A Year of Health

I am grateful for the news from my doctor that I am cancer free one year after my surgery! I am grateful for this past year that I have had. I have been here to care for Darwin. I have connected more deeply with my family. I have gained new motivation for writing. I have written newsletters that have helped other people. I was able to help Jeff get a car. I enjoyed making love to Alicia. I have reconnected with Bill. I enjoyed my scooter. I had many glasses of good wine and more good food than I need. It has been a good year of life. For all these things and the gift of my life, I give thanks.

Body of Evidence

I am grateful for the good news on my blood work yesterday. I am grateful for one goood kidney that is doing the job of two. I am grateful to my other kidney that "took one for the team" and was willing to take the cancer and be taken out that I might be alive and healthy. I am grateful for the day off today and the opportunity to rest and get work done for myself. I am grateful that Lee love's her job and is willing to pull more than her weight in our expenses. I am grateful for enough cash flow that I don't need to wrry about bills.

Day above ground

I am grateful for my continued health and the health of my loved ones. I am grateful for my friends who care about me and sustain me through tough times and provide love and humor in my life. I am grateful for Howard and his partnership in HealingLeaders. I am grateful for the rain that fell during the night and the birds of the morning.

Have to believe we are magic

I am grateful for the people I work with and their graciousness toward me. I am grateful for the power and vitality I am given with which to live my life. I am grateful for the dream I had last night that reminds me the universe is friendly and accomodating to all of my needs and some of my desires. I am grateful for the opportunity to speak my thoughts and learnings to a wider number of people through HealingLeaders.

Healthy Buddy

I am so grateful for Darwin's recovery, health and vitality! Having my buddy there in the morning to greet me makes my day. Having him to love and care for makes me want to live long and be healthy. I am grateful for the medical care and the means to afford it to help support my life and my health. I have been provided with the best resources and the best healthcare on the planet. I am grateful for the smiles of neighbors as they go by me.

Pretty Woman

I am grateful for a wife who sets boundaries on her children...eventually. I am grateful for the life and presence of my mother. I am grateful for her health and vitality- her ownenness and curiosity. I am grateful for the opportunity to work with neighbors to help make the place we live a peaceful and nurturing place. I am grateful for my children and especially this day of my daughter's 30th birthday.

Grounds for Gratitude

I am grateful for a wife who trusts me and gives me veto powwer in how the condo is being used. I am grateful she has set limits on her boys and feels good about what she has done. I am grateful for the rain we received over the past 3 days. I am grateful for the breakfast I had and the cup of coffee to enjoy in the morning. I am grateful for Marge and her editing of our newsletter.

Bill is Due

I am grateful for the improvement in Darwin. I am grateful for the resources to help give him a chance at a normal life. I am glad to see him bounding up stairs and jumping up and down again. I am grateful for good red wine to drink and the ability to afford it. I am grateful for my friend, Bill, for his loyalty, affection and inspiration in my life. Bill reminds me of the importance of focusing on the good things in life and the need to enjoy them while you can.

What is Gridlock?

Gridlock is a paralysis of functioning within organizations. It is not related to the presence of change. Great change can take place within a gridlocked system. However, the level of change will be superficial rather than substantive. Gridlock is a kind of emotional and imaginative stuckness.

What causes Gridlock?

Anxious response to unprecidented change.

Gridlock is essentially caused by a dysfunctional and ineffectual attempt to

Man in the Mirror

I am grateful Alicia is coming out for the weekend. It will be an opportunity to express my love for her. I am grateful for Quinn's respect and affection toward me and the invitation to be a source of masculine love and guidance. I am grateful for this place in the country and the opportunity to live here and enjoy the beauty of nature every day. I am grateful for the solitude I have that gives me an opportunity to reflect and develop my ideas for sharing with others. I am grateful for my friend, Karen and her birthday today.

Number Won

I am grateful for Darwin's renewed energy and vigor. It helps me to have my friend back. I am grateful for the dream I had last night in which I won a battle and defeated the enemy. I take it to mean a good sign. I am grateful for the time and the means to apy attention to all of the gifts I have been given in life. I am grateful for the good decisions I have made and the blessings that have come despite the poor ones.

Seasonings of Life

I am so grateful to have a partner that is such a good person and loves me so much. She cares deeply for my health, happiness and well-being. She values me above all other things in her life. I am rich to have her amazing and profound love. She is a rare and wonderful soul in this world.

I am grateful for the humming birds who have returned for the summer to raise their young. Their playful and lively presence reminds me of the vibrance and beauty of my world. I am grateful for such a beautiful place out in nature. I live where most people go for vacations!

I am grateful for the playfulness of the gal who waited on my yesterday at the customer service counter at Shopko. My world is seasoned with serendipidous people and encounters that express the goodness of life and joy in living.

For these things and the gift of my life, I give thanks.

