This is a true story that has been confirmed. This story is in perfect alignment with today’s Gratitude Burst!

He was in the first third grade class I taught at Saint Mary’s School in Morris, Minn. All 34 of my students were dear to me, but Mark Eklund was one in a million. Very neat in appearance, but had that happy-to-be-alive attitude that made even his occasional mischievousness delightful.

Mark talked incessantly. I had to remind him again and again that talking without permission was not acceptable. What impressed me so much, though, was his sincere response every time I had to correct him for misbehaving – “Thank you for correcting me, Sister!” I didn’t know what to make of it at first, but before long I became accustomed to hearing it many times a day.

One morning my patience was growing thin when Mark talked once too often, and then I made a novice teacher’s mistake. I looked at Mark and said, If you say one more word, I am going to tape your mouth shut!” It wasn’t ten seconds later when Chuck blurted out, “Mark is talking again.” I hadn’t asked any of the students to help me watch Mark, but since I had stated the punishment in front of the class, I had to act on it. I remember the scene as if it had occurred this morning. I walked to my desk, very deliberately opened my drawer and took out a roll of masking tape. Without saying a word, I proceeded to Mark’s desk, tore off two pieces of tape and made a big X with them over his mouth. I then returned to the front of the room. As I glanced at Mark to see how he was doing, he winked at me. That did it! I started laughing. The class cheered as I walked back to Mark’s desk, removed the tape, and shrugged my shoulders. His first words were, “Thank you for correcting me, Sister.”

At the end of the year, I was asked to teach junior-high math. The years flew by, and before I knew it Mark was in my classroom again. He was more handsome than ever and just as polite. Since he had to listen carefully to my instruction in the “new math,” he did not talk as much in ninth grade as he had in third. One Friday, things just didn’t feel right. We had worked hard on a new concept all week, and I sensed that the students were frowning, frustrated with themselves and edgy with one another. I had to stop this crankiness before it got out of hand. So I asked them to list the names of the other students in the room on two sheets of paper, leaving a space between each name. Then I told them to think of the nicest thing they could say about each of their classmates and write it down. It took the remainder of the class period to finish their assignment, and as the students left the room, each one handed me the papers. Charlie smiled. Mark said, “Thank you for teaching me, Sister. Have a good weekend.” That Saturday, I wrote down the name of each student on a separate sheet of paper, and I listed what everyone else had said about that individual.

On Monday I gave each student his or her list Before long, entire class was smiling. Really?” I heard whispered. “I never knew that meant anything to anyone!” I didn’t know others liked me so much.” No one ever mentioned those papers in class again. I never knew if they discussed them after class or with their parents, but it didn’t matter. The exercise had accomplished its purpose. The students were happy with themselves and one another again.

That group of students moved on. Several years later, after I returned from vacation, my parents met me at the airport. As we were driving home, Mother asked me the usual questions about the trip, the weather, my experiences in general. There was a lull in the conversation. Mother gave Dad a sideways glance and simply says, “Dad?” My father cleared his throat as he usually did before something important. “The Eklunds called last night,” he began “Really?” I said. “I haven’t heard from them in years. I wonder how Mark is.” Dad responded quietly. “Mark was killed in Vietnam,” he said. “The funeral is tomorrow, and his parents would like it if you could attend.” To this day I can still point to the exact spot on I-494 where Dad told me about Mark.

I had never seen a serviceman in a military coffin before. Mark looked so handsome, so mature. All I could think at that moment was, “Mark, I would give all the masking tape in the world if only you would talk to me.” The church was packed with Mark’s friends Chuck’s sister sang “The Battle Hymn of the Republic.” Why did it have to rain on the day of the funeral? It was difficult enough at the graveside. The pastor said the usual prayers, and the bugler played taps. One by one those who loved Mark took a last walk by the coffin and sprinkled it with holy water. I was the last one to bless the coffin. As I stood there, one of the soldiers who acted as pallbearer came up to me. Were you Mark’s math teacher?” he asked. I nodded as I continued to stare at the coffin. “Mark talked about you a lot,” he said.

After the funeral, most of Mark’s former classmates headed to Chuck’s farmhouse for lunch. Mark’s mother and father were there, obviously waiting for me. “We want to show you something, his father said, taking a wallet out of his pocket. “They found this on Mark when he was killed. We thought you might recognize it.” Opening the billfold, he carefully removed two worn pieces of notebook paper that had obviously been taped, folded and refolded many times. I knew without looking that the papers were the ones on which I had listed all the good things each of Mark’s classmates had said about him. “Thank you so much for doing that,” Mark’s mother said. “As you can see, Mark treasured it.” Mark’s classmates started to gather around us. Charlie smiled rather sheepishly and said, “I still have my list. I keep it in the top drawer of my desk at home.” Chuck’s wife said, “Chuck asked me to put his in our wedding album.””I have mine too,” Marilyn said. “It’s in my diary.” Then Vicki, another classmate, reached into her pocketbook, took out her wallet and showed her worn and frazzled list to the group. I carry this with me at all times,” Vicki said without batting an eyelash. “I think we all saved our lists.” That’s when I finally sat down and cried. I cried for Mark and for all his friends who would never see him again.

The density of people in society is so thick that we forget that life will end one day. And we don’t know when that one day will be. So please, tell the people you love and care for, that they are special and important. Tell them, before it is too late.

Be Well.
Paul.
The Gratitude Guru

Would you like to create a gratitude vision for your life today?

You’ve probably heard that you can only get where you want to be if you know where you’re going. This pithy statement is as true now as the first time it was said. So how do you come to know where you’re going, so you can get where you want to be? Your plan might include gratitude, or it can be in any other aspect of your life.

To start with, goals are crucial – especially when they involve gratitude. When we set goals, what we’re really trying to do is to bring each piece of our lives in line with our overall vision for ourselves. Using a powerful vision-setting process can help you set more effective goals, since you can chart a course that will take you toward and support your vision.

Do you have a vision for each segment of your life? Do you know where you’re headed spiritually, socially, relationally, physically, financially, and more?

Use this process to help you create a vision that works for you:

1. Write down your vision for a particular aspect of your life. Write a couple of paragraphs describing what you’d like to have or be. There’s no right or wrong. In fact, you probably won’t precisely articulate your dreams the very first time you try the exercise. A reasonable guess is a good place to start.

• In writing your vision, avoid focusing on what you don’t want, because this will only bring about more of that. Turn your back on negativity and focus on what you do want to bring about.
• For example, if you want more money: Avoid wording your statement like: “I don’t want to be poor anymore.” Instead, envision what it would be like to be rich, which is what you want, and write about what that would be like for you.
• Although you may feel challenged when first learning to focus on what you want, it gets easier. Plus, the rewards are spectacular when you can do it consistently. You’ll start to notice that your life seems as if you can change it at will, which you can.

2. Visualize. Read your vision statement 2-3 times a day and imagine that aspect of your life matches your vision perfectly. How does your vision make you feel? Are you really excited and enthusiastic? Is it appealing to you on all levels? This shouldn’t take more than 60 seconds to do each time.

3. Refine. If you feel really good about your vision, that’s great. If not, now is the time to make some alterations. Continue refining the image of your dream life until doing your visualization feels spectacular. Re-write each new version.

• At this point, you may be wondering when this process ever ends. Fortunately, it never ends. Your vision will forever be changing slightly throughout your life, which is good, since your desires will also change over time.

4. Review your vision daily and ensure that it continues to attract you. This will rapidly usher change into your life. In turn, these changes will demonstrate that you’re actually moving towards that vision.

5. Create separate vision statements for all the areas of your life. Consider your finances, relationships, adventure, health, social life, and spirituality. If you can get all these visions to look just the way you want, imagine what your life will look like!

Why Spend Time On This Process?

Consider all the things you do every day. Everything you do is either helping you reach your vision or helping someone else reach theirs. Wouldn’t you rather help yourself reach yours?

Creating a vision is the first step to creating the life you desire. Tweak your visions a couple of times a day and really focus on the experience of living that vision. This gets easier all the time, because imagining something enjoyable is pleasurable in itself.

Don’t hesitate; create your visions today. Then, start reviewing and improving them immediately. Your life will change rapidly for the better. You’ll then be spending your time making your own visions a reality instead of making someone else’s dream come true.

Today’s Gratitude Burst was a quote from a James Taylor song, “The Secret of Life.”

Here is a video of this song – it is one of my favorites!

Be Well.
Paul.
The Gratitude Guru

Inline with today’s Gratitude Burst (you can sign up here), I am re-posting Art Williams famous speech.

Art is a billionaire insurance executive so he must know something about taking action! Whatever your goals are, whatever you want, stop procrastinating and Just Do it!

As you accomplish more, you will experience extra gratitude in your life. How do you do it? It is easy… Just Do It.

From his speech:

Winners just do it. But what do they do? They do whatever it takes to get the job done. They do it – and do it – and do it – until the job gets done. And then they talk about how great it is to be somebody they’re proud of. They talk about how great it is to finally have achieved something unique – how glad they are that they didn’t quit like everybody else – how wonderful it is to finally make a difference with their life. We need leaders in America who can “Do It!”

Be Well.
Paul.
The Gratitude Guru

Here is a great little story!

The carpenter I hired to help me restore an old farmhouse had just finished a rough first day on the job. A flat tire made him lose an hour of work, his electric saw quit and now his ancient pickup truck refused to start. While I drove him home, he sat in stony silence. On arriving, he invited me in to meet his family. As we walked toward the front door, he paused briefly at a small tree, touching the tips of the branches with both hands.

When opening the door he underwent an amazing transformation. His tanned face was wreathed in smiles and he hugged his two small children and gave his wife a kiss. Afterward he walked me to the car. We passed the tree and my curiosity get the better of me. I asked him about what I had seen him do earlier.

“Oh, that’s my trouble tree”, he replied. “I know I can’t help having troubles on the job, but one thing for sure, troubles don’t belong in the house with my wife and the children. So I just hang them up on the tree every night when I come home. Then in the morning I pick them up again.”

“Funny thing is,” he smiled, “when I come out in the morning to pick em up, there ain’t nearly as many as I remember hanging up the night before”.

Author Unknown

To is the official day of remembrance for Martin Luther King, Jr. here in the United States.

“I Have a Dream” was a 17-minute public speech by Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered on August 28, 1963, in which he called for racial equality and an end to discrimination. The speech, from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, was a defining moment of the American Civil Rights Movement. Delivered to over 200,000 civil rights supporters, the speech was ranked the top American speech of the 20th century by a 1999 poll of scholars of public address.

The following is the exact text of the spoken speech, transcribed from recordings.

I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation.

Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, signed the Emancipation Proclamation. This momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of Negro slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice. It came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of their captivity.

But one hundred years later, the Negro still is not free. One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination. One hundred years later, the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity. One hundred years later, the Negro is still languishing in the corners of American society and finds himself an exile in his own land. So we have come here today to dramatize a shameful condition.

In a sense we have come to our nation’s capital to cash a check. When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check, a check which has come back marked “insufficient funds.” But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation. So we have come to cash this check — a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and the security of justice. We have also come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of now. This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism. Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy. Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice. Now is the time to lift our nation from the quick sands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood. Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God’s children.

It would be fatal for the nation to overlook the urgency of the moment. This sweltering summer of the Negro’s legitimate discontent will not pass until there is an invigorating autumn of freedom and equality. Nineteen sixty-three is not an end, but a beginning. Those who hope that the Negro needed to blow off steam and will now be content will have a rude awakening if the nation returns to business as usual. There will be neither rest nor tranquility in America until the Negro is granted his citizenship rights. The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges.

But there is something that I must say to my people who stand on the warm threshold which leads into the palace of justice. In the process of gaining our rightful place we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred.

We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force. The marvelous new militancy which has engulfed the Negro community must not lead us to a distrust of all white people, for many of our white brothers, as evidenced by their presence here today, have come to realize that their destiny is tied up with our destiny. They have come to realize that their freedom is inextricably bound to our freedom. We cannot walk alone.

As we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead. We cannot turn back. There are those who are asking the devotees of civil rights, “When will you be satisfied?” We can never be satisfied as long as the Negro is the victim of the unspeakable horrors of police brutality. We can never be satisfied, as long as our bodies, heavy with the fatigue of travel, cannot gain lodging in the motels of the highways and the hotels of the cities. We cannot be satisfied as long as the Negro’s basic mobility is from a smaller ghetto to a larger one. We can never be satisfied as long as our children are stripped of their selfhood and robbed of their dignity by signs stating “For Whites Only”. We cannot be satisfied as long as a Negro in Mississippi cannot vote and a Negro in New York believes he has nothing for which to vote. No, no, we are not satisfied, and we will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream.

I am not unmindful that some of you have come here out of great trials and tribulations. Some of you have come fresh from narrow jail cells. Some of you have come from areas where your quest for freedom left you battered by the storms of persecution and staggered by the winds of police brutality. You have been the veterans of creative suffering. Continue to work with the faith that unearned suffering is redemptive.

Go back to Mississippi, go back to Alabama, go back to South Carolina, go back to Georgia, go back to Louisiana, go back to the slums and ghettos of our northern cities, knowing that somehow this situation can and will be changed. Let us not wallow in the valley of despair.

I say to you today, my friends, so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: “We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal.”

I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.

I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

I have a dream today.

I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of interposition and nullification; one day right there in Alabama, little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.

I have a dream today.

I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.

This is our hope. This is the faith that I go back to the South with. With this faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.

This will be the day when all of God’s children will be able to sing with a new meaning, “My country, ’tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Land where my fathers died, land of the pilgrim’s pride, from every mountainside, let freedom ring.”

And if America is to be a great nation this must become true. So let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire. Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York. Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania!

Let freedom ring from the snowcapped Rockies of Colorado!

Let freedom ring from the curvaceous slopes of California!

But not only that; let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia!

Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee!

Let freedom ring from every hill and molehill of Mississippi. From every mountainside, let freedom ring.

And when this happens, when we allow freedom to ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God’s children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, “Free at last! free at last! thank God Almighty, we are free at last!”

Gratitude comes from the inside.

Madison Avenue and marketing happens on the outside.

Here is a great spoof from http://jesserosten.com/ on how much of that REALLY happens.

Feel your gratitude from the inside, and it will show on the outside!

Be Well.
Paul.
The Gratitude Guru

As the holidays were underfoot last month, all the classic Movies were played on TV. As I watched some of these, I realized that there were some great messages in these flicks. It got me thinking… What if a list was compiled outlining some great messages? What a great thing to share with others!

Have you thought about how holiday movies and TV specials can teach us how to live better and enjoy more happiness year round? I am sure you have seen many of these (if not all) movies. These are some of the most important life lessons from a few old favorites and some other works that may be less well known.

“How the Grinch Stole Christmas”:

1. Sing joyfully. Before he had his change of heart, singing was what the Grinch liked least of all. Surround yourself with the music of the season and sing along.
2. Resist commercial pressures. The Grinch learned that Christmas doesn’t come from a store. Focus on the true meaning of the holidays by sharing time with loved ones and looking for ways to make others happy.
3. Let your heart grow bigger. Dr. Seuss suspected that the Grinch suffered from a heart two sizes too small. As soon as it grew three sizes larger he brought back the toys he stole, put everything right and got to love his new friends in Whoville.

“It’s a Wonderful Life”:

1. Recognize that one person can make a difference. While the challenges around us can seem overwhelming sometimes, we all create our own environment. George Bailey leads a modest life, but he prevents good old Bedford Falls from turning into a sleazy Pottersville.
2. Celebrate the potential to create better outcomes. With all the talk about “toxic” people, we may sometimes overlook the fact that we all possess a mix of constructive and destructive qualities. By appealing to the good in people, George helps them to succeed in every walk of life.
3. Welcome help from others. As powerful as George is, he still needs Clarence, the angel, to help him through a rough night. Regardless of whatever weaknesses you possess, you can still serve as somebody’s angel if you’re willing to reach out.

