponsor men, belong to two groups--I'm a librarian and a GSR.
My scooter: OH! what gratitude I have for you. And so I use the time riding for meditation...there is no more favorable time for me than when riding in the breeze, surrounded by the smells and sounds of nature, to pray meaningfully.
For my home and family I AM grateful, but it is for my list, rather than for actions, since I fall short in this area. It is a failing, but it is real.
For you bloggers--ALL--I have SO much gratitude, and so I spend lots of time reading, writing comments, and posting. Since I am neither reader nor writer, it is definitely labor for me, but I do it because I love it, and just maybe can touch someone through this medium. In fact, blogging is much like an AA group, in that we here are constantly in the act of helping one another, even without trying. Even when we just write about our everyday life as it is. It just works that way. At least for me.
I am grateful for my violin, and for my mother who forced me to practice--even if I DID have to retreat to the horse barn to do so. 70 years after, I still play weddings and gigs.
For AA weddings I play for free. (There went my humility--what little there was--but this post IS about how we use action to express our gratitude.) NOTE: I have discovered that age in the seventies is NOT "old". Take my word for that!
Please understand, there is nothing near perfect here. I have trouble sometimes with "motive"--and try, really try to keep myself out of the way. Sometimes I succeed--grin!
Enough out of me, me, me tonight. If we all stay sober today, I'll be back to visit with you again. Please visit also with ME!
Peeps, you already have my LOVE.
You have my wishes for PEACE.
I am a happy, sober camper, maybe you could tell?
