be Happy be Thanks be Giving

what is the difference between saying what we're thankful for, doing things to show our appreciation and being thankful?   being gratitude?  being appreciation?

I often feel the undercurrent of guilt or desperation in my expressions of gratitude.  Today, I want to embody a state of gratitude, transplant any resentment or entitlement with appreciation, so if I were cracked open, all that would come pouring forth is "thank you."

less judgment, more love

less defense, more peace

less heavy, more light

less anger, more joy

less justifying, more freedom

less criticism, more brilliance

less confusion, more clarity

less struggle, more grace

less blaming, more power

less persuading, more allowing

less convincing, more accepting

less do, more be

it starts

It starts with a commitment: I will be more.  

I will live in the moment, as much as possible.  I want that.  I don't want this life to pass by.  I want to know that I felt it, witnessed it, accepted it, moved within it, smelled it, tasted it, and enjoyed it.  I want to know that even though it will be impossible for every moment, I was in more moments than I was out.  I want to get that even when it's not good, it's still good because it's my experience and an opportunity to feel the fullness of who I am, the whole picture of me.  I want to proceed knowing that I can't make this happen, but my commitment is enough for now.  My commitment is powerful and because of it I will begin to feel the absolute rightness of exactly where I am and I will know that my determination is paying off.  And I will think, yes, this is what I want to feel like, this is everything, and I want more of this. 

allow the happy moment

be ecstatic

I wrote the word ecstatic in the last post and it stayed inside of me, like an air hockey puck, knocking and floating at the same time - ecstatic,    ecstatic,    ecstatic...

and then I read this in an interview with Yasuhiko Kimura- "Ecstasy means being unstuck, ongoingly ex-static.  So you must commit yourself to an ecstatic life" . No wonder it feels so good to say the word to myself. Imagine being ecstatic, unstuck, flowing, enjoying the forward motion of life. Or maybe the more accurate interpretation is - when we are truly being, ecstasy is available.

Talk about aiming high.  Do we dare to go for a life of ecstasy?  Are you daring enough to "commit yourself to an ecstatic life?"

photo from Yes, Please
quote from a back copy of What is Enlightenment? Magazine