“A Christmas Carol”:

1. Teach old dogs new tricks. We may sometimes feel that our habits are too ingrained to change. Scrooge proves that a life of stinginess can give way to one of kindness even late in life.
2. Pay attention to your dreams. We spend about one-third of our life sleeping. Put that time to good use by listening to what your dreams may be trying to tell you.
3. Come to terms with your past. Recognize the unhealthy patterns that get between you and greater happiness. Scrooge’s greed cost him his first love. You may need to become more generous to transform your own relationships.
4. Become more resilient. The Cratchit family remains cheerful in spite of their poverty. Tiny Tim appreciates his blessings even though he’s poor and crippled. If we bear our hardships with patience, we can protect our peace of mind.

I started to think about what other movies could some classic wisdom be pulled from. How about these?

Other Holiday Programs and Movies:

1. Focus on others. Steven Spielberg’s cartoon, “Pinky and the Brain,” is about more than a laboratory mouse trying to take over the world. The friendship between the two mice shines through when Pinky writes to Santa saying it’s okay to forget about him and just give Brain what he wants.
2. Work for world peace. The true story of the 1914 Christmas truce is captured in “Joyeux Noel.” If German, French and Scottish troops can call a ceasefire on one Christmas Eve, maybe we can all be more peaceful.
3. Believe in Santa Claus. “Miracle on 34th Street” looks like it was ahead of its time in questioning consumerism. It’s also timeless in affirming the importance of faith. Plus, it may offer the best legal argument for believing in Santa Claus.

Many of us look forward to watching our favorite holiday movies and specials each year. It’s a great way to revisit their inspiring messages and share them with our children.

I will have to remember to re-publish this in 11 months when you can re-watch these movies and get in the holiday spirit while remembering to concentrate on the finer things in life!

Be Well.
Paul.
The Gratitude Guru

Happy New Year! Here it is, 2012 already – where does the time go?

Are you a resolution type of person? Do you have your goals in mind, the changes you want to make, and a list of accomplishments planned out for the next 3, 6, or 12 months? Many people use today to start over. It is a Renaissance of a sort – a rebirth!

If you do have a list of things, are you really interested in achieving them? Are there things on the list that you want to have (materialistic things)? Are there activities that you want to engage in this year (things you want to do), like running a 5k, or taking a trip? How about items that directly affect your well being? Are there any of those on your list?

If you re-read the above paragraph, the order I listed the questions are generally the order that people have for their lists. In fact, if you really want to accomplish your list, you need to load up in the opposite manner.

Huh? You should first Be, then Do, so you can Have. It is so easy to get caught up the other way around. “When I have a new car, then I will start to find a new job, so I will be happy.” In reality, you should Be happy and you will find a new job which will put you on the path to having a new car.

As I mentioned in today’s Gratitude Burst, my top 2 items both deal with being healthy. My mindset is one of being healthty. That makes it easier to get to the gym, to eat right (and not eat poorly).  This will lead to me having a smaller tummy, more energy, a better physical feeling.

I am not using ‘excuses’ like I am too out of shape, so I can’t keep up at an aerobics class. I am not saying, “I am tired. I don’t want to work out.” Nike says it best – Just Do It!

When you think of your New Year’s Goals (or resolutions) with the Be, Do, Have idea, you certainly will accomplish them much easier.

Be Well.
Paul.
The Gratitude Guru

As the last day of the year, many people take advantage of this time to reflect on the past year. I am heading out to PA this afternoon to send some time with family. I think this is a great video to bring 2011 to an end.

Wishing you a Happy New Year!

Be Well.
Paul.
The Gratitude Guru

It must be the holidays as this is the third video posted in a row! The other 2 were awesome, and this one is even better!

I was going through some videos when I ‘found’ this one. This video was created by my friend, Therese Sparby. She is an wonderful woman and I cannot say enough good things about her.

She created this video with a bunch of other friends – yours truly is even in the video!

Thanks, Therese for creating such a treasure out of  Marianne Williamson’s quote.

Be Well.
Paul.
The Gratitude Guru

Here is a great video demonstrating gratitude that was shared by my Aunt Melissa. When I first watched it, it looked very familiar! It was at the end when the construction worker was handed a glass of water that I realized this was shot in Red Bank, NJ – just a couple blocks from where I used to work!

If you do something to someone, it will have an effect that you may not realize. Because of this, do something nice. The ripple effects will be more favorable than doing something that is not nice.

During the holiday season, it is easy to express your gratitude towards others. Try to keep the gratitude giving going throughout the New Year and into 2012.

Happy Holidays!

Be Well.
Paul.
The Gratitude Guru

Talk about expressing gratitude for You! This is a song by Jana Standfield titled, All I Can Do.

As you watch the video, listen to the lyrics.

What did you think? Leave a comment below!

Be Well.
Paul.
The Gratitude Guru

I have been taking things slow and getting back to my old self as I heal from my surgery. I always think I can do more than I ‘can’ and probably push myself a little too much at times. Personally, I think that is the way to continual grow and improve, however, that may not necessarily be the case with recovering from surgery.

With that in mind, I am going to re-post something I read on Richard Harris’ site, Get Ready Athletics – and you should get ready becuase it applies to everything, not just athletics!

Here are 20 words that will change your day:

• New beginnings!
• Perspective is key!
• Be your best!
• Live actively!
• Make daily deposits!
• Minimize obstacles!
• Optimize solutions!
• Maximize performance!
• Avoid excuses!
• Do better!
• Love conquers all!
• Thank you!

What a great list! I have printed it out and have it posted at my desk!

I am expressing my gratitude for crossing things off my list while I am at home recovering from surgery. Later today I will go for my post-surgery check-up to see how I am doing!

I found that I slept more than I thought I would and thus, did not get as much done as I thought. Do you find yourself putting off today’s tasks until the last minute? Maybe you’re waiting for the right mood to strike. Perhaps you’re afraid of failure, or find the work stressful or boring.

I found that I was able to really increase my productivity when I purchased Jason Fladlien’s Double Your Productivity For Life program. I have been a fan since I first read it a couple years ago. It has just about everything you would want: low cost, money back guarantee, and most importantly, it works!

Using that system, regardless of your reasons for not getting things done, you can find a way out of this negative cycle!

The Feelings That Besiege Procrastinators

Chances are good that you feel guilty when you’re the last one to finish or when you complete something much later than you promised. Maybe you don’t finish at all and just give up when you realize how far behind you are. I know I am supposed to sleep to heal, but I felt guilty!

Procrastination can lead to depression, especially when your habit of putting things off prevents you from ever achieving goals that are important to you. Watching the success of others who always finish first can make you feel worthless.

As a procrastinator, beginning a task can be the hardest part. These suggestions can help you get started and continue working on your tasks until you complete them.

Ginseng – The Stress Buster, Memory Enhancer, Concentration Booster

An adaptogen (a class of substances that help the body adapt to physical or mental stress), ginseng protects you from stress. This herb also been shown to sharpen memory and concentration. This may be exactly what you need in order to overcome procrastination.

Also, menopausal women may be prone to depression and mood swings, which can hamper their ability to work. Ginseng can help allay menopausal symptoms, which in turn will assist in productivity and reducing procrastination.

Time Management

Procrastinators tend to ignore tasks by pointing to a lack of time. If you feel like you often don’t have enough time to do your work, try these tips on managing your time more efficiently:

1. Prioritize your tasks. Do the most urgent first.

2. Rise earlier so you can get more things done in time. For many, early morning is the best time for working on the most urgent and important tasks. During these hours, your concentration is high and the mind is fresh.

3. Make a to-do list. Post it where you can see it and follow your list.

4. Watch less TV. Keep an eye on how much time you spend on leisure activities such as watching television. Try reducing this time by an hour or two a week. You may be surprised at how much more you can get done!

Focus on Glorious Goals

Always look at the bigger picture – accomplishing your life goals. Let this vision motivate you to work towards your goal each day. Completing one small step each day will contribute to the manifestation of your dreams.

When you feel lazy, remind yourself of what you truly want. Dream about it. See it clearly in your mind’s eye. Feel the elation and satisfaction that comes from bringing these dreams to fruition.

Short List of Tips for Beating Procrastination

• Avoid waiting for the right “mood.”
• Remember that procrastination can lead to depression.
• Avoid allowing fear of failure to overwhelm you.
• Do the “boring” tasks first.
• Take ginseng every day.
• Remind yourself of how completing your tasks contribute to reaching your goals.
• Avoid packing too much into your to-do list for any given day.
• Refrain from assuaging your guilt by doing minor tasks instead of doing the major ones.
• Focus on one task at a time so you don’t scatter your energies.
• Shake yourself out of your false sense of security (that you have plenty of time to start it later) and tackle that task now!

Follow these tips and you’ll no longer have to watch others reach the finish line before you. You’ll feel a sense of great accomplishment, and before you know it, your bigger goals will no longer just be dreams; you’ll have achieved them!

If you want a little extra boost, check out Double Your Productivity For Life!

Be Well.
Paul.
The Gratitude Guru

Today I would like to express my gratitude for leaning something new each day! I always try to learn something new so that I continue to learn and grow.

Learning something new each day is easy. Some people read voraciously and are a beacon of knowledge. Others tune in to their favorite information channel on television, listen to the radio, converse with their neighbor, or go to work to learn. However you find it, knowledge is all around you every day.

Learning new things can enrich your life in many ways:

1. Provides something to talk about. Who doesn’t want to be known for being an interesting conversationalist? You’ll have plenty of fodder to share with others.

2. Exposes you to new things. Learning about new information expands your mind. You become a more interesting and thoughtful person when you gain new knowledge.

3. You might find that one thing that makes your heart sing. For example, maybe you’ve never heard of swimming with the dolphins. But you read about it or saw it on television and planned a vacation to do it. You stand to experience something awesome just because you gained new knowledge.

4. Learning is refreshing. Learning excites your mind when you take in new info. You’re seduced to learn more and more. It’s great to feel like your mind is renewed in some way, and learning every day contributes to that feeling.

5. Combats boredom. When you learn something new, it helps you avoid a hum-drum existence. Jazz up your life simply by acquiring new information.

6. Gives you something to look forward to. If you know that each day after work, you’re going to search the internet with your iPad to research your currently favorite topic, you’ve got something to look forward to during your work day.

7. You affect the lives of others. Something you learn and share could have a profound impact on another person. At the very least, you might trigger someone’s curiosity to the extent that they delve more into a topic you’ve shared.

8. You set a great example for your children. There’s nothing that gets children interested in reading and scholarly topics like observing their parents expressing excitement about learning. Plus, seeing parents open a book, magazine or newspaper every day inspires kids to want to learn, too.

9. Knowledge is power. Sir Francis Bacon, an English philosopher and writer who lived during the 17th century, once said, “Knowledge is power.” When you have knowledge, you have the power to achieve many things. You gain something important. One of the most crucial reasons to learn something new daily is that you gain power when you do.

10. You’ll be intellectually stimulated. Get your intellectual juices flowing by opening a book or watching an information channel on television. Want to know more about carpentry? Fashion design? Ancient aliens? Find thought-provoking information and indulge. Expose yourself to topics to ponder.

11. Your quality of life will be enhanced. Learning provides you with an escape when you need it, knowledge when you seek it, and a great pastime.

There are so many reasons to gain new knowledge daily. Expand your mind, set a good example for your children and gain some power in your life. Overcome boredom, cultivate great conversation and positively impact the life of another human being. You’ll achieve all of these things and more when you focus on learning something new every day.

Be Well.
Paul.
The Gratitude Guru

I received an email request asking for some information about Nick Vujicic – I posted a video of his in the past and someone wanted to know if I still had it.

There are a lot of things you can be thankful for – one of them is the ability to adapt! After watching this video, you may think it is best to be thankful that you are not in Nick’s, um, shoes… But in reality, you should be thankful that you have the ability to control your thoughts and your outlook.

I wish I was half as optimistic as Nick is.

Be Well.
Paul.
The Gratitude Guru

Happy Friday to all of you out there in the Internets!

Today is Friday which brings forth many reasons to celebrate my gratitude! A few things to point out:

1. I realize that I have not updated my 1,001 Things To Be Grateful list. I will once again resume the posting of items on that list! After all, it is only fitting with ThanksGiving less than one week away I resume that practice!
2. Today is one week since I had my surgery. Time flies, huh? Well, it does for me. This past week has been a bit of blur – it has been a combination of sleep, more sleep, and doing not much else. I did have the opportunity to teach my college course virtually as well as my private Website Coaching students. That was a nice ‘break’.
3. I received an email yesterday reminding me that ThanksGiving is in one week! Wow! That really crept up on me! I am looking forward to getting together with family and having a good time! I am sure that I will be writing about that in the next couple of days.

With all that personal stuff out of the way, I want to actually take a break from posting for today and tell you about another awesome site!

I ‘met’ my friend, Carmen, just short of a year ago when she was starting her website, The New Happy Me. We spoke on the phone a few times discussing how she could get her site up and running, fitting in the time to write, managing everyday activities, and still share her gifts with everyone on her site. She has made wonderful progress from those early days!

When I see an email from her, it is one of the first ones I read!

She is currently talking about New Year Resolutions. I think that great planning starts early and the fact that she is gearing up for the new year now is fantastic! If you want to really make a difference in 2012, now is the time to get organized with it. Personally, I applaud her for her preparation.

Of course, she deals with other topics such as:

• Looking for Happiness
• Finding Happiness
• Visualization
• Dream Boards
• Loving Yourself
• and a whole myriad of other topics!

Again, I highly suggest you take a look at Carmen’s site, The New Happy Me. I am sure you will love it as I do!

Be Well.
Paul.
The Gratitude Guru

Where has Paul Been recently?

Great question. I have been, um, a little busy recently. The most recent time allocation has been for a recent surgery that I had. The good news is that I am recovering nicely and just taking things day by day.

I recently noticed that I had a bit of a lump sticking out of my belly button. Since I have had an ‘inny’ belly button all my life, I thought it would be a good idea to have it checked out. Sparing a lot of the details, I will say that I was diagnosed with an Incarcerated Umbilical Hernia. That simply means that I had a rip in my core around my belly and part of my intestine slipped through the tear and was stuck (hence the ‘incarcerated’ part of the name).

Fast forward to today. The 45 minute surgery went fine and I am now recovering over the next 4-6 weeks. Yikes! Such a long time. It is tough for me to stay still and not do anything, but when your core is involved with just about everything you do when you move, I understand the need to stay still.

For some reason, i thought about this song this morning… I posted another version of it long ago, but I wanted to post it again.

You see, as I rest and just think about things, I was reminded that we encounter a lot of things that are similar over and over. Sometimes we make the connection, but many times we don’t. What is different is actually the same. There are more similarities in life, than not.

Gratitude is like that – it transcends just about everything you do. There is no need to keep it separate, or to try something new. It is old and familiar, just like “the 4-Chord Song.”

Be Well.
Paul.
The Gratitude Guru

Yesterday was Halloween in the US (and other countries). We had 2 Trick or Treaters come to our house! That is an increase from last year of an infinite percentage! Last year we had no visitors!

I was teaching at the college on one of my favorite holidays of the year, but I was told that a 5-year old and his younger brother, a 2-year old, came to the door and exclaimed the traditional, ‘Trick Or Treat.”
They received handfuls of candy each (after all, if any candy was left over, it would be ME to eat it all…) and they smiled from ear to ear! They hit pay dirt at this house!

As they were walking away, they were saying,’Thanks!’ over and over (along with ‘Bye-Bye’). It is great to see expressions of gratitude and thanks at such a young age, especially when it not prompted by Mom or Dad (“What do you say?”)

I am grateful that they stopped by! Sometimes it is fun to notice the gratitude for the silly things that simply make you smile.

Seeing that today is November 1st, some say this is the start of the Thanksgiving season. The big celebrated day of Gratitude is only 23 days away!  Why not start a new practice of expressing your gratitude for the next 23 days! See what happens when you wake up each morning and list 5 things you are grateful for – as they just pop in your head! No need to keep a formal list (unless you really want to be diligent), just wake up thinking about them. Do the same as you have your eyes closed and are going to sleep.