Compass or the Soul

I am grateful for neighbor, Tom and his wife, Dee. I am grateful for their prayers for me and for my health. I am grateful for my job and the ability to pay my bills. I am grateful for Kara and her kindness toward me. I am grateful for George and all he has meant in my life. I am grateful for the path he helped me to see and the course my life has taken as a result. There have always been the right people at every major junction of my life to allow me to learn, grow and find more of my own soul. For these things I give thanks.

Friends

I am grateful for the cool weather this morning that makes the air so fresh. It will help with getting things done today, both inside and outside. It will also be good for taking a much needed nap and fr getting my exercise. I am grateful for a situation that supports my life today rather than challenging it. I am grateful for Rose and her cheerful attitude. I am glad for her kindness to me and my dogs. I have connections with people that I can look forward to. I am grateful for Darwin's wagging tail this morning and his willingness to snuggle. I am grateful for Michael's call and his concern and compassion toward me. I am glad for Karen's call and willingness to take the initiative and maintain our frienship. I am grateful for many authentic friends who care about me.

Basics

I am grateful for the ideas of Ed Friedman and the opportunity to have studied with him and be exposed to his teachings. I am grateful for my training in systems theory that helps me understand where he is coming from. I am grateful that Alicia and I have jobs with benefits so we can afford our healthcare and remain healthy. I am grateful to have Alicia as a backup. I am grateful for a job that challenges me. I am grateful for my paycheck and the ability to live. For these things I give thanks.

Spring Reign

I am grateful for the mosquito-free weekend ahead with the woods in full bloom. It is a perfect spot from which to write and be creative. I am grateful for the colorful birds at my bird feeder, grossbeaks, orioles, scarlet tanengers, finches and cardinals. I am grateful for the spring rain that came during the night. I am grateful for Sarah and her skype call last night. I look forward to spending more time with her in this way.

Sweet Tooth

I am grateful for the passion that exists between Alicia and me. I feel alive and vibrant and strong when I hold her. I feel like she is a gift to me and I am a gift to her. I am grateful for the coffee in my cup this morning. It awakens me and gives me pleasure. It provides good things for my body in moderation. I am grateful for the ability to moderate the good things in my life to allow me a life of health and sobriety. I am grateful for the ability to accept what I cannot change; the courage to change what I can change; and the wisdom to know the difference. I am grateful for chocolate and all of the "sweetness" in my life that provides pleasure beyond subsistence living. Though we live in the middle world - a world of "tooth and claw," I have more. I am grateful I can have a life and not just a living. For these gifts and the life I have as a result of them, I give thanks.

More Precious than Gold

I am grateful for the people in my life that have been there for me at crucial times and also through times of stability. I am grateful for the loving mom and dad that I have. They have given me a rich perspective of life and a gold mine of core values. I have been blessed by teachers from Ms. Anderson to Jean Soderquist. 40 years of mentors and their wisdom have been imparted to me. In my years since schoool I have had Dean Larsen, Bill Kippley, Jane Kill-Kippley, Kathy Johnson, Shelby Peterson, Herby Church, Ed Friedman, Bill Brunton, Sandra Ingerman, Michael Harner and Alicia Gates. I have been blessed with the friendship of solid and thoughtful friends, Bill, Jon, Art, Howard, I have been blessed beyond my wildest expectations and and rich beyond belief! For these gifts I give thanks.

Passing the Mantle

I am grateful for George in my life and all that he has meant to my life. He showed me that many of the ways I was considering lead deeper into the woods instead of out of them. I am grateful for his lessons of clear thinking, humility and the courage to doubt. I am grateful for the computer skills I have developed over the years so I could help him stay engaged in life though this computer. I am grateful for the ability to learn and grow. I am grateful that I love learning and growing. For these I give thanks.

Anti-gratitude

I am grateful for the accident that DID'T happen on my scooter last night. It was a close call as a result of my lack of awareness of other vehicles. I am grateful for the protection I was given over my mind, body and my health. I am grateful to be alive this morning. I am grateful for this painless opportunity to learn and for this reminder to pay attention and exercise caution at all times when I am out on the road. I am also grateful for this reminder to watch for other motorcyles who may dart out in front of me from an intersection. I give thanks for all of the times my life and well-being has been spared allowing me to be here, healthy and strong today. I am grateful for all the terrible things that could have happened and didn't. I am either protected to some degree or the odds have been in my favor. I choose to believe I have been protected. A higher intellligence is watching over me. I am not bullet proof but I have dodged more than one bullet in my life. I give thanks to The Creator and to the Spirits for their gift of life and health moment by moment. For this I give thanks.

Weekend Thanks

I am grateful Mom got broadband and we can now video conference each other. I am grateful that my mom is growing and staying sharp and alert and learning new things and new technology. I am grateful that I have an equal in her to relate to. I have never known life without her loving presence. I am grateful she is healthy and I treasure her presence in my life.

I am grateful Darwin seems to be doing better this morning. I am grateful he was barkind and came for petting. I am gratful he could negotiate the stairs by himself. I am grateful his stool was normal and free from blood.

I am grateful for Alicia's kids who were so well behaved and treated me so well this weekend. I am grateful for