So here we are. The season of gratitude. Thanksgiving.

We know gratitude:

1. Enlarges us.
2. Boosts our immune system.
3. Connects us to beauty.
4. Keeps us rooted in the present moment.
5. Pushes away criticism and jealousy.
6. Embraces the giver as well as the receiver.

How do we make our thank yous more than platitudes?

1. Make it general. Don’t expect anything back.
   • Thank God or the earth. “Even after all this time the sun never say to the earth, “You Owe Me.” Look what happens with a love like that. It lights the whole sky.” (Don’t know who said this.)
2. Make it specific.
   • As the March Hare said, “Say what you mean.” Mean what you say.
3. Find a tribe of gratitude givers.
   • on Facebook, Richard Paul Evans hosts a GratiTuesday (I’ve not read his books but met him at an event – super nice guy!)
4. Give 7 hugs a day.
   • After a hug, we feel so warm and cuddly, then we’re able to say grateful things.
5. Woke up today!
   • What else could we ask for?

Some of today’s thoughts were inspired from #spiritchat — a soulful Sunday morning Twitter chat about a spiritual topic. The tweets fly fast and furious. This morning, I couldn’t chat because I had to borrow a camera from a friend.

This is the second reporting/photography job I’ve had in a couple of weeks. (Am reporting on an East Village Korean church for the Interpreter magazine.)

So grateful for friends (and their generosity!)

I’m also grateful for:

• twitter (social media) and #spiritchat
• photography work
• the sun warming me
• the crunch of dead leaves beneath my feet
• the warmth of hugs
• my great health
• my optimism
• old and new friends

Check out the founder of spirit chat, Kumud Ajmani’s blog.

What are

 

 

you grateful for?