Give it a shot!

Be Well.
Paul.

Halloween is nearly upon us, and most of us are bursting at the seams to slip into a costume and scare the daylights out of the people brave enough to hand out candy. Our surrounding communities will be celebrating Halloween over the weekend and on Monday, the 31^st. After you return home and dig through your candy, consider making a pile to donate to soldiers overseas.

Operation Gratitude is a nationwide program that collects food and supplies from local residents to assemble into care packages and ship to servicemen and women currently deployed as well as those in the Wounded Warrior Project. Halloween is the perfect opportunity to take some of your extra candy (and not just the ones you won’t eat) and bring them to local businesses that are collecting for the cause.

There are a number of ways to donate to Operation Gratitude. In addition to candy, the program also accepts Girl Scout Cookies, dry snacks like nuts and popcorn, toys such as Webkinz and Beanie Babies, and handmade crafts like scarves and bandanas. Monetary donations are also helpful to offset the cost of overseas postage.

Be Well.
Paul.
The Gratitude Guru

I have always been a fan of Wayne Dyer. He always keeps it simple, explains things so easily and has a calming nature about himself. What is NOT to like?

If you look at the books in my library, there is a whole section of his books. I also have a couple of his DVD programs, and even his ‘movie’, The Shift.

I recently discovered that he is speaking on the topic of Mastering the Art of Manifestation in some great locations! If I could easily get some time off from work, I would go check  it out immediately!

In this presentation, Dr. Wayne explores what he is calling his “most astonishing subject yet:.” He discusses  the power of attracting your needs and desires into your life.

Think about these questions:

• Do you have limits in your life that prevent you from making changes or achieving your highest goals?

• Do you love what you do, and do what you love in life?

• Are you impatient, waiting for good things to happen?

Mastering the Art of Manifestation is an all-new intensive that focuses on the ancient principle of manifesting through the timeless art of meditation. With characteristic insight and clarity, Wayne teaches the process of meditation as a way to streamline your thoughts, desires, and goals, and to bring what you most desire into your life. Whether you realize it or not, you struggle with built-in societal barriers that obstruct your inner potential.

Oh, how I wish I could get the time off…

Go check out and see if Wayne will be in your neck of the woods: Mastering the Art of Manifestation will be in some exotic (and some less exotic) locations!

Be Well.
Paul.
The Gratitude Guru

Last night I was expressing my gratitude as I was emptying my wallet of all the receipts I had in there.  When I go shopping, I like to get the receipt handed to me. I then either slip it into my wallet, or I fold it in half (so it will fit) and save it in my wallet.

Although I would like to have a ritual of clearing it out at the end of each day, that usually does not happen. As a result, I will have a week or two worth of receipts stored up in my bill fold. Ironically enough, I typically have more receipts in there than cash bills!

Back to the point of this short little gratitude story… I was cleaning out all the paper I had in there and lo and behold! I ‘found’ a twenty dollar bill that I did not know I had! What a happy feeling!

I love when the Universe presents me with money. “I’m a Money Magnet! Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!!”

Have you ever noticed that things come to you, not necessarily when you go struggling and looking for them, but when you are at ease? The times when you let go and go with the flow, life is easier! When you don’t focus frantically on something, it gets presented to you! When you are in a state of gratitude, everything is just right.

There have been plenty of times when I had more month left over than money in my bank account. Not a good feeling! There were times when my commitments surely would take more time than was left in the week. What to do? What to do? I remember getting all panicked wondering where the money would come from! How could I finish up what needed to be done. I felt DOOMED! Perhaps you have felt that way also? Not a good feeling, huh?

These days, I don’t focus on the money. Really! I don’t know when pay day is. I don’t worry about not being able to pay bills. I express my gratitude for my jobs and the fact that I have them! I am not willy-nilly and foolish when it comes to money, but it is not my focus. I do the right thing (at least I think I do), I do what I know needs to be done in order to earn the money, and it comes.

If money is tight, do what you have to do. You cannot sit around and hope for money to show up. You need to participate in the process. Actively seek out income producing activities. Work towards earning an income.

But, don’t stew on it!

Be Well.
Paul.
The Gratitude Guru

Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes.

The ones who see things differently. They’re not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can praise them, disagree with them, quote them, disbelieve them, glorify or vilify them.

About the only thing you can’t do is ignore them. Because they change things. They invent. They imagine. They heal. They explore. They create. They inspire. They push the human race forward.

Maybe they have to be crazy.

How else can you stare at an empty canvas and see a work of art? Or sit in silence and hear a song that’s never been written? Or gaze at a red planet and see a laboratory on wheels?

While some see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do.

“Think Different” is an advertising slogan created for Apple Computer in 1997. It was used in a famous television commercial, several print advertisements, and several television advertisements for Apple products.

As many of this Blog’s Readers know, I am a huge Apple fan! This is just another example of how Apple stands out from the crowd. I am certainly grateful for Apple and how they have revolutionized not only computers, but consumer electronics as well.

Be Well.

In Honor of Steve Jobs, I am posting his Keynote speech from Stanford back in 2005. The world will be a little less creative.

I am honored to be with you today at your commencement from one of the finest universities in the world. I never graduated from college. Truth be told, this is the closest I’ve ever gotten to a college graduation. Today I want to tell you three stories from my life. That’s it. No big deal. Just three stories.

The first story is about connecting the dots.

I dropped out of Reed College after the first 6 months, but then stayed around as a drop-in for another 18 months or so before I really quit. So why did I drop out?

It started before I was born. My biological mother was a young, unwed college graduate student, and she decided to put me up for adoption. She felt very strongly that I should be adopted by college graduates, so everything was all set for me to be adopted at birth by a lawyer and his wife. Except that when I popped out they decided at the last minute that they really wanted a girl. So my parents, who were on a waiting list, got a call in the middle of the night asking: “We have an unexpected baby boy; do you want him?” They said: “Of course.” My biological mother later found out that my mother had never graduated from college and that my father had never graduated from high school. She refused to sign the final adoption papers. She only relented a few months later when my parents promised that I would someday go to college.

And 17 years later I did go to college. But I naively chose a college that was almost as expensive as Stanford, and all of my working-class parents’ savings were being spent on my college tuition. After six months, I couldn’t see the value in it. I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life and no idea how college was going to help me figure it out. And here I was spending all of the money my parents had saved their entire life. So I decided to drop out and trust that it would all work out OK. It was pretty scary at the time, but looking back it was one of the best decisions I ever made. The minute I dropped out I could stop taking the required classes that didn’t interest me, and begin dropping in on the ones that looked interesting.

It wasn’t all romantic. I didn’t have a dorm room, so I slept on the floor in friends’ rooms, I returned coke bottles for the 5¢ deposits to buy food with, and I would walk the 7 miles across town every Sunday night to get one good meal a week at the Hare Krishna temple. I loved it. And much of what I stumbled into by following my curiosity and intuition turned out to be priceless later on. Let me give you one example:

Reed College at that time offered perhaps the best calligraphy instruction in the country. Throughout the campus every poster, every label on every drawer, was beautifully hand calligraphed. Because I had dropped out and didn’t have to take the normal classes, I decided to take a calligraphy class to learn how to do this. I learned about serif and san serif typefaces, about varying the amount of space between different letter combinations, about what makes great typography great. It was beautiful, historical, artistically subtle in a way that science can’t capture, and I found it fascinating.

None of this had even a hope of any practical application in my life. But ten years later, when we were designing the first Macintosh computer, it all came back to me. And we designed it all into the Mac. It was the first computer with beautiful typography. If I had never dropped in on that single course in college, the Mac would have never had multiple typefaces or proportionally spaced fonts. And since Windows just copied the Mac, it’s likely that no personal computer would have them. If I had never dropped out, I would have never dropped in on this calligraphy class, and personal computers might not have the wonderful typography that they do. Of course it was impossible to connect the dots looking forward when I was in college. But it was very, very clear looking backwards ten years later.

Again, you can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something — your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life.

My second story is about love and loss.

I was lucky — I found what I loved to do early in life. Woz and I started Apple in my parents garage when I was 20. We worked hard, and in 10 years Apple had grown from just the two of us in a garage into a $2 billion company with over 4000 employees. We had just released our finest creation — the Macintosh — a year earlier, and I had just turned 30. And then I got fired. How can you get fired from a company you started? Well, as Apple grew we hired someone who I thought was very talented to run the company with me, and for the first year or so things went well. But then our visions of the future began to diverge and eventually we had a falling out. When we did, our Board of Directors sided with him. So at 30 I was out. And very publicly out. What had been the focus of my entire adult life was gone, and it was devastating.

I really didn’t know what to do for a few months. I felt that I had let the previous generation of entrepreneurs down – that I had dropped the baton as it was being passed to me. I met with David Packard and Bob Noyce and tried to apologize for screwing up so badly. I was a very public failure, and I even thought about running away from the valley. But something slowly began to dawn on me — I still loved what I did. The turn of events at Apple had not changed that one bit. I had been rejected, but I was still in love. And so I decided to start over.

I didn’t see it then, but it turned out that getting fired from Apple was the best thing that could have ever happened to me. The heaviness of being successful was replaced by the lightness of being a beginner again, less sure about everything. It freed me to enter one of the most creative periods of my life.

During the next five years, I started a company named NeXT, another company named Pixar, and fell in love with an amazing woman who would become my wife. Pixar went on to create the worlds first computer animated feature film, Toy Story, and is now the most successful animation studio in the world. In a remarkable turn of events, Apple bought NeXT, I returned to Apple, and the technology we developed at NeXT is at the heart of Apple’s current renaissance. And Laurene and I have a wonderful family together.

I’m pretty sure none of this would have happened if I hadn’t been fired from Apple. It was awful tasting medicine, but I guess the patient needed it. Sometimes life hits you in the head with a brick. Don’t lose faith. I’m convinced that the only thing that kept me going was that I loved what I did. You’ve got to find what you love. And that is as true for your work as it is for your lovers. Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it. And, like any great relationship, it just gets better and better as the years roll on. So keep looking until you find it. Don’t settle.

My third story is about death.

When I was 17, I read a quote that went something like: “If you live each day as if it was your last, someday you’ll most certainly be right.” It made an impression on me, and since then, for the past 33 years, I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself: “If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?” And whenever the answer has been “No” for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something.

Remembering that I’ll be dead soon is the most important tool I’ve ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything — all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure – these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.

About a year ago I was diagnosed with cancer. I had a scan at 7:30 in the morning, and it clearly showed a tumor on my pancreas. I didn’t even know what a pancreas was. The doctors told me this was almost certainly a type of cancer that is incurable, and that I should expect to live no longer than three to six months. My doctor advised me to go home and get my affairs in order, which is doctor’s code for prepare to die. It means to try to tell your kids everything you thought you’d have the next 10 years to tell them in just a few months. It means to make sure everything is buttoned up so that it will be as easy as possible for your family. It means to say your goodbyes.

I lived with that diagnosis all day. Later that evening I had a biopsy, where they stuck an endoscope down my throat, through my stomach and into my intestines, put a needle into my pancreas and got a few cells from the tumor. I was sedated, but my wife, who was there, told me that when they viewed the cells under a microscope the doctors started crying because it turned out to be a very rare form of pancreatic cancer that is curable with surgery. I had the surgery and I’m fine now.

This was the closest I’ve been to facing death, and I hope it’s the closest I get for a few more decades. Having lived through it, I can now say this to you with a bit more certainty than when death was a useful but purely intellectual concept:

No one wants to die. Even people who want to go to heaven don’t want to die to get there. And yet death is the destination we all share. No one has ever escaped it. And that is as it should be, because Death is very likely the single best invention of Life. It is Life’s change agent. It clears out the old to make way for the new. Right now the new is you, but someday not too long from now, you will gradually become the old and be cleared away. Sorry to be so dramatic, but it is quite true.

Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.

When I was young, there was an amazing publication called The Whole Earth Catalog, which was one of the bibles of my generation. It was created by a fellow named Stewart Brand not far from here in Menlo Park, and he brought it to life with his poetic touch. This was in the late 1960′s, before personal computers and desktop publishing, so it was all made with typewriters, scissors, and polaroid cameras. It was sort of like Google in paperback form, 35 years before Google came along: it was idealistic, and overflowing with neat tools and great notions.

Stewart and his team put out several issues of The Whole Earth Catalog, and then when it had run its course, they put out a final issue. It was the mid-1970s, and I was your age. On the back cover of their final issue was a photograph of an early morning country road, the kind you might find yourself hitchhiking on if you were so adventurous. Beneath it were the words: “Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish.” It was their farewell message as they signed off. Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish. And I have always wished that for myself. And now, as you graduate to begin anew, I wish that for you.

Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish.

Thank you all very much.

Learn to expect, not to doubt. In so doing you bring everything into the realm of possibility.

This does not mean that by believing you are necessarily going to get everything you want or think you want.  Perhaps that would not be good for you.  When you put your trust in God, He guides your mind so that you do not want things that are not good for you or that are inharmonious with God’s will. But it does definitely mean that when you learn to believe, then that which has seemingly been impossible moves into the area of the possible.  Every great thing at last becomes for you a possibility.

William James, the famous psychologist, said, “Our belief at the beginning of a doubtful undertaking is the one thing (now get that – is the one thing) that insures the successful outcome of your venture.”  To learn to believe is of primary importance.  It is the basic factor of succeeding in any undertaking. When you expect the best, you release a magnetic force in your mind, which by a law of attraction tends to bring the best to you.  But if you expect the worst, you release from your mind the power of repulsion, which tends to force the best from you.  It is amazing how a sustained expectation of the best sets in motion forces, which cause the best to materialize.

The Power of Positive Thinking – Norman Vincent Peale

(This is a previously posted post that I updated. I frequently get asked, “You send out a Quote Of the Day? Everyday? How interesting! Why?”

I think it is time to outline the history of the Quote, and how it came about. I do not know the actual start date of the Quote of the Day, but something came up at work one day when a a manager made a decision and it was absurd; this was back in 1990, I think. I remember the project (AWS), I remember the group, and I remember the people. Anyway, the decision that was made was one of those things that you stop and ask yourself, “How in the world does that decision make any sense?” Some manager decided something that I certainly did no agree with, so I sent out a snippet to my coworkers as “The Quote of the Day.” This little sarcastic habit was very infrequent, and was only emailed out to a handful of people in my immediate department.

The rest of the history is a blur! I started to send out a quote on a regular basis. It was a lot less on the sarcasm,
and it was based on something I read, or heard, or thought was inspiring. No longer was the email restricted to my coworkers, but I started sending it out to friends over the internet. Back in the early 90s, the internet was still relatively new and not everyone had an email address. Everything was done manually back then. I maintained my own distribution list, and would have to add someone by typing in their email address. When someone no longer wanted the Quote, I would get an email and I would have to delete them… again manually.

The Quote of the Day started to become popular. Recipients of the list would forward it on to people whom they thought would enjoy it. After some time, they would get tired of forwarding on the email, so I would get requests to add their friends to the list. Again, another manual process. I remember adding people based on what a friend would say and then getting back a harsh email from the recipient asking to be taken off the list! This was well before spam was a
n issue and double opt-in lists did not exist!

After a couple of those emails, I started to have people send me an email if they wanted to be added (“If you want your friend to get the quote, please have him/her send me a quote requesting to be place on the list.”). Again this was a time consuming effort. But, I enjoyed it. The quotes that I would send out made people smile, laugh, it gave them something to think about, it helped inspire some people to do things they may not have done. I enjoy the quotes, and I just wanted to share.

Maintaining the list became too much of a burden, so I started to look for some sort of service to help me out. On May 11th, 2000, I signed up at http://lists.topica.com and the administrative aspects were automated for me. Topica handled all the requests for subscribing, for removing, etc. It was like getting a vacation!

