96 of 100 ... A Day of Reflection

Every so often, a day comes along and it's gifted as a day to reflect, to ponder, to re-set. I'd have preferred it in 4 days, but that's ok.  I'll use my journal writing from today in 5 days, but share a part of those thoughts here. 


Moments of Gratitude for Today

Today, I am grateful for
1/ living in such a beautiful part of the world.  Yes, other places are just as beautiful, but the mountains of Alberta rank up there with the best. 
2/ an opportunity to change the way I view my life and world around me.  Maybe that was necessary in the quest to get out of the rut of this life of mine. 
3/ reconnecting with the resiliency of the human spirit.  They say 'whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger' and that's a bit trite.  I think in the scope of things, there is much more that doesn't kill you than the things that do.  And, not always do you become stronger as a result - you could become more bitter, more of a victim, more angry, more miserable, more isolated, more defeated.  I know ... I was on one of those paths.  But, instead of focusing on the crap in life (after all, we are surrounded by it!), when you force yourself to shift your focus to seek that which is positive and beneficial and worthy of gratitude, all of a sudden, you start see the roses instead of the thorns.  Even when your health or your finances seem to become unstable,  even then there are moments to be found, if you but seek them.
4/ pausing to embrace the simple beauty in moments.  The taste of a great cup of coffee, the fresh pine-filled air on a mountain trail, that perfect moment when your soul connects with the soul of another, the sound of utter silence, broken by the clear simple call of a bird. So many! At least one a day ... but your soul has to be in the place where you are receptive to this moment and not lost in some mental anguish of stress.
5/ being open to change, provided that change is demonstrated to be to my benefit and not just someone else's 'advice'.  I guess part of this is also the journey to truly knowing yourself, finding your Truth, and in that, taking full responsibility for your purpose and your life.  A major realization for me in the last 96 days is how much time we waste on things that we have no control over and how little we do with that which we do have control over ... and when you take responsibility over what you do have control over, then necessary change is possible.  Where do I put my time?  Where do I put my energy (mental, knowledge, physical, etc.)?  What are my life-beliefs and values and how do I live them out? What I say ... and what I do ... need to match.  (Not that they don't, but I'm becoming very conscious of that.)  Purposeful, productive, goal-directed.  Envision it, plan it, do it, achieve it. And if an obstacle should present itself: recognize it, learn from it, incorporate it, move beyond it.  Every day - what are my goals and what steps am I taking in that direction?