Or Does It?

Well, I hope you were thinking about your answers to the gratitude questions. I am ready to explain my answers.

Lets begin.

1. The cure for broken or difficult relationships? I agree. It is impossible to be angry with someone once you have listed off all the reasons you can think of to be grateful to that person. Day three was Magical Relationships. If you haven't completed this practice, I suggest you put it on your agenda for tomorrow. You will be happy that you did.
2. The cure for lack of health? I don't know about this one. I'll have to reevaluate it a later time not because I don't think it works but because there was no real opportunity to test it out.
3. The cure for lack of money? Again, I don't know if gratitude is the cure for this one but I do have to admit that gratitude has opened my eyes to see the abundance of money in my life.
•  I will give you a couple of examples from yesterday. I was out looking for a new table and chair set. I went back to Martins Furniture. The salesman gave me a five percent discount for being a repeat customer. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Money comes easily and frequently. 
• We also have a one in three chance of winning our purchase for free. Isn't that incredible. We will find out tomorrow. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Money comes easily and frequently.  
• And lastly, we were driving home when we spotted something in the middle of the road. Michael slowed down, opened his door and picked it up. I know this is silly but, it was a new roll of duct tape. I don't know what its value is but again, thank you, thank you, thank you. Money comes easily and frequently.
4. Gratitude eliminates fear? Off the top of my head I have to say that I can't think of an example to prove this theory. Perhaps I just haven't had      the right circumstances.
5. Gratitude eliminates worry? I will have to dig deeper for the answer to this one.
6. Gratitude eliminates grief? The answer isn't jumping out at me. Get back to me later. Oh silly me! This question is pretty much the same as number seven.
7. Gratitude eliminates depression? I definitely agree. It is absolutely impossible to be depressed when you are grateful for all the people, events and things in your life.
8. Gratitude brings solutions to problems? I have to think more on this one. I guess Rhonda is referring to Day 7, The Magical Way Out of Negativity. It is on this day that we were to choose a problem or negative situation which we would like resolved and to list ten things we are grateful about it. Rhonda's reasoning is this; ''The answer to any negative situation you want to resolve is to focus concentrated gratitude on it until you feel better inside; then you will see the magic work its wonder in the outside world."
9. Gratitude brings the opportunities and wherewithal to realize your dreams? I don't have an opinion on this one yet.
10. Gratitude brings happiness? I agree one hundred percent. This is pretty much the same question as number seven and so is my answer.
11. Gratitude brings clarity? I have to think more about this one.
12. Gratitude brings patience? Yes it does. 
13. Gratitude brings kindness? Yes to this one too. Day 10, Magic  Dust Everyone teaches us to be grateful to everyone we encounter. As Philo of Alexandria is quoted to say, "Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle."
14. Gratitude brings compassion? Three times a charm. That is a yes. I'll bet you thought I skipped question number 12. Well I guess I did but I am addressing it here and now. I think patience, kindness, compassion and understanding all go together and are learned through Day 10's practice.
15. Gratitude brings understanding? Yes!
16. Gratitude brings peace of mind? And YES again! You will fee an overwhelming sense of peace of mind when you practice gratitude. When you truly feel gratitude deeply peace of mind will settle down upon you like a warm blanket on a cold night. I didn't know how else to explain it. I don't ever recall feeling peace of mind like I have since I started practicing gratitude.

On that note, I want more. And I sincerely hope that you do too.

How would you describe peace of mind? Please share in the comments section provided. Thanks

The Magic Never Ends

Day 30?

If we are counting, this would be day thirty. This blog was originally suppose to be only 28 days but it appears there is more to share than previously anticipated. Good or bad, you can decide. I choose good.

So let's continue.

I would like to share a quote that Rhonda has included in this chapter.

"I started out giving thanks for small things, and the moe thankful I became, the more my bounty increased. That's because what you focus on expands, and when you foccus on the goodness in your life, you create more of it. Opportunities, relationships, even money flowed my way when I learned to be grateful no matter what happened in my life."

Oprah Winfrey (B.  1954)

Media Personality and Business Woman

And this is what Rhonda Byrne has to say about gratitude;

"Gratitude is the cure for broken or difficult relationships, for lack of health or money, and for unhappiness. Gratitude eliminates fear, worry, grief, and depression, and brings happiness, clarity, patience, kindness, compassion , understanding and peace of mind. Gratitude brings solutions to problems and the opportunities and wherewithal to realize your dreams." Page 252 of The Magic.

Wow, she has a lot to say in that paragraph and for the most part, I agree. 

Let me explain.

1. The cure for broken or difficult relationships? I agree. 
2. The cure for lack of health? I don't know about this one. I'll have to reevaluate it a later time not because I don't think it works but because there was no real opportunity to test it out.
3. The cure for lack of money? Again, I don't know if gratitude is the cure for this one. 
4. Gratitude eliminates fear? Off the top of my head I have to say that I can't think of an example to prove this theory. Perhaps I just haven't had the right circumstances.
5. Gratitude eliminates worry? I will have to dig deeper for the answer to this one.
6. Gratitude eliminates grief? The answer isn't jumping out at me. Get back to me later.
7. Gratitude eliminates depression? I definitely agree.
8. Gratitude brings solutions to problems? I have to think more on this one.
9. Gratitude brings the opportunities and wherewithal to realize your dreams? I don't have an opinion on this one yet.
10. Gratitude brings happiness? I agree one hundred percent.
11. Gratitude brings clarity? I have to think more about this one.
12. Gratitude brings patience? Yes it does.
13. Gratitude brings kindness? Yes to this one too.
14. Gratitude brings compassion? Three times a charm. That is a yes.
15. Gratitude brings understanding? Yes!
16. Gratitude brings peace of mind? And YES again!

I will give you the reasons behind each of my answers on my next post.

What do think about Rhonda's comments on gratitude? Wrong!. Just kidding. There are no wrong answers. Just different opinions.

And I would very much like you to share your opinions. 

Day 3 - Magical Relationships

"We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures."

Thornton Wilder (1897-1975),

Writer and Playwright.

My beautiful granddaughters. Three Magical Relationships.

Magical Assignment

Today's assignment is to choose three people in my life who I am grateful for and list some reasons. 

The Challenge

Just three people? This is extremely difficult. I'm sure it is hard for you too because there are so many people in our lives who are important.

I am so grateful for so many people because I have been blessed to have so many wonderful people in my life throughout the years.

How can I choose one Daughter out of three? How can I choose one Granddaughter over another? Or one friend? I am grateful to each one for different reasons.

Maybe I am going about this wrong. The instruction doesn't specifically say to choose the top three - it just says three. If this magical practice is to be grateful for people just as they are, then I should challenge myself by choosing someone that our relationship is strained.

With that in mind, I have two people for today's assignment. So who shall be the third? Someone easy to be grateful for? I have it now!

My Magical Relationships

Three People I am Grateful For;

1. I am so unbelievable grateful for my Mom. I choose my mom first because it is so easy to be grateful to her - so many reasons to be grateful. 
• Thank you Mom for always supporting me.
• Thank you Mom for always being there for me, day or night, good or bad.
• Thank you Mom for teaching me the importance of family.
• Thank you Mom for guiding me, teaching me how to be a good person.
• Thank you Mom for showing me by example how to be a strong, responsible compassionate person.
2. I am grateful for my Husband. I love him very much, we have been together for about twenty years and I can't imagine my life without him. But, yes there is a but, he has untreated post traumatic stress disorder and that makes him a very difficult man to live with right now.
• Thank you Gary for telling me every day that you love me.
• Thank you Gary for treating my two daughters like your own.
• Thank you Gary for all the little things you do to make my day that much nicer and easier.
• Thank you Gary for making me feel still wanted after all these twenty years.
• Thank you Gary for making me laugh.
3. I am blessed and grateful for my youngest daughter. When she was born I saw perfection. My little angel. I know I spoiled her - still do. She acts and thinks she is so much older than her years. This can cause friction between us. Yet we still have a close relationship with mutual respect and love.
• Thank you Christina for giving me a granddaughter.
• Thank you Christina for helping me out when you can.
• Thank you Christina for wanting to spend time with me.
• Thank you Christina for being silly with me.
• Thank you Christina for allowing me into your world.

Gratitude Rock

After reviewing my gratitude list from yesterday, I am most grateful for my Granddaughters because their exuberance for life is contagious. I can't help but smile when I look at them and I feel so happy to be alive, to be part of their lives.  Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Here is my magic rock (gratitude stone). As you can see I have not painted it red yet. I am procrastinator. Something I need to work on.

Gratitude Journal

I Am Grateful For: (Day 3)

1. My Mom because she came here today just as she does every week day to take care of her Great Granddaughters and her baby - me. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
2. My Oldest Daughter because she will be giving me another grandchild.  Thank you, thank you, thank you.
3. My sight so I can revel at all the beauty in this world.  Thank you, thank you, thank you.
4. Another radiant hot summer day so I could enjoy the outdoors with two of my Granddaughters.  Thank you, thank you, thank you.
5. My Oldest Daughter for blessing me with her visit and providing supper.
6. Christina for spending time with her daughter.
7. My washer and dryer so I can do my laundry any time I want to.  Thank you, thank you, thank you.
8. The Armoire which I was able to purchase for forty-two dollars at Saint Vincent De Paul. It is the perfect addition to the kids play area because it houses all the toys and makes the area look clean and de-cluttered. It was exactly what I pictured for that spot. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
9. To Craig for lending me a steam cleaner and the chemicals to remove stains in the furniture.  Thank you, thank you, thank you.
10. For the clothes which I was able to purchase all at reduced prices. (Money comes easily and frequently.) Thank you, thank you, thank you.

 I don't understand why that was so hard to start but once I got on a roll is was easy peasy. Thank goodness.

I had a little difficulty again today thinking of new items to be grateful for.  But I did it. I wonder what I will be grateful for tomorrow?

It is now three thirty in the morning. Time flies way too fast. I am going to bed now and I won't forget to hold my magic rock just before I lay down and think of the best thing that happened today. I will update you tomorrow.

Goodnight.

Have you decided which three people you would like for your Magical Relationships List? 

If you liked this post feel free to tweet it. Thanks and have a magical day.

Tomorrow is  Day 4: Magical Health