Every day at work, the first thing I would do is send out my Quote of the Day email. Every day, this was still a manual task. Again, I was happy to do it. I actually wrote a computer program once to send out a quote a day and all I had to do was load them up, in bulk, every once in a while. I abandoned that project (or I should say, I never implemented the program) because I wanted to keep it personal. I would say that about 50% of the quotes are sent out with some hidden meaning in them. You can tell the way I am feeling by the quote I send out. Or, the quote has a theme for the day. (If you have your old quotes, look at April 15th, or March 13th, Nov. 30th)

With the launch of the new website, http://www.AllAboutGratitude.com, I decided that it was time to bump up the List Management aspect of the list. Whereas Topica is a free service, I am now paying a monthly fee to have the quote list maintained. I am hoping that with the service I am using, Aweber, the list will become a more reliable than the free service.

If you have any quotes you would like to share, please send them to me. If you just enjoy receiving them, have fun with them. With that said, I am grateful for those subscribers who are on the list, and for those of you who send me your comments every once in a while. If you are not on the list and would like to become a member, please sign up at: http://www.AllAboutGratitude.com

Thanks!

Today’s quote was similar to what Dr. John Maxwell wrote in this book:

If you get a chance, get a copy and read it!

I hate to admit it, but I just finished watching one of the worse movies I have ever seen. I should have known it by: 1) the Title, 2) the Premise,  3) by the leading actor, and 4) it was based on a video game! Without being too negative about the movie publicly, I will not reveal it here. Trust me… you don’t want to see it.

Instead, what I will write about are some movies that I HIGHLY recommend. I will stick to 2:

Miracle (Full Screen) (2004) 2 Discs – Hockey DVD: This is about the US Hockey Team of 1980. Even if you are not a hockey player, I imagine you will still love it! Full of encouragement, dedication, and determination. It shows that you can get what you want if you are willing to put in the effort required.

Sticking with the sports theme today, another great movie is Hurricane Season. Also a true story, this one tells the tale of a High School Basketball team that was devastated by Hurricane Katrina down in New Orleans. During a turbulent time, dedication and a deep desire to come back makes this an awesome movie.

As I write this, I am reminded that I need to stop watching junk. I think I should go pull one of these movies off the shelf of my collection and watch it now. I need to make up for that other horrible movie.

Be Well.
Paul.
The Gratitude Guru

Today’s Gratitude Burst that was sent out was from Andy Warhol. I remember the first time I saw his work. My Mom took my sister and my brother and I to the Museum of Modern Art on West 53rd Street in New York City where I grew up. One of the first pieces I saw of his (or at least that I remembered when I was about 5 years old) was Warhol’s painting of the Cambell’s Soup Can.

Andy Warhol's Cambell's Soup (1968)

I remember seeing and wondering how in the world this could be art! Of course, I also thought that I could give Jackson Pollack a run for his money as well. Actually, I was more of an artist like Pollack than Warhol!  I had a lot to learn about art at that point!

I also remember trips to the Guggenheim Museum on 5th Avenue (across from the Central Park), as well as trips to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, just about 6 blocks away from where we lived. My favorite museum of all time, however, is the Museum of Natural History on Central Park West. We lived about blocks (2 LONG blocks) from the Museum of Natural History and went there frequently. I remember going there on School Trips as well (P.S. 87 was only a block away!).

Be Well.
Paul.
The Gratitude Guru

A man came home from work late again, tired and irritated, to find his 5-year old son waiting for him at the door. “Daddy, may I ask you question?”

“Yeah, sure, what is it?” replied the man.

“Daddy, how much money do you make an hour?”

“That’s none of your business. What makes you ask such a thing?” the man said angrily.

“I just want to know. Please tell me, how much do you make an hour?” pleaded the little boy.

“If you must know, I make $20.00 an hour.”

“Oh,” the little boy replied, head bowed. Looking up, he said, “Daddy, may I borrow $10.00 please?”

The father was furious. “If the only reason you wanted to know how much money I make is just so you can borrow some to buy a silly toy or some other nonsense, then you march yourself straight to your room and go to bed. Think about why you’re being so selfish. I work long, hard hours everyday and don’t have time for such childish games.”

The little boy quietly went to his room and shut the door. The man sat down and started to get even madder about the little boy’s questioning. How dare he ask such questions only to get some money. After an hour or so, the man had calmed down, and started to think he may have been a little hard on his son. Maybe there was something he really needed to buy with that $10.00 and he really didn’t ask for money very often. The man went to the door of the little boy’s room and opened the door.

“Are you asleep son?” he asked.

“No daddy, I’m awake,” replied the boy.

“I’ve been thinking, maybe I was too hard on you earlier,” said the man. “It’s been a long day and I took my aggravation out on you. Here’s that $10.00 you asked for.”

The little boy sat straight up, beaming. “Oh, thank you daddy” he yelled. Then, reaching under his pillow, he pulled out some more crumpled up bills. The man, seeing that the boy already had money, started to get angry again. The little boy slowly counted out his money, then looked up at the man.

“Why did you want more money if you already had some?” the father grumbled.

“Because I didn’t have enough, but now I do,” the little boy replied.

“Daddy, I have $20.00 now. Can I buy an hour of your time?”

Share this story with someone you like…but even better, share $20.00 worth of time with someone you love…just a short reminder to all of us working so hard for our living. However, let us not let time slip through our fingers without having spent some quality time with those who really matter to us.

Let’s be honest about it: We do want things from other people.  We want other people’s good will and friendship.  We want their acceptance and recognition.

A businessman wants business from other people.  A husband and wife want love and affection from each other.  A parent wants obedience.  A child wants security and love.  A salesman wants other people to sign their names on a dotted line.  A boss wants loyalty, production, and cooperation.  An employee wants recognition and credit for what he does.

Every normal human being wants success and happiness.  Have you ever thought about the fact that other people play an important part in any real success or happiness that we enjoy?  It is largely through our dealings with other people that we become succe3ssful.  And regardless of what your definition of happiness may be, a little thought will convince you that your own happiness is largely dependent upon the sort of relationships you have with other people.

How To Have Confidence And Power In dealing With People – Les Giblin?

A flock of geese is worth watching. As each goose flaps its wings, it creates an uplift for the bird following. By flying in V formation, the whole flock adds 71% more flying range than if each bird flew alone.

Lesson: People who share a common direction and sense of community can go farther and get where they are going quicker and easier because they are traveling on the thrust of one another.

When the lead goose gets tired, it rotates back in the formation and another goose flies at the point position.

Lesson: It pays to take turns doing the challenging tasks and sharing leadership. People, like geese, are interdependent.

The geese in formation honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep up the speed.

Lesson: We need to make sure our honking from behind is encouraging, not irritating, or, worse yet, critical.

When a goose gets sick or wounded or shot down, two geese drop out of formation and follow it down to help protect it. They stay with the goose until it is either able to fly again or dies. They launch out on their own with another formation or catch up with the original flock.

Lesson: If we have as much sense as geese, we will likewise stand by and care for one another.

Just a simple reminder for increasing the gratitude in your life.

Be Well.

I read this story of gratitude and wanted to share it with you.

Once far away, but not so long ago, lived a woman in a house made of mud with a roof of straw. The woman had been befriended by an American Peace Corps worker when her husband died and wanted to present her with a gift on her birthday to repay the kindness.

She had nothing to give but her skill, so she started crocheting with any bits of thread she could find–from the roadside, leftovers from the neighbor’s projects, etc. When the small mat was finished the woman began her 5km walk through the bush to find her friend and deliver the gift. The day was steamy hot and the ground burned her feet like hot concrete. She ran out of water when she was only halfway there and the wind chapped her lips.

Finally she stumbled to the door of her friend, who brought her quickly in, gave her a cool drink and wrapped her feet in a wet towel. As the American woman heard the tale of the gift and the determination it took to deliver. She cried with gratitude and wonder. As the sun started to set, the two women went to the well to refill the water skin and then the American woman offered to get the mule cart to take the woman home. The woman stopper her, saying, “I hope you won’t be offended, but please understand that the walk is part of the gift.” And then she was gone.

Be Well.

Sign up for the Gratitude Quote of the Day at: www.AllAboutGratitude.com

Some say that Labor Day brings about a clear delineation – Summer is over, and Fall is beginning. Vacations are ending, and the school year is beginning.

With that in mind, this is a great time to start planning for things to happen. Think of it as a New year, a Renaissance, or a rebirth. This is a great time to list out what needs to be done, and it is time for you to Just Do It!

As you accomplish more, you will experience  extra gratitude in your life. How do you do it? It is easy… Just Do It. Here is Art Williams with some very simple and easy advice for you to follow!

From his speech:
Winners just do it. But what do they do? They do whatever it takes to get the job done. They do it – and
do it – and do it – until the job gets done. And then they talk about how great it is to be somebody they’re proud of. They talk about how great it is to finally have achieved something unique – how glad they are that they didn’t quit like everybody else – how wonderful it is to finally make a difference with their life. We need leaders in America who can “Do It!”

Be Well.
Paul.
The Gratitude Guru

Here is a new video created by a friend of mine, Tony Laidig, that is brilliantly uplifting!

Have you noticed that the simple things in life will usually bring you the most everlasting joy? With the long weekend upon us, try to see the beauty in the everyday things in your life. Celebrate the everyday, simple, un-noticeable things you encounter.

Be Well.
Paul.
The Gratitude Guru

Today’s title reminds me of the song from the 90′s – a dance beat that really gets your heart moving! C&C Music Factory recorded it although Snap! wrote it and first recorded it. In any case, that was my first reaction to seeing this picture! A lot of power that this little lady has… And you all have it inside of you! Are you using it?

(Thanks for sharing this picture, Carla!)

Be Well.
Paul.
The Gratitude Guru

I received an interesting email from a subscriber who asked about the right way to be grateful:

Hi – thanks for all the good work you are doing with your quote. I find that when I read it, I think about what you write and I feel the gratitude. But once work starts, I seem to forget about it. I think that I am not doing this correctly. Can you help me out? Blessings to you.

It is important for people to understand that ANYTHING you do (with regards to gratitude) is right! There are no wrong ways to feel gratitude. When you experience gratitude, you are elevating your vibration to a higher level. This is true even if it is for just a short time. The more you practice being grateful, the longer you will stay at that level.

Growing up in a musical household, we had a hand-painted framed sign than read, “Practice Makes Perfect” (in recent years, I have come to learn that an important word was missing from that phrase; it should have read “Perfect Practice Makes Perfect”, but I digress…) The more you practice being grateful, the easier it will come.

Think back to one of the earliest times when you were learning to be grateful. As a child, I am sure your parents reminded you to say, “Thank You” all the time. You needed to be reminded to do so, because you were not accustomed to do so.

Today, however, I am sure that saying Thank You is second nature. You probably say it without thinking about it. The same is true with Gratitude. I think that too many times, “Thank You” is said out of habit; it is a natural verbal response. The next time you give Thanks, rather than just saying it, try to feel it. Feel the gratitude. The more you feel it, the more natural it will occur.

There is no wrong way to be grateful. Just keep at it.

Be Well.
Paul.
The Gratitude Guru

Be Thankful

Be thankful that you don’t already have everything you desire,
If you did, what would there be to look forward to?

Be thankful when you don’t know something
For it gives you the opportunity to learn.

Be thankful for the difficult times.
During those times you grow.

Be thankful for your limitations
Because they give you opportunities for improvement.

Be thankful for each new challenge
Because it will build your strength and character.

Be thankful for your mistakes
They will teach you valuable lessons.

Be thankful when you’re tired and weary
Because it means you’ve made a difference.

It is easy to be thankful for the good things.
A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who are also thankful for the setbacks.

GRATITUDE can turn a negative into a positive.
Find a way to be thankful for your troubles and they can become your blessings.

–Author Unknown

Once upon a time, there was a large mountainside, where an eagle’s nest rested. The eagle’s nest contained four large eagle eggs.

One day an earthquake rocked the mountain causing one of the eggs to roll down the mountain, to a chicken farm, located in the valley below. The chickens knew that they must protect and care for the eagle’s egg, so an old hen volunteered to nurture and raise the large egg.

One day, the egg hatched and a beautiful eagle was born. Sadly, however, the eagle was raised to be a chicken.

Soon, the eagle believed he was nothing more than a chicken. The eagle loved his home and family, but his spirit cried out for more.

While playing a game on the farm one day, the eagle looked to the skies above and noticed a group of mighty eagles soaring in the skies.

“Oh,” the eagle cried, “I wish I could soar like those birds.”

The chickens roared with laughter, “You cannot soar with those birds. You are a chicken and chickens do not soar.”

The eagle continued staring, at his real family up above, dreaming that he could be with them. Each time the eagle would let his dreams be known, he was told it couldn’t be done. That is what the eagle learned to believe. The eagle, after time, stopped dreaming and continued to live his life like a chicken. Finally, after a long life as a chicken, the eagle passed away.

The moral of the story: You become what you believe you are; so if you ever dream to become an eagle follow your dreams, not the words of a chicken.

- Gary Barnes

Be Well.
Paul.
The Gratitude Guru

Some time ago, a writer with a long and successful career built a magnificent home on the coast of Oregon. It was his ritual each morning to rise and climb the winding staircase to his studio that faced the beach. There he would sit, gazing out of a huge picture window, silently drawing inspiration from the ever-changing wonder of the sunrise. Enriched by the beauty and serenity, he would then begin to write.

One morning the writer awoke as usual. headed upstairs, and began his quiet meditation. The sun was just coming up and a soft mist hung over the shore. As he gazed out at the beach, he was transfixed by what looked like a mystical dance, far off in the distance. He found himself completely fascinated as he tried to make out what it was; soon he could think of nothing else. After a short time his curiosity overpowered him; he simply had to know what it was. He put on his coat and began to walk down the beach toward the mysterious figure.

As he drew nearer he could see that the ‘dancer’ was a young girl, around eleven or twelve years old. Again and again she bent down to grasp something from the sand, then ran out into the waves. She moved gracefully and purposefully. When the writer drew very close, he realized what she was doing. One by one, she was throwing starfish into the sea.

As the writer looked down the beach, he saw that thousands of these beautiful creatures had been washed up on the shore. He approached the young girl and said, “Good morning.” Quietly she returned his greeting. Then he asked her, “What are you doing?”

As she pointed toward the sunrise, the girl said simply, “The sun is coming up and the tide is going out. If I don’t pick these starfish up and throw them into the water, they’ll die.”

In his wisdom, the old man looked down at the girl and shook his head slowly as she reached for another starfish. “Young lady,” he said, “there are thousands of starfish and just one of you. Don’t you see that you can’t possibly make a difference?”

Briefly, the girl look up into his eyes, then bent over again, grabbed a starfish, and flung it into the sea. As she passed him on her way back up the beach, she stopped for just a moment. With a gentle smile she assured him, “I made a difference for that one.”

People ask me why I write this blog, why I spend so much time on it. At times I feel like the little girl (notice I said like THE little girl, not like A little girl) – If someone comes by and this site can help someone out a little bit, all the work is worthwhile!

Be Well.
Paul.
The Gratitude Guru

Are you rich?

Of course you are! It may be a cliché, but it does not matter how much you have in your bank account (or even if you have a bank account). Your wealth comes from a combination of your health, your attitude, your friends, and your family. If you have these, you are are wealthy! You are always in a better place than you might think you are in. Remind yourself of that and be grateful for it.

“I cried because I had no shoes until I met the man with no feet.”

Be Well.

Sign up for the Gratitude Quote of the Day at:
www.AllAboutGratitude.com

Today’s quote is by Marcel Proust, “Let us be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.”   Jack Canfield (Co-Author of the Chicken Soup for the Soul® series)  teaches about appreciation. This was one of the first things that came to my mind when I read today’s quote. Rather than paraphrasing, here is an article directly from him:

If asked, could you name the five wealthiest people in the world, or five people who have one the Nobel Prize, or the last five Academy Award winners for best actor and actress? The point is, none of us remembers the headliners of yesterday. When the applause dies, the awards tarnish, and achievements are forgotten, no one cares about who won which award.

But if I asked you to list five teachers or mentors who believed in you and encouraged you, five friends who have helped you through a difficult time, five people who have taught you something worthwhile, or five people who have made you feel appreciated and special – that’s much easier to do, isn’t it?

