It is a big day today. This is the ninth birthday of this inn of praise. My, what has transpired since this place of gratitude opened it's doors.
Visitors from around the world have warmed the rooms of this inn. The tally in the top right corner gives some idea. The following illustration makes it more clear who drops by this hearth of happiness:
I appreciate each one you who cool your heels here. The trends last year were that after eight years, the number of visitors from Ukraine passed those from Pakistan. In about eight months, the total number of Russian visitors will surpass the U.K.
I'm guessing those visit-ing from the land of Shake-speare are put off because of the American accent they detect in my writing. (Jk)
Being the innkeeper of this place stretches me. I've enjoyed creating more than 3,987 posters to brighten the walls of this inn. Earlier, for three-and-a-half years, every day without exception, I wrote three hours a day. I did this seven days a week, providing material for this inn.
This is post 1,295.
Learning the craft of writing requires diligence and verbal sculpting.
"Writing is easy, all you have to do is sit at your typewriter and bleed." Ernest Hemingway
"Every time I write I leave a little of my blood in the inkwell." Tolstoy
"Sometimes I don't know what I have to say until I start writing." Flannery O'ConnorI relate with all three quotes. Sharing my written thoughts devel-oped my chops as a writer. Being the innkeeper has plenty of benefits.
About Gratitude
I'll use this anniversary post to wax about gratitude. It isn't that happy people are grateful.
It's being grateful that makes us happy. Gratitude comes from the Latin word gratia, meaning graciousness, and grace. It is a form of appreciation, seeing the value life offers.
Gratitude improves our health. It encour-ages us during difficult times. It is looking for the best in life.
Dr. Martin E. P. Seligman, a psy-chologist at the University of Penn-sylvania, tested the impact of various positive psychology interventions on 411 people, each compared with a control assignment of writing about early memories.
Their assignment was to write and deliver a letter of gratitude to someone who had never been properly thanked for his or her kindness. "Participants immediately exhibited a huge increase in happiness scores. This impact was greater than that from any other inter-vention, with benefits lasting for a month." Harvard Health Publishing.
Experiencing gratitude from others motivates us. It is a wonderful tonic and antidote for anxiety. This is especially needed, now, when dreadful news about the Coronavirus bombards us through the TV, internet, radio and conversations with friends and coworkers.
Being thankful makes our relationships happier, too. Neurosci-ences demonstrate how positivity changes us at the cellular level, all for the better. Our thinking becomes clearer when we are grateful.
We handle stress better than those with a dour disposition.
Thank you, for joining me during this nine-year journey of thank-fulness. We've focused on what makes our hearts sing. We are bet-ter fortified for the challenges that loom before us, especi-ally now, while we will weather the Coronavirus pandemic."As a man thinks in his heart, so is he." Proverbs 23:7
It is the mission of this inn that the minds and hearts of you, guests to this inn, are enriched and supported.
What Successes Are These?
1. Having amazing children. Letting them know they have value simply for being them-selves.
2. Smiling at strangers, while enduring stress. We are adding joy to our world.
3. Talking to the cashier at a store. Demonstrating empathy and compassion, sensitivity.
4. Using discernment when relating with others. We are keeping ourselves emotionally safe, quarantining our selves against emotional vampires.
5. Going for a brisk walk or run---taking care of ourselves physically. When we exercise we are also releasing trauma stored within our bodies.
6. Having a Quiet Time. Investing in our well-being and making time to connect with the God of our understanding. This includes studying inspirational literature, prayer, meditation, spending time in worship and praise.
7. Complimenting someone. Validating their worth. "It is by giving that we receive."
,
This inn is one antidote for today's negativity. It provides thanks and positivity. It's up to us whether we drink in it or not. We control our feelings and thoughts.
No one can make us happy, sad, angry or any other feel-ing without us giving them permission to do so. Our feelings are our property.
A persistent positive perspective births internal fortitude and gives us the determined grace and peace required to transcend life's difficulties.
Gratitude fuels the perseverance required when confronting challenges. Like the persistent calm waters of a river rounding the sharp edges of new rocks within it, peace of mind is accomplished not by strength. It is arrived at by applying determined, persevering, fluid gratitude against the rocky edges of life's difficulties.
This is my experience. Even during dreadful and perilous times. Like. Right. Now. May equanimity be your reality, too.
Thanks for dropping by.
A happy and grateful innkeeper,
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1 comment:
Happy 9 year anniversary! What a blessing it is that the web has these words upon it, and that I am gifted to read and thus share in your recovery.
"It is not only infecting those around us. Without recovery, it is creating a pandemic of fear in our community, nation, and world."
What a wonderful reminder! The world is in a state of great fear today. I see it amongst my family, friends, and community as well. I am grateful myself to have recovery, and to focus on the gratitudes of life. By staying in gratitude, I am able to share it with others, and to spread infectiously the gifts of such a focus. I believe that we can spread love and gratitude the same as fear is spreading like fire through the world today. My goal is to stay focused within these gifts, instead of the "what ifs" or the catastrophising mind.
As always, I am grateful to read your words and be reminded of the beauties of this earth, and the beauties you constantly gift to me. Thank you endlessly.
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