That’s because the people who make a difference in your life aren’t the ones with the most credentials, the most money, or the most awards. They’re the ones who care. If you want to be remembered for being important to someone else’s life, make them feel appreciated.

Appreciation as a Secret of Success

Another important reason for being in a state of appreciation as often as possible is that when you are in such a state, you are in one of the highest emotional states possible.

When you are in a state of appreciation and gratitude, you are in a state of abundance. You are appreciating what you do in stead of focusing on, and complaining about, what you don’t have. Your focus is on what you have received… and you always get more of what you focus on. And because the law of attraction states that like attracts like, the more you are in a state of gratitude, the more you will attract to be grateful for. It becomes an upward-spiraling process of ever-increasing abundance that just keeps getting better and better.

Think about it. The more grateful people are for the gifts we give them, the more inclined we are to give them more gifts. Their gratitude and appreciation reinforces our giving. The same principle holds true on a universal and spiritual level as it does on an interpersonal level.

Keeping Score

When I first learned about the power of appreciation, it made total sense to me. However, it was still something that I forgot to do. I hadn’t yet turned it into a habit. A valuable technique that I employed to help me lock in this new habit was to carry a 3″ x 5″ card in my pocket all day, and every time I acknowledged and appreciated someone, I would place a check mark on the card. I would not allow myself to go to bed until I had appreciated 10 people. If it was late in the evening and I didn’t have 10 check marks, I would
appreciate my wife and children, I would send an e-mail to several staff, or I would write a letter to my mother or stepfather. I did whatever it took until it became an unconscious habit.

And remember… take time to appreciate yourself, too!

Be Well.

Sign up for the Gratitude Quote of the Day at:
www.AllAboutGratitude.com

Remember to have a sense of humor and to laugh. I cracked up when I saw this!

Be Well.
Paul.
The Gratitude Guru

Some of you may know that my father, Paul Taubman, was the musical director for many Radio shows and many TV Shows. He was the Musical Director for shows such as, Tic-Tac-Dough, The Bride and Groom, Concentration, Twenty-One, and the Edge of Night to name a few.

The movie, Quiz Show(it came out in the 90′s), was about the game show, Twenty-One. In the opening scene, you can see an actor playing the part of my Dad! It is a short clip as he had no involvement in the scandal of ‘fixing the outcome’ of the show!

In any case, I was just looking through YouTube and found a posting of the Closing Theme that he wrote and played live every episode (well, he played all the music live every day, not just the closing theme).

Be Well.
Paul.
The Gratitude Guru

I have a stack of magazines in my office. When I say a stack, I mean a pile that is literally 4.5 feet high sitting on the floor. I decided that it was time to take action and eliminate some of them from the pile. You see, this pile is a collection of periodicals that I have already read, or want to read. It is a collection of various sports magazine, technical mags, photography magazines, and travel/scuba diving magazines. Many of these I ‘think’ will will use for reference later on.

Since my doctors have told me I should not run anymore due to a bad knee, I decided that I need not keep all the Running magazines I have. I had visions of bundling them up and putting them out on Recycling day. To me, however, that would be a waste. Instead, I packed them up (over a year’s worth) and brought them into work. The first person that I thought of… I went up to bring them to her. Initially, she was not at her desk, so I thought I would leave them there and surprise her. But then something told me, “Go into Kitchen area” – sure enough there she was! I gave her the magazines and she was VERY happy to receive them!

It made me feel good to know that someone else was gaining a lot of benefit from the information, and I felt good giving the magazines away. Is there something that you can give away to help someone else out? It is a great feeling.

Be Well.

Sign up for the Gratitude Quote of the Day at:
www.AllAboutGratitude.com

One day a store owner was robbed. As the robber was running down the street the store owner screamed after him “May your life always be blessed with abundance!”

The robber was stunned by this & returned asking “Why, after I robbed you would you bless me with abundance?”

The owner replied,”When I bless you with abundance, you …will receive, & when you are filled with abundance, you will not need to rob anyone in the future.”

(Thanks for the story, Sherry!)

Be Well.
Paul.
The Gratitude Guru

I was searching around on the internet and stumbled upon this bumper sticker at http://www.asounddesign.com/peace_bumpersticker.html .

This is it

Plain and simple. Direct and to the point. This is it. There is no tomorrow (not yet at least – but by the time tomorrow is here then, this is it). There should be no waiting for something to arrive, or start. No procrastination. Will things be better in the future? I hope so. But for right now, for this moment, this is it.

A while ago an email was floating around demonstrating the need to enjoy life now, be grateful for what you have, and do not wait for special occasions to use the good china. I think I am going to search for that message and post it tomorrow!

Be Well.
Paul
The Gratitude Guru

You do not have to do what Juan Mann did, but why not hug at least 5 people the day that you read this?

Be Well.

Sign up for the Gratitude Quote of the Day at
www.AllAboutGratitude.com

For some reason, I woke up this morning with songs from ABBA in my head! Being grateful is about being thankful. With my background and interests, this is a perfect post!

Thank you for the music, the songs I’m singing
Thanks for all the joy they’re bringing.

Be Well.

Sign up for the Gratitude Quote of the Day at:
www.AllAboutGratitude.com >

What is the simplest way to start working towards an Attitude of Gratitude? Just say, “Thank You.” This easy, little phrase is the cornerstone of expressing your gratitude and puts you in the state of mind of Thanks.

Meister Eckhart said, “If the only prayer you said in your whole life was, “thank you,” that would suffice.”

By announcing your thanks out loud for the the world and the universe to hear, you are acknowledging  your gratitude and allowing it to resonate throughout. Now, one of the very key points involved here is to speak it out loud as well as feel it. If you only say ”thank you” in order to go through the motion because it is the right thing to do, you are missing the point. Certainly being polite is important, but you can be polite without being grateful. Being polite without gratitude is just being courteous.

You should feel your thanks when you say thank you. You should truly mean it in your core being. If you get the warm fuzzies when you say ”thank you” to someone, you are well on your way to having a wonderful Attitude of Gratitude.

Be Well.
Paul.
The Gratitude Guru

What is the simplest way to start working towards an Attitude of Gratitude? Just say, “Thank You.” This easy, little phrase is the cornerstone of expressing your gratitude and puts you in the state of mind of Thanks.

Meister Eckhart said, “If the only prayer you said in your whole life was, “thank you,” that would suffice.”

By announcing your thanks out loud for the the world and the universe to hear, you are acknowledging  your gratitude and allowing it to resonate throughout. Now, one of the very key points involved here is to speak it out loud as well as feel it. If you only say ”thank you” in order to go through the motion because it is the right thing to do, you are missing the point. Certainly being polite is important, but you can be polite without being grateful. Being polite without gratitude is just being courteous.

You should feel your thanks when you say thank you. You should truly mean it in your core being. If you get the warm fuzzies when you say ”thank you” to someone, you are well on your way to having a wonderful Attitude of Gratitude.

Be Well.
Paul.
The Gratitude Guru

Back in 2000, a movie came out titled, Pay It Forward. The premise of the movie is that a young boy, Trevor (Haley Joel Osment), tries to make the better place because of an assignment given to him by his school teacher (Kevin Spacey). The assignment: think of something to change the world and put it into action. Trevor conjures the notion of paying a favor not back, but forward–repaying good deeds not with payback, but with new good deeds done to three new people.

Think about something that you can do for someone today. Are there 3 things that you can do for people that you either know, or even better, do not know that will somehow lift them up and make their day better? Think what would happen if everyone did something good for someone else FIRST. No need to wait for a reason to thank someone, or help them out. Do it, ‘Just Because’.

Let me know how this turns out for you!

Be Well.

Sign up for the Gratitude Quote of the Day at:
www.AllAboutGratitude.com

It was an interesting night, last night. There were 2 people that connected with me via Cyberspace. Both of them were through Instant Message while I was working on something else. One person (and if you came back to read this, you know who you are) said something to the idea of, “Wow! You must have extra time on your hands – I thought you were always busy.” When I asked him to what he was referring, he typed back, “You have time to blog!”, indicating that blogging was a waste of time and not a “money maker.” That got me thinking…

This person is not unlike many other people I know, or that you know. Many people feel that money is important. It is easy to say money doesn’t matter, especially if you have it! If you don’t have it, you want it. If you do have it, you don’t focus your attention on it. I have had conversions with people that are VERY well off. I do not know the net worth of these individuals, but, they are multi-millionaires. Now, I want to make a distinction – there are those with a vast sum of money that are a slave to their money and are constantly working towards acquiring more and more. Then there are those who have vast amounts of money and are using it only to keep score (when I first heard that phrase, I chuckled!). Yup – he uses his net worth as an indicator to see how he is doing. I prefer to be in the second group.

Personally, I do not focus on money – I know it will be there. If I need more, I will do something to get more. In reality, I literally get free money at least 3 times a week. What is free money? Money that I find. I look down, and there it is. The Universe is handing it over to me. Free for the taking! And when I am presented with my new money, I do the money dance and I say, “I’m a money magnet. Thank You! Thank you! Thank You!” I learned to do this from T. Harv Eker. Whenever I am handed money like that, I bring it home and I show it to my wife. She KNOWS I am a money magnet.

So what does all this mean? How do I relate an Instant Message to getting free money? I am grateful for what I have. Sure – I LOVE to get more stuff, especially if it is a new Mac computer or some other electronic gadget. However, I am thankful for the things I have. I am grateful that I have money in the bank, that I have a job and I get paid. I do not concentrate on money as my sole focus. I do, however, like to look at investment opportunities and different ways to increase my income. I am on the look out for MSIs (Multiple Sources of Income), but it is not my #1 priority. To me, if I like doing the activity, Great! If I can make some money from it, Greater!

There are certain things that I do not focus my energy on. I think the biggest one is my age! If you ask me how old I am, I do the math and calculate my age. The other thing is Payday! I have no idea when my last payday was. I know if was on a Friday and it comes every other week, but was it last week? The week before? I don’t know.

I remember living paycheck to paycheck. I know what it is like to squeeze a couple dollars to get through the week. I had a car repossessed. And I know what it is like to constantly think about making money. I don’t do that anymore. I think about the fun I am having and how I can increase my score! Life gets easier that way!

Any thoughts or feelings about this? Leave a comment and let me know.

Be Well.
Paul.
The Gratitude Guru

Many of you may know that I have another website, I Need Help With WordPress, where I help people create their own websites (sometimes for free!). It is primarily a ‘technical’ site compared to All About Gratitude. I recently posted a video that was applicable to the subject matter of the site, and the comments came pouring in! People were certainly touched by it.

Then I thought, I should post it over at All About Gratitude – after all, that video clearly fits in with the message I am trying to get across!

Just by changing a few words, and by changing your outlook, you can get entirely different results.

Be Well.
Paul.
The Gratitude Guru

When something so simple can help out, all I can say is Wow!

Be Well.
Paul
The Gratitude Guru

The Five Reiki Principles

Just for today, I will not be angry.
Just for today, I will not worry.
Just for today, I will be grateful.
Just for today, I will do my work honestly.
Just for today, I will be kind to every living thing.

-Dr. Mikao Usui

These are not bad principles to follow everyday!

Be Well.

Sign up for the Gratitude Quote of the Day at:
www.AllAboutGratitude.com

I am constantly saying, “It is almost Monday” in anticipation that I will get another 5 days of the work week. There is another blog posted about missing out on 7/8th of the week for all those people who look forward to Friday. You should look forward to each and every day!

With that said, I am grateful that today is Friday! It has been a long work week, and I am ready to take a break to recharge my batteries. I have a family get together as well as a volunteering opportunity this weekend. I think that this will be a nice balance to the work week. After all, isn’t that what it is really all about? Finding the right balance of work, family, and everything else you find important in your life?

Be Well.
Paul.
The Gratitude Guru

“The single greatest thing you can do to change your life today is to start being grateful for what you have right now.” – Oprah

Maybe you are not a big Oprah fan. That is ok. How about science?  I have found study results that have proven that people who express their gratitude daily are 25% happier and significantly healthier than those who don’t. (Disclaimer: This came from the internet when I searched for documented evidence. I could not find the actual study).

From my personal experience I would say that 25 is a LOW percentage. Sadness and Gratitude cannot be felt at the same time. If you are feeling grateful, you certainly will be in a more positive and upbeat mood.

Try it out now! Close your eyes and start to mentally list the things for which are you are grateful. See if your mood is elevated! Let me know how it turns out – leave a comment below. (For a powerful experience, actually do this now! Don’t just read it and think, “OK – I should do that later.” Give it a shot now while it is fresh in your mind.

Be Well.

Sign up for the Gratitude Quote of the Day at:
www.AllAboutGratitude.com

“Meditation is not what you think!”

I heard that today and loved it! (image from http://doyoga.com/)

Be Well.
Paul.
The Gratitude Guru

Be Well.
Paul.
The Gratitude Guru

An interesting thing happened to me at work today. Although I just got back from time off from the office (otherwise known as the weekend!), it was like I never left. The emails, the meetings, the miscommunications and misunderstandings all seem to come to a crescendo today. In the middle of it, I went crazy. I started criticizing people, complaining, carrying on, and just carrying on in the most negative way.

At that point, a friend with whom I work said, “Wait a second, Mr. Positive, are you allow to say these things?” I replied, “most certainly? This is crazy! I can’t believe they are saying this, and doing that, blah, blah, blah… I got caught up in the moment and then it hit me. One of my favorite quotes came to mind:

“When you complain, you become a living, breathing crap magnet.”

And it was true. There were still a lot of really good things happening around me, but I was impervious to them because I was focusing on the complaining and getting all the crap with it. The best part about all of this is that once I decided to think differently, things just turned around. The situation was much better. I was in a better place. All because I chose to change the way I was thinking.

How can you change the way that you are thinking about something? Will that change your situation? I bet it will!

Be Well.
Paul.
The Gratitude Guru

This is a little long, but certainly well worth it!

When the dotcom bubble burst, hotelier Chip Conley went in search of a business model based on happiness. In an old friendship with an employee and in the wisdom of a Buddhist king, he learned that success comes from what you count.

Thanks for sharing, Marco A.

Be Well.
Paul.
The Gratitude Guru

Bob Dylan sang the lyrics, “Times they are a-changin’” and he is certainly right about that. Everyday something new comes into our lives that forces us to adapt and to change. Without changing, we will simply get left behind. Often times, people resist and feel resentment towards the need to change. I never could understand that.

It has been said, “You are either Growing or Dying.” Part of growing is the need to change.

I am all for changing.

Be Well.
Paul.
The Gratitude Guru

Knowing what you are cut out for will make things much easier for you! Do you know what you are supposed to do?

Even if you are not sure what your calling is, do not let that stop you! Go and try new things! Be helpful to others. Share your talents, whatever they are! Before you know it, you will find your passion!

Be Well.
Paul.

The Gratitude Guru

Many months back, I made reference to this story. I searched all over but could not find it… And now I have so I am posting it. I hope you enjoy it and take note of the ‘lesson’ it shares. I certainly do not bother waiting for a special occasion!

A Story To Live By

(This is a choice message that was sent to me…please take time to read it)

My brother-in-law opened the bottom drawer of my sister’s bureau and lifted out a tissue-wrapped package.

“This,” he said, “is not a slip. This is lingerie.” He discarded the tissue and handed me the slip. It was exquisite; silk, handmade and trimmed with a cobweb of lace. The price tag with an astronomical figure on it was still attached.

“Jan bought this the first time we went to New York, at least 8 or 9 years ago. She never wore it. She was saving it for a special occasion. Well, I guess this is the occasion.”

He took the slip from me and put it on the bed with the other clothes we were taking to the mortician. His hands lingered on the soft material for a moment, then he slammed the drawer shut and turned to me.

“Don’t ever save anything for a special occasion. Every day you’re alive is a special occasion.”

I remembered those words through the funeral and the days that followed when I helped him and my niece attend to all the sad chores that follow an unexpected death. I thought about them on the plane returning to California from the Midwestern town where my sister’s family lives. I thought about all the things that she hadn’t seen or heard or done. I thought about the things that she had done without realizing that they were special.

I’m still thinking about his words, and they’ve changed my life.

I’m reading more and dusting less.

I’m sitting on the deck and admiring the view without fussing about the weeds in the garden.

I’m spending more time with my family and friends and less time in committee meetings.

Whenever possible, life should be a pattern of experience to savor, not endure.

I’m trying to recognize these moments now and cherish them.

I’m not “saving” anything; we use our good china and crystal for every special event-such as losing a pound, getting the sink unstopped, the first camellia blossom. I wear my good blazer to the market if I feel like it. My theory is if I look prosperous, I can shell out $28.49 for one small bag of groceries without wincing.

I’m not saving my good perfume for special parties; clerks in hardware stores and tellers in banks have noses that function as well as my party-going friends’.

“Someday” and “one of these days” are losing their grip on my vocabulary. If it’s worth seeing or hearing or doing, I want to see and hear and do it now.

I’m not sure what my sister would have done had she known that she wouldn’t be here for the tomorrow we all take for granted. I think she would have called family members and a few close friends. She might have called a few former friends to apologize and mend fences for past squabbles. I like to think she would have gone out for a Chinese dinner, her favorite food.

I’m guessing-I’ll never know. It’s those little things left undone that would make me angry if I knew that my hours were limited. Angry because I put off seeing good. Friends whom I was going to get in touch with-someday. Angry because I hadn’t written certain letters that I intended to write-one of these days. Angry and sorry that I didn’t tell my husband and daughter often enough how much I truly love them. I’m trying very hard not to put off, hold back, or save anything that would add laughter and luster to our lives.

And every morning when I open my eyes, I tell myself that it is special. Every day, every minute, every breath truly is…a gift from God.

by Ann Wells : Los Angeles Times

Be Well.
Paul.
The Gratitude Guru

Here is a quote that was said by Mahatma Gandhi -

“Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.”

It seems that the easy things are always the hardest to execute. There always seems to be some other factors that ‘get in the way’ and we feel that we have to change something.  We are taught growing up that we have to watch what we say so we do not offend anyone. We are told to ‘do the right thing,’ and of course, my favorite, ‘Do as I say, not as I do.”

When you what you think, and what you say, and what you do are all in alignment, you will feel much better. And why wouldn’t you? There is no extra effort that you need to expend. Everything is natural at that point. You are thinking, saying, and doing what is natural.

If you think one thing, but say another, you then need to remember what you said in case someone questions you about it. At this point, you still think whatever it was that you were thinking, but you now also have to remember what you said. If you then do something that is not in alignment with what you think, then you are still thinking whatever it was that you were thinking, you are remembering what it was that you said, and finally you need to keep in mind what it was that you did. YIKES! That is a lot of extra baggage that you are carting around. Now, multiply all that ‘noise’ by 10 different thoughts!

Bottom line – if you can simply keep your thoughts, your word, and your actions aligned, your mind will be much more peaceful.

Be Well.
Paul.
The Gratitude Guru

Are you missing the gratitude? Do you find yourself often feeling tired, spent, or even exhausted? Maybe you feel challenged to find balance and contentment. Human lives can get very complicated sometimes. However, it’s possible to discover some of the simpler joys in life to soothe your soul. Simple pleasures are all around you. You just have to be alert to notice them.

Try these strategies to cultivate more joy in your everyday life:

1. Marvel, once again, about the clouds in the sky. When was the last time you did this? When you were small, you probably laid on a blanket outdoors, staring up at the sky, looking for interesting shapes in the clouds. Why not do it now?

• Invite your partner or your kids to go outside with you. Grab a blanket on your way out the door. Then, lay back in the soft grass. No radios or phones! Look up and lose yourself in the clouds. Be present in only this moment. No past – no future – there’s only now. Share what you see with your loved ones.
• You’ve just found a very simple pleasure – one you can enjoy almost any time.

2. Watch a sunset. Talk about a wondrous event! Sunsets vary each day. Like snowflakes, no two are exactly alike.

• Watching the sunset can be an awesomely peaceful and quiet experience. Or it can be the cause for a celebration, whatever you choose. However you approach it, sunset watching is an effortless joy that won’t cost you a penny.

3. Re-discover nature and experience the gratitude you feel. No matter where you live, you can walk outdoors and see what’s there. Even in Brooklyn, a tree is probably growing near you.

• Do you love birds? Get a pair of binoculars and sit outdoors on the porch step and watch the free show that only birds can present.
• If you’re into horticulture, take a walk to admire all the lovely trees and plants you see.
• For a real treat, drive to your local national park and take in all the bounty of simple pleasures that nature provides.

4. Revive your love of reading. Whether you’re curling up on the sofa with a novel by your favorite author or sitting in the sun reading one of the classics, reading is a simple joy that you can do anytime you want.? I can’t express my gratitude enough when I am reading a good book!
5. Spend a day in your pajamas. You know you want to!

• After you’ve had one of those really hectic weeks where work and personal situations collided to produce a lot of tension, try setting aside a weekend day where you don’t even get dressed.
• Spend the day lying around in your PJs. All day, do whatever you like. Talk with your kids or spend quality time with your partner. Maybe you just want to read. That’s okay, too! It’s your day, after all.

6. Make yourself a great cup of coffee, your favorite iced latte, or glass of tea and relax. Sometimes, all you need to feel better is doing something simple: fix your favorite beverage and take five.
7. Decide to do whatever you want just for one hour today. Life can seem so overwhelming sometimes that you may feel totally disconnected from the activities you love to do.

• Whether you enjoy doing a particular craft or playing a sport for fun, make time to do what excites you.

Creating a life of harmony includes regularly seeking out simple pleasures. Very little money is required, so you can experience joy in your life every day. Make an effort to find your simple joys, and you can create the life you deserve.

Be Well.
Paul.
The Gratitude Guru

Where do you fit in on your Gratitude Scale? On a Scale of 1-10, how how much gratitude would you say you have? Life is full of choices; make a decision and move ahead with it. You can be grateful for someone or something, or you can be miserable about it.

As an extreme example, when someone passes away, you can wallow in your sadness that you will never see the person again. You can complain that it is not fair. You can get angry that the world is against you. These are all valid feelings.

Or… you can think about all the great times you had with that person. You can reminisce about the things you did together, or the places you visited together! You can smile knowing that you brought some joy into that persons life. These are all valid feelings as well!

There are always 2 sides... Take your pick!

Be Well.
Paul.
The Gratitude Guru

Here is a great story to remind us that we need to continue on. Thanks for sharing it, Linda.

A man had a little daughter – an only and much – beloved child. He lived for her – she was his life. So when she became ill and her illness resisted the efforts of the best obtainable physicians, he became like a man possessed, moving heaven and earth to bring about her restoration to health.

His best efforts proved unavailing and the child died. The father was totally irreconcilable. He became a bitter recluse, shutting himself away from his many friends and refusing every activity that might restore his poise and bring him back to his normal self. But one night he had a dream. He was in Heaven, and was witnessing a grand pageant of all the little child angels. They were marching in an apparently endless line past the Great White Throne. Every white – robed angelic tot carried a candle. He noticed that one child’s candle was not lighted. Then he saw that the child with the dark candle was his own little girl. Rushing to her, while the pageant faltered, he seized her in his arms, caressed her tenderly, and then asked:

“How is it, darling, that your candle alone is unlighted?”

“Father, they often re-light it, but your tears always put it out.”

Just then he awoke from his dream. The lesson was crystal clear, and its effects were immediate. From that hour on he was not a recluse, but mingled freely and cheerfully with his former friends and associates. No longer would his little darling’s candle be extinguished by his useless tears!

Be Well.
Paul.
The Gratitude Guru

Want to feel more gratitude right now? Want to feel great in an instant? Here is a quick, sure fire way to feel good right now! I read this in a magazine a couple of years ago and still remember about this today.

Close your eyes and think about a place that you have been to where everything seemed perfect! Reflect to a time when you felt the most gratitude you ever have! Maybe it was when you were on a vacation, or visiting a tropical island, or maybe just in your back yard. Think back how you felt at that time. Try to experience the fabulous mood you were in at the time. Put yourself back at the moment and relive it all again. Stay like that for a minute or so.

When you open your eyes and ‘come back’ you will feel great! I can promise that!

Be Well.
Paul.
The Gratitude Guru

Have you ever noticed that you need to feel gratitude most at a time when you don’t feel like it? Tom R. passed along this story that really helps put things into perspective. I hope you enjoy it!

It was pouring outside. The kind of rain that gushes over the top of rain gutters, so much in a hurry to hit the earth it has no time to flow down the spout. We all stood there under the awning and just inside the door of the Wal-Mart. We waited, some patiently, others irritated because nature messed up their hurried day.

She had been shopping with her Mom in Wal-Mart. She must have been 6 years old, this beautiful red haired, freckle-faced image of innocence.

Her voice was so sweet as it broke the hypnotic trance we were all caught in: “Mom, let’s run through the rain.” she said.
“What?” mom asked.
“Let ‘s run through the rain!” she repeated.
“No, honey. We’ll wait until it slows down a bit.,” mom replied.
This young child waited about another minute and repeated: “mom, let’s run through the rain.”
“We’ll get soaked if we do,” mom said.
“No, we won’t, mom. That’s not what you said this morning,” the young girl said as she tugged at her mom’s arm.
“This morning? When did I say we could run through the rain and not get wet?”
“Don’t you remember? When you were talking to daddy about his cancer, you said, ‘If God can get us through this, he can get us through anything!”

The entire crowd stopped dead silent.
I swear you couldn’t hear anything but the rain.
We all stood silently.
No one came or left in the next few minutes.
Mom paused and thought for a moment about what she would say.

“Honey, you are absolutely right. Let’s run through the rain. If GOD let’s us get wet, well maybe we just needed washing,” mom said.

Then off they ran. We all stood watching, smiling and laughing as they darted past the cars and yes, through the puddles. They held their shopping bags over their heads just in case.

And they got soaked.

But they were followed by some who screamed and laughed like children all the way to their cars.

- Author unknown

Are you worrying about the things that really do not matter? The next time you are ‘inconvenienced’ ask yourself, ‘how significant is this situation?’ and then determine if you just might be over reacting. Is it raining? Big deal! And then… express your gratitude for something.

Be Well.
Paul.
The Gratitude Guru

The love, joy, and gratitude I felt from the emails (and comments) received from yesterday’s post on So Much Gratitude For So Little commanded me to do a follow up post today.

Here is a chain carved out of one regular #2 pencil, using only a razor blade, and a sewing needle, without the use of a magnifying glass. It is about 6.5 inches long and contains 22 freely moving links. This piece took approximately 2 years to complete.  It was finished in January 1997.

As you can see, Dalton Ghetti creates incredible sculptures in a miniature fashion on the tip of a pencil. He has been carving since he was in school Growing up in Brazil, Ghetti . From wood and stone to soap and candles, he eventually found his niche in pencil tips about 25 years ago and has been expressing his gratitude and his praise ever since. Ghetti uses simple tools — razor blades and needles — to create these delicate little figures.

It can take years to finish a complicated piece. Since he scoffs at magnifying glasses, Ghetti puts in about an hour before his eyes get tired. A few years ago, Ghetti carved each letter in the alphabet and now every morning he carves a tiny tear for every 9/11 victim before heading off to his day job as a carpenter. This project is going to take about 10 years to finish and display all together.

The idea is, as you walk in, you’ll see a huge tear drop far away. As you walk up close to it, you’ll see that it’s made up of tiny little ones. So I make one a day. I was watching the whole thing from Sherwood Island State Park, and I broke down and cried all day. I had a vision about doing something about it, and that’s what I came up with. It’ll probably take about 10 years to do it.
-Dalton Ghetti

He is careful in dealing with the creations and hesitates to tell museum directors what he will be displaying in fear that they will break; he saves his failed attempts and pins them into the ‘cemetery collection‘. These pieces are not for sale. Ghetti showed his pieces at museums, but only gives them away as gifts.

“I do it from my heart, I do it when I feel like – and I pretty much do it for myself,” he said. “It’s my own interest in the small things in life that drove me to call people’s attention to them,” Ghetti.

Be Well.
Paul.
The Gratitude Guru

True gratitude comes when appreciating others. I discovered these Micro Sculptures that were created by Dalton Ghetti! Yes, they are micro! They are created out of pencil points! These are truly amazing and beautiful!

See the complete posting here: http://www.inewidea.com/2010/08/11/32841.html

People often appreciate the talents of others. Have you considered the talents that you posses? I am sure that you can be grateful for something that you do uniquely well. When you have some time today, think about that which you can do very well. Share your talents and skills with someone else.

How much can you give away of yourself? How much can you freely share with others. Don’t hold back. Give. Give. Give. It is better to give than receive. I can ensure that as you give more of your talents away, you will be presented with more. More money. More gratitude. More opportunity. More freedom. More tangible items as well as more intangible items.

Gain more gratitude by giving away more of yourself.

Be Well.
Paul.
The Gratitude Guru

I have to express my gratitude to Wendy for sharing this story with me. It certainly points out an important lesson!

The older I get, the more I enjoy Saturday mornings. Perhaps it’s the quiet solitude that comes with being the first to rise, of maybe it’s the unbounded joy of not having to be at work. Either way, the first few hours of a Saturday morning are most enjoyable.

A few weeks ago, I was shuffling toward the kitchen, with a steaming cup of coffee in one hand and the morning paper in the other. What began as a typical Saturday morning turned into one of those lessons that life seems to hand you from time to time.

Let me tell you about it. I turned the volume up on my radio in order to listen to a Saturday morning talk show. I heard an older sounding chap with a golden voice. You know the kind, he sounded like he should be in the broadcasting business himself.

He was talking about “a thousand marbles” to someone named “Tom”. I was intrigued and sat down to listen to what he had to say.

“Well, Tom, it sure sounds like you’re busy with your job. I’m sure they pay you well but it’s a shame you have to be away from home and your family so much. Hard to believe a young fellow should have to work sixty or seventy hours a week to make ends meet. Too bad you missed your daughter’s dance recital. ” He continued, “Let me tell you something Tom, something that has helped me share my love, joy, and gratitude, and also keep a good perspective on my own priorities.”

And that’s when he began to explain his theory of having gratitude for his “thousand marbles.”

“You see, I sat down one day and did a little arithmetic. The average person lives about seventy-five years. I know, some live more and some live less, but on average, folks live about seventy-five years.”

“Now then, I multiplied 75 times 52 and I came up with 3900 which is the number of Saturdays that the average person has in their entire lifetime.”

“Now stick with me Tom, I’m getting to the important part. “It took me until I was fifty-five years old to think about all this in any detail”, he went on, “and by that time I had lived through over twenty-eight hundred Saturdays.

“I got to thinking that if I lived to be seventy-five, I only had about a thousand of them left to enjoy.

“So I went to a toy store and bought every single marble they had. I ended up having to visit three toy stores to round-up 1000 marbles. I took them home and put them inside of a large, clear plastic container right here in my workshop next to the radio. Every Saturday since then, I have taken one marble out and thrown it away.”

“I found that by watching the marbles diminish, I focused more on the really important things in life. I express my gratitude to those around me. There is nothing like watching your time here on this earth run out to help get your priorities straight.

“Now let me tell you one last thing before I sign-off with you and take my lovely wife out for breakfast. This morning, I took the very last marble out of the container. I figure if I make it until next Saturday then God has blessed me with a little extra time to be with my loved ones……”

“It was nice to talk to you Tom, I hope you spend more time with your loved ones, and I hope to meet you again someday. Have a good morning!”

You could have heard a pin drop when he finished. Even the show’s moderator didn’t have anything to say for a few moments. I guess he gave us all a lot to think about. I had planned to do some work that morning, then go to the gym. Instead, I went upstairs and woke my wife up with a kiss.

“C’mon Honey, I’m taking you and the kids to breakfast.”

“What brought this on?” she asked with a smile.

“Oh, nothing special,” I said. “It has just been a long time since we spent a Saturday together with the kids. Hey, can we stop at a toy store while we’re out? I need to buy some marbles.”

Be Well.
Paul.
The Gratitude Guru

Today, I express my gratitude for the fore fathers of my country. As the USA  celebrate the 4th of July, our Day of Independence, I wanted to share a very interesting documentary of George Washington as presented by National Geographic. Was George everything you learned about in school?

I am interested in what you think! I find it fascinating when I hear about the town and cities in which Washington went through – Morristown, Princeton, and several other locations in New Jersey. In fact, my house is on land where Washington and his troops camped out a couple hundred years ago! Right across my street is a historic landmark. Very cool!

Be Well.
Paul.
The Gratitude Guru

A new pastor was visiting in the homes of his parishioners. At one house it seemed obvious that someone was at home, but no answer came to his repeated knocks at the door.

Therefore, he took out a business card and wrote ‘Revelation 3:20′ on the back of it and stuck it in the door.

When the offering was processed the following Sunday, he found that his card had been returned. Added to it was this cryptic message, ‘Genesis 3:10.’

Reaching for his Bible to check out the citation, he broke up in gales of laughter. Revelation 3:20 begins ‘Behold, I stand at the door and knock.’ Genesis 3:10 reads, ‘I heard your voice in the garden and I was afraid for I was naked.’

Remember when the funniest jokes were the clean ones? They still are!

Be Well.
Paul.
The Gratitude Guru

Jerry is the manager of a restaurant in America. He is always in a good mood and always has something positive to say. When someone would ask him how he was doing, he would always reply, “If I were any better, I would be twins!” Many of the waiters at his restaurant quit their jobs when he changed jobs; they would follow him around from restaurant to restaurant. The reason the waiters followed Jerry was because of his attitude. He was a natural motivator. If an employee was having a bad day, Jerry was always there, telling the employee how to look on the positive side of the situation.

Seeing this style really made me curious, so one day I went up to Jerry and asked him, “I don’t get it! No one can be a positive person all of the time. How do you do it?”

Jerry replied, “Each morning I wake up and say to myself, I have two choices today. I can choose to be in a good mood or I can choose to be in a bad mood. I always choose to be in a good mood. Each time something bad happens, I can choose to be a victim or I can choose to learn from it. I always choose to learn from it. Every time someone comes to me complaining, I can choose to accept their complaining or I can point out the positive side of life. I always choose the positive side of life.”

“But it’s not always that easy,” I protested.

“Yes, it is,” Jerry said, “Life is all about choices When you cut away all the junk, every situation is a choice You choose how you react to situations. You choose how people will affect your mood. You choose to be in a good mood or bad mood. It’s your choice how you live your life.”

Several years later, I heard that Jerry accidentally did something you are never supposed to do in the restaurant business: he left the back door of his restaurant open one morning and was robbed by three armed men. While trying to open the safe, his hand, shaking from nervousness slipped off the combination. The robbers panicked and shot him. Luckily, Jerry was found quickly and rushed to the hospital. After 18 hours of surgery and weeks of intensive care, Jerry was released from the hospital with fragments of the bullets still in his body. I saw Jerry about six months after the accident.

When I asked him how he was, he replied, “If I were any better, I’d be twins. Want to see my scars?”

I declined to see his wounds, but did ask him what had gone through his mind as the robbery took place.

“The first thing that went through my mind was that I should have locked the back door,” Jerry replied. “Then, after they shot me, as I lay on the floor, I remembered that I had two choices: I could choose to live or choose to die. I chose to live.”

“Weren’t you scared?” I asked.

Jerry continued, “The paramedics were great. They kept telling me I was going to be fine. But when they wheeled me into the Emergency Room and I saw the expressions on the faces of the doctors and nurses, I got really scared. In their eyes, I read ‘He’s a dead m
an.’ I knew I needed to take action.”

“What did you do?” I asked. “Well, there was a big nurse shouting questions at me,” said Jerry. “She asked if I was allergic to anything.”‘Yes,’ I replied. The doctors and nurses stopped working as they waited for my reply. I took a deep breath and yelled, ‘Bullets!’ Over their laughter, I told them, ‘I am choosing to live. Please operate on me as if I am alive, not dead’.

Jerry lived thanks to the skill of his doctors, but also because of his amazing attitude.

I learned from him that everyday you have the choice to either enjoy your life or to hate it. The only thing that is truly yours – that no one can control or take from you — is your attitude, so if you can take care of that, everything else in life becomes much easier.

Can animals express gratitude? I think so, especially after reading this passage. It was sent to me by someone who did not know the source. “Recently there was a front page story in the San Francisco Chronicle about a female humpback whale who had become entangled in a spider web of crab traps and lines. She was weighted down by hundreds of pounds of traps that caused her to struggle to stay afloat. She also had hundreds of yards of line rope wrapped around her body, her tail, her torso, a line tugging in her mouth.

“A fisherman spotted her just outside the Golden Gate bridge and radioed an environmental group for help. Within a few hours, the rescue team arrived and determined that she was so bad off, the only way to save her was to dive in and untangle her, a very dangerous proposition. One slap of the tail could kill a rescuer.

“They worked for hours with curved knives and eventually freed her. When she was freed, the divers say she swam in what seemed like joyous circles. She then came back to each and every diver, one at a time, and gently nudged them to say thank you. The guy who cut the rope out of her mouth says her eye was following him the whole time, and he will never be the same.

“May you, and all those you love, be so blessed and fortunate …to be surrounded by people who will help you get untangled from the things that are binding you. And, may you always know the joy of giving and receiving gratitude, particularly in this season of thankfulness.”

Be Well.
Paul.
The Gratitude Guru

Today’s post comes from Michael B. Gerber – he writes a fabulous blog, Perspective Is Everything,  over at http://mgerber.blogspot.com/ . He has a fantastic disposition. He spends much of his time writing and speaking whenever and wherever possible. He writes about life, living and perspective. He writes about staying active, participating and waking up happy every day. Oh, and by the way, he has MS.

Sick or healthy. Rich or poor. Thin or fat. Tall or short. Curly haired or bald. None of it matters when it comes to waking up happy everyday. What does matter is gratitude and perspective.

What makes a man rich? It is not money. There are plenty of poor people – “economically challenged” – that feel wealthy in ways that are beyond their wildest dreams. They are ‘loaded’ with family and friends, rich in experiences, and participate in life like tycoons. They are showered in immeasurable riches of making a difference to someone and to the world in which they live. These are the people whose vocabulary does NOT include phrases like “I will be happy when…”, or I would be happy if…”

These people know that there are two keys to happiness. Those keys are gratitude and perspective and they go hand in hand.

Gratitude comes from the recognition of just how much you already possess. Gratitude is the opposite of taking things for granted. The challenge for most people is that they don’t know what to be grateful for where gratitude begins. There are hundreds of items on my list. Below are some of my favorites.

1. Eyes to see and read
2. Ears to hear and listen
3. Arms to hold. Hands to touch
4. Mind to think and understand
5. Heart to feel and care
6. Roof overhead & bed to sleep in
7. Food to eat and tongue to taste
8. Friends to care for & care for me
9. Family to love & spend time with
10. All of my good health. (Other than my MS, I have a lot of good health that I don’t take for granted.)

These are all items that you can’t buy and that cannot be taken away from you. Even if I lost one of these, say sight or hearing, there is still much to be grateful for.

Recognizing the value of these assets is a matter of perspective. What’s your perspective? Where does your gratitude begin? Just how rich are you? It is my hope that if you are reading this, you are already a very wealthy person.

Participate. Make a difference. Live a life that matters.

Thanks for allowing me to share that, Michael! Wonderful!

Be Well.
Paul.
The Gratitude Guru

A great Samurai warrior, now old, had decided to teach Zen Buddhism to young people. Despite his age, the legend was that he could defeat any adversary.

One afternoon, a young warrior – known for his complete lack of scruples – arrived there. He was famous for using techniques of provocation: he waited until his adversary made the first move and then swiftly counterattacked, skillfully taking advantage of any slightest mistake his adversary made. He had never lost a fight. Hearing of the Samurai’s reputation, he had come to defeat him, to increase his fame. All the students were against the idea, but the old master accepted the challenge.

All gathered on the town square, and the young man started insulting the old master. He threw a few rocks in his direction, spat in his face, shouted every insult under the sun – he even insulted his ancestors. For hours, he did everything to provoke him, but the old man kept smiling and remained impassive. At the end of the afternoon, by now feeling exhausted and humiliated, the young warrior left.

Disappointed that the master had received so many insults and provocations, the students asked: “How could you bear such indignity? Why didn’t you use your sword, even if you might lose the fight, instead of displaying such cowardice in front of us all?”

“If someone comes to you with a gift, and you do not accept it, to whom does the gift belong?” asked the Samurai. “To the one who tried to deliver it,” replied one of his disciples. “The same goes for envy, anger and insults,” said the master. “When they are not accepted, they continue to belong to the one who brought them.”

Be Well.
Paul
The Gratitude Guru

When you live a life filled with gratitude, your perspective changes. Here is another wonderful story for your consideration.

A rich man asked a Zen master to write something down that could encourage the prosperity of his family for years to come. It would be something that the family could cherish for generations. On a large piece of paper, the master wrote, “Father dies, son dies, grandson dies.”

The rich man became angry when he saw the master’s work. “I asked you to write something down that could bring happiness and prosperity to my family. Why do you give me something depressing like this?”

“If your son should die before you,” the master answered, “this would bring unbearable grief to your family. If your grandson should die before your son, this also would bring great sorrow. If your family, generation after generation, disappears in the order I have described, it will be the natural course of life. This is true happiness and prosperity.”

What was your reaction to the Monk’s writing? Was it the same as the Rich Man’s reaction? Did your thoughts go straight to ideas of morbid, horrible, depressing, or anger?

Or, do you live with gratitude in your heart and consider the ‘expected’ sequence and accept it?

My gratitude to Kevin Rohr for the use of his photo – http://www.sxc.hu/profile/kevinrohr

Be Well.
Paul.
The Gratitude Guru

Is there gratitude in this story? I recently heard this story and immediately started to think about it all day long! that I wanted to share with you.

One day, a scorpion looked around at the mountain where he lived and decided that he wanted a change. So he set out on a journey through the forests and hills. He climbed over rocks and under vines and kept going until he reached a river.The river was wide and swift, and the scorpion stopped to reconsider the situation. He couldn’t see any way across. So he ran upriver and then checked downriver, all the while thinking that he might have to turn back.

Suddenly, he saw a frog sitting in the rushes by the bank of the stream on the other side of the river. He decided to ask the frog for help getting across the stream.

“Hellooo Mr. Frog!” called the scorpion across the water, “Would you be so kind as to give me a ride on your back across the river? I will have much gratitude for you if you did!”

“Well now, Mr. Scorpion! How do I know that if I try to help you, you wont try to kill me?” asked the frog hesitantly.

“Because,” the scorpion replied, “If I try to kill you, then I would die too, for you see I cannot swim!”

Now this seemed to make sense to the frog. But he asked. “What about when I get close to the bank? You could still try to kill me and get back to the shore!”

“This is true,” agreed the scorpion, “But then I wouldn’t be able to get to the other side of the river!”

“Alright then…how do I know you wont just wait till we get to the other side and THEN kill me?” said the frog.

“Ahh…,” crooned the scorpion, “Because you see, once you’ve taken me to the other side of this river, I will be so grateful for your help, that it would hardly be fair to reward you with death, now would it?!”

So the frog agreed to take the scorpion across the river. He swam over to the bank and settled himself near the mud to pick up his passenger. The scorpion crawled onto the frog’s back, his sharp claws prickling into the frog’s soft hide, and the frog slid into the river. The muddy water swirled around them, but the frog stayed near the surface so the scorpion would not drown. He kicked strongly through the first half of the stream, his flippers paddling wildly against the current.

Halfway across the river, the frog suddenly felt a sharp sting in his back and, out of the corner of his eye, saw the scorpion remove his stinger from the frog’s back. A deadening numbness began to creep into his limbs.

“You fool!” croaked the frog, “Now we shall both die! Why on earth did you do that?”

The scorpion shrugged, and did a little jig on the drownings frog’s back.

“I could not help myself. It is my nature.”

Then they both sank into the muddy waters of the swiftly flowing river.

What are you thoughts on this story? Many people are like the scorpion; they think they cannot change. I ‘blame’ their actions on the idea that they are who they are (as Popeye used to say, ‘I yam who I yam!‘)

People can change. Nothing is set in stone, especially when it comes to who you think you are, and what you can accomplish! If you want to be more grateful, look around you and start to express your gratitude for all the things you can see!

What is your take on this story? Leave a comment below.

Scorpion photo by: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Chris_huh

Be Well.
Paul.
The Gratitude Guru

Today’s post is coming from my friend, Michele Tremblay! She is a Expert Floral Designer with anything to do with flowers! She can always express her gratitude for flowers. Without further adeiu, here is Michele’s post:

There are many reasons to be grateful every day. Here are some of my flower gratitudes…. Here are some in no particular order.

So grateful to have beautiful flowers to look at every Spring.
So grateful to have had wonderful people to teach me how to handle flowers.
So grateful to have helped Brides make their wedding days extra special.
So grateful to help an already beautiful house even more beautiful with flowers.
So grateful to do flowers where young children live and help show them live with the beauty of the world around them.
So grateful to have flowers to talk about when there seems to be no common interest.
So grateful that my sons and my husband have all developed a deep love for having flowers around the house. They really do lift everyone’s spirit.
So grateful to live in a neighborhood where people enjoy beautifying the surroundings we all share.
So grateful that flowers can really show each of us how to blossom…just relax…no pushing necessary.
So grateful to know when a friend or a stranger learns a little about flowers, they can change their every day lives with so little effort…It only takes one beautiful blossom…something as simple as a buttercup to the most exotic orchid to change a moment.
So grateful to have an opportunity to share what I have learned with the people and friends in my world.
So grateful to recognize that when feeling unsettled, the act of arranging flowers can help calm one and be in and of the very moment. That’s where flowers exist. In this very moment.

Thank you for reading this list. Hope there is something here for you!

Michele Tremblay
Micheletremblay.com

Please come by and be sure to get my free 2 part video series about how to buy fresh flowers. It is my gift to you!

Try expressing your gratitude today using flowers. Maybe you can share one with someone. Perhaps you can simply sit and reflect on how flowers increase your gratitude.  As the saying goes, “Stop and smell the roses” (or any other flower you desire!)

Be Well.
Paul.
The Gratitude Guru

Once again, I was talking to someone about this gratitude, this website and my blog. It was a similar discussion that I have had in the past with others, so I thought I would dig up an old post and share it again.

You see, I was really surprised at the response I received from him. ” I wish I was like you, but I really do not have much gratitude for anything. I’m feeling sick. I hate my job. I owe a lot of money and creditors are calling me. My girlfriend moved out. I gotta tell you… My life is the pits. What do I possibly have to be grateful for?”

My first thought was, “Wow – keep focusing on the negativity and you will just get more of it! It is a vicious cycle!” Regardless of how bad you think you have it, you can still be full of gratitude! That is right, FULL of gratitude! One of my favorite quotes is by Buddha -

“Let us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn’t learn a lot today, at least we learned a little, and if we didn’t learn a little, at least we didn’t get sick, and if we got sick, at least we didn’t die; so, let us all be thankful.”

(this is also my friend, Marie’s, favorite quotes as well!)

If you are stuck and cannot think of anything to list in your Gratitude Journal, start with the small things in your life. These are really what matter and will continue along with you. When someone can appreciate and show their gratitude for the “unnoticeable things” you will see the abundance you actually do have in your life. For starters:

• What is the weather like by you? Is it sunny? Do you enjoy the sunshine? Do you smile when you feel the morning sunshine fall across your face and warm it up? Is it raining? Are you happy that you do not have to set up the sprinkler system to water the grass? Do you like the way the rain cleans the air and makes everything smell fresh? Even if the “weather is not cooperating with your plans” you can still find a lot in which to be grateful!
• Do you have shelter? Do you own your own home? Are you renting? Are you homeless and staying at a local shelter? You can be grateful for any of these.
• Do you have a car? Is it running? Is it a clunker? Does it get you from Point A to Point B? Is it better than having to walk? Can you save time using it? No car? How do you get from place to place? Public transportation? Do you enjoy the fact that you have someone else driving you around? Are you walking? Do you enjoy the fact that you are getting some exercise as you go to you destination? You can express your gratitude for a variety of options that may be available to you!
• Are you reading this? Can you see? Do you have your vision? Is this being read via a Text-To-Speech machine? Do you have glasses? Again, here is a lot for which you can express your gratitude.

You see, even if you are unhappy, you can still be grateful for many, many, many things in your life. If you start to appreciate all of these things, you will not be focusing on the negativity and all the bad things which you see.

I have written about a gratitude journal in prior posts. I highly suggest that you take this opportunity to start one if you do not have one. Try it for a week. List out those things for which you are grateful and I am sure that you will feel much better at the end a week then you do now.

As always, your comments are welcomed. Please let me know what you think about having this sort of gratitude mindset.

Be Well.
Paul.
The Gratitude Guru

Happy Father’s Day to all the Dad’s, all the Dad’s to be, all the dads that were, and all those who have/had a Dad!

Favorite sayings of my Dad were:
‘Try it! You’ll like it!’
‘Makes good sandwiches’
‘It will look good on your resume!’
‘I won the Olympic Gold medal for that’

Be Well.
Paul.
The Gratitude Guru

Parents frequently bemoan what they see as a lack of gratitude or appreciation from their children. They may consider their children to be spoiled or blame popular culture for a general lack of civility. How often do parents say things like: “Kids today have no appreciation for what they have. Why, in my day…etc.”

The ability to show gratitude is more of a learned behavior than an innate trait.  We need to ask ourselves how well we model this behavior.  How often do we express our appreciation to our children? How often do they hear us expressing appreciation to a spouse, parent or other relative? How often as a family do we discuss the things for which we are thankful?

Unfortunately, we may be more likely to inadvertently pass on negative messages. The normal reaction to feeling unappreciated is anger and resentment. Sometimes we stop doing things for others if they don’t meet our expectations for thankfulness. Other times we may label others as selfish, rude or ignorant. Whether we realize it or not, these are clearly behaviors that we are modeling.

There are several things we can do which are far more constructive and which should yield better results. Here are some ideas:

• Make it a practice to tell your children how much you appreciate them and give them specific examples of things they did that merited thanks.
• At least once a month, go around the table at dinner time and ask each person to say one thing for which they are thankful.
• Make up a story that involves the theme of gratitude.
• Stress the importance of thank you notes and make sure you practice what you preach.
• When children are young if they do not automatically thank someone who does something for them, prompt them with a statement such as, “What do you say?”
• Give examples of things you were thankful for during the day. “So and so did ____ and I really appreciated it.”
• Do a volunteer project that will involve the entire family and talk about why it’s important to help others.

Be patient, be persistent and try to stay positive.

This is a partial reprint of an article by Mike Daly, Director of Youth, Adult, and Community Services in Campbell County, VA.

Be Well.
Paul.
The Gratitude Guru

In keeping with yesterday’s post, here is a follow-up of sorts that goes along with Gratitude and Meditation.

We’ve all heard someone joke about karma. I like the one, “My karma ran over your dogma.”

But what is karma, actually? In Buddhist philosophy, karma is the consequence of everything you do throughout your life. Karma can be good or bad, depending on your intentions and actions toward others.

Consider this example:

• You’re angry with your sister because she borrowed your sweater and ruined it. You get back at her by embarrassing her in front of a new man in her life. You very much intended to shame her and hurt her feelings.

• Those who believe in karma might view your intentions and action toward your sister as causing bad karma that would eventually come back around to you.

In essence, karma operates on the principle that what you send out to others is what you’ll receive back. It may be the next day, the next year or even in your next life, but your karma will be paid back to you.

Making a concerted effort to be positive, helpful and kind toward others seems to be the best way to go, according to the concept of karma. You’ll then be blessed with all that good karma returning to you.

Whether you adopt fully the principles of Eastern philosophies, it does make logical sense to behave toward others as you’d like them to behave toward you. Consider keeping karma in mind in your everyday interactions with people. Your life will be more positive as a consequence.

Discovering your own path to enlightenment is a journey only you can make. If you open your mind to Eastern ideas, you will certainly feel more relaxed and peaceful, and you might just move a little closer to enlightenment

Be Well.
Paul.
The Gratitude Guru

A Path to Enlightenment Through Gratitude: Applying Eastern Philosophy to Enrich Your Life

It seems that everyone is interested in living a more meaningful life. Eastern philosophy may be able to help you with this, since it’s rich with dynamic, spiritual ideas. Many of these concepts can be applied to your life regardless of which religion your spiritual beliefs align with. But the bottom line is that just about every religion or belief has a component of Gratitude incorporated.

Enlightenment is a well-known Eastern idea. Meditation, another practice embraced by many philosophies, helps you de-stress, become more focused, heighten your gratitude, and maintain good balance. Living with an understanding of the centuries-old concept of “karma” may also enrich your life.

Eastern Concept of Enlightenment

In Eastern philosophies, to become enlightened means to experience an “awakening.” It’s widely held that enlightenment is a state that must be experienced. Although this explanation seems nebulous at best, suffice it to say that enlightenment is a state deeply sought by those applying Eastern philosophies in their lives. One way some of these people seek enlightenment is through meditation.

Meditation: A How-To

Meditation is a state of being that brings forth feelings of peace, gratitude, tranquility and happiness. When your busy life seems overwhelming, allow yourself even just 10 minutes to sit peacefully. Meditation can be an excellent way banish stress and bring balance back into your life.

Follow these steps to bring the benefits of meditating into your life:

1. Find a relaxing, quiet place to practice. Plan to not be disturbed for 10 or 15 minutes to start. You can build this up to an hour when you are comfortable (and have the time to do so).
2. Sit comfortably. Although there are many classic poses, feel free to sit in a comfortable chair with your feet flat on the floor.You can also sit with legs crossed, leaning against a wall. Sitting on the floor while leaning gently against the side of your bed may also be quite comfortable.
3. Listen to your breathing. Use the sound and experience of breathing in and breathing out as your focal point. Allow yourself to breathe naturally.

• If this is your first time meditating, know that it’s normal to experience some frustration over being unable to “clear” your mind. When these thoughts arise, just bring your attention back to your breath.

• When thoughts float in, simply allow them to float out. Remember that your focus is your breathing. So, shift your thoughts to the gentle “in and out” flow of your breath.

By the end of 10 or 15 minutes, you’ll most likely find that you’re feeling calm, rested and ready to return to your world. Practicing meditation just twice daily (or even once, if you’re very busy!) will improve your mood and help you de-stress.

Be Well.
Paul.
The Gratitude Guru

Advice to Andrew Jackson by his Mother

In 1781 Andrew Jackson, then 14 years of age, enlisted in the American army, was captured and thrown into prison where he had smallpox. His mother Elizabeth Hutchinson Jackson, through exchange arranged for his release and nursed him back to health. Responding to an urgent appeal, she left him to go to Charleston to nurse some sick neighbors who were confined there on a British hospital ship. This errand of mercy cost her life. She caught yellow fever and died.

Almost her last words to her young son were:

“Andrew, if I should not see you again, I wish you to remember and treasure up some things I have already said to you; in this world you will have to make your own way. To do that you must have friends. You can make friends by being honest and you can keep them by being steadfast. You must keep in mind that friends worth having will in the long run expect as much from you as they give to you.

To forget a obligation or to be ungrateful for a kindness is a base crime – not merely a fault or a sin but an actual crime. Men guilty of it sooner or later must suffer the penalty.

In personal conduct, be always polite but never obsequious. None will respect you more than you respect yourself.

Avoid quarrels as long as you can without yielding to imposition. But sustain your manhood always. Never bring a suit in law for assault and battery or for defamation. The law offers no remedy for such outrages that can satisfy the feelings of a true man.

Never wound the feelings of others. Never brook wanton outrage upon your own feelings. If ever you have to vindicate your feelings or defend your honor, do it calmly. If angry at first, wait till your wrath cools before you proceed.”

Good Advice all around!

Be Well.
Paul.
The Gratitude Guru

When was the last time you thought about gratitude? How you approach life each day largely determines how you feel about your day. If you have a positive approach to life and to yourself; if you feel and express your gratitude,  even your toughest days will feel tolerable. Thinking positively is the key to living a satisfying, fulfilled life.

Mitchell Moore’s Famous Quote About Positivity

Mitchell Moore is believed to have once said, “Attitude is everything.” In other words, how you approach your day or a situation determines how that day or situation will go. Thinking positively is a fairly simple personal rule to remember. However, putting it into practice in your daily life can be more challenging

Peter McWilliams’ Thoughts on Positivity

“The road to positivity is strewn with the abandoned vehicles of the faint-hearted.” Peter McWilliams made this astute observation about the challenges of thinking positive. To translate this idea into everyday English: To be positive, you must persevere.

Norman Vincent Peale and The Power of Positive Thinking

Norman Vincent Peale, author of The Power of Positive Thinking, formulated several fascinating thoughts about approaching life in a positive way. He said, ‘”We tend to get what we expect.’” One interpretation of this saying is that whatever we expect or believe will occur will indeed come to pass. So, if you believe that you’ll do well on a work project, you will. If you expect not to do well, then you likely won’t.

Dr. Peale also said, “Change your thoughts and you change your world.” The beauty of this statement is that it gives incredible hope. The implication is that if you can take hold of your thoughts, you can think your way into success. Positivity rules again.

Positivity: Illustration and Discussion

Consistently thinking positive can be challenging. Maybe your self-confidence isn’t as strong as it could be. If this is the case, you may need to take a leap of faith to think positively. Perhaps you ponder, “But what if I make a fool of myself?” or, “Maybe my co-worker is smarter than I am.”

Consider this illustration:

You’re up for a promotion at work. How will you think about the situation? What do you believe about yourself as it relates to the possibility of receiving the promotion? Here are three ways to approach this matter:

1. Assume you won’t be selected for the job. After all, you didn’t get straight A’s in school. And that new Vice President hardly ever speaks to you. You think you won’t be chosen.
2. Decide you don’t care either way. Whether you get the promotion or not isn’t important. It doesn’t matter. This way of thinking demonstrates the easy way out. You don’t have to put any emotional energy into something when you don’t care.
3. Dare to think you’ll be selected to receive the promotion. You believe you’re smart enough to be chosen. And you know that you work hard, so others probably see that you’re a good candidate. You’ve decided to think positive!

How can you come out of this situation feeling fine, no matter what happens?

Let’s consider each approach to the possible promotion.

Most likely, if you respond like #1 and don’t receive the promotion, you won’t feel very positive. After all, not getting the promotion will now serve as confirmation of what you believe about yourself, that you won’t be successful. However, even if you do get the promotion, you may believe you don’t deserve it. Because of a negative approach, you may feel unhappy even if you get what you want.

If you react as in #2, then you don’t care either way. You’ve convinced yourself that nothing is important enough to invest in it. Your life goes on the same. When you don’t care about something, the end result is irrelevant. However, if the end result truly doesn’t matter, you may not particularly enjoy getting the promotion if you actually do. You’ve deprived yourself of joy by completely detaching from the situation.

But if you react like #3, you go into the situation feeling hopeful, excited, and energized. If you’re chosen, you’ll be reinforced for your positive thinking and re-energized for the work ahead of you.

Even if you aren’t selected, you’ll only experience brief disappointment. After a short letdown, you’ll remind yourself that with your intelligence and perseverance, something good will soon come along. You simply can’t lose by approaching life’s events with positive thinking.

Pondering positivity is worth your time. When you aren’t sure about how to think about a situation, remember Norman Vincent Peale’s quotes on approaching life in a positive way. Consider Peter McWilliams’s point and Mitchell Moore’s famous quote. Attitude truly is everything; with enough positivity, you can change your life.

Express your gratitude when you overcome a roadblock, or when you learn something new, or you do something you have been struggling with for a while.

This little boy who just learned how to ride a bike for the first time, gives a heck of a motivational speech that will inspire anyone!

If he can do it, so can you!

Be Well.
Paul.
The Gratitude Guru

Gratitude isn’t always  important. At least not in the things in your life that are not important.. Like your safety!! After all, it is easier to ignore or take something for granted as opposed to taking time to express your gratitude for something!

Do you go running? I used to do a lot of running a few years ago when I would compete in Triathlons.  (Pssst….I wasn’t exceptionally good at them, but I had fun!) I worked with Team in Training, the group that is associated with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. In return for fundraising for them, coaching, training, and some race expenses were supplied! It was an awesome experience! After my first race, I became a Mentor for the group. But, I digress with little history lesson.

Here in NJ, we have had a couple of absolutely wonderful days with temperatures in the 70′s, low humidity, and all around nice weather! I decided to go for a run around the neighborhood!

One item that always use when I go running or biking is my RoadID ankle band. This is a Velcro strap with a stainless steel, laser engraved emergency info, and is a life saver! It contains my name, contact information, and my medical allergies. If anything ever happened to me and I was found on the side of the road, all immediate pertinent information is found on it!

I have had this since the I first started training for Triathlons. It doesn’t matter if I am running out on my own, or riding my bike with a group. I always put it on, “Just In Case!”

Actually, I wear it more for piece of mind for my family. They know that if something happens, who ever found me would have the proper information to notify them as well as any medical staff that might need to know. This is especially important if I am unconscious and/or cannot speak.

Each time I put it on, I feel grateful that I am taking precautions to ensure I am safe and that I know my family feels more assured that I protected just in case something goes wrong. It makes me feel better knowing they feel better.

And that is just another reason to be grateful!

If you do any outdoor work where you are exposed to cars, trucks, or other perils, you should take a look into getting one – click here to go to the RoadID website.

Enjoy your weekend!

Be Well.
Paul.
The Gratitude Guru

Yesterday’s post was received quite favorable, so I found another story/parable to share with you all!

If a man is crossing a river, and an empty boat collides with his own skiff, even though he be a bad-tempered man, he will not become very angry. But if he sees a man in the boat, he will shout at him to steer clear. If the shout is not heard, he will shout again, and yet again, and begin cursing. And all because there is somebody in the boat. Yet if the boat were empty, he would not be shouting, and not angry. If you can empty your own boat crossing the river of the world, no one will oppose you, no one will seek to harm you.

- Chuang Tzu

Be Well.
Paul.
The Gratitude Guru

This story came my way, and I wanted to share it with you:

There was a man walking across an open field, when suddenly a tiger appeared and began to give chase.

The man began to run, but the tiger was closing in.

As he approached a cliff at the edge of the field, the man grabbed a vine and jumped over the cliff. Holding on as tight as he could, he looked up and saw the angry tiger prowling out of range ten feet above him. He looked down. In the gully below, there were two tigers also angry and prowling.

He had to wait it out.

He looked up again and saw that two mice, one white, the other black, had come out of the bushes and had begun gnawing on the vine, his lifeline. As they chewed the vine thinner and thinner, he knew that he could break at any time.

Then, he saw a single strawberry growing just an arms length away. Holding the vine with one hand, he reached out, picked the strawberry, and put it in his mouth.

It was delicious.

Comment:

There is often a desire to complete the story, to find a way out of this predicament or that dilemma. It is easy to forget that within the limitations of the moment, there is freedom. In this story, it’s the experience of the fresh taste of the strawberry. It is different in each case. Not every day can be an easy day for anyone. The freedom of the moment is always available, even when circumstances are grim.

Be Well.
Paul
The Gratitude Guru

Do you express your gratitude for Success? Not sure what leads to success? Check out this video of Richard St. John when he presented at a TED conference.

Want to know what leads to Success?

Passion
Word
Good
Focus
Push
Serve
Ideas
Persist

I hope you enjoy it and more importantly, implement some of these ideas!

Be Well.
Paul.
The Gratitude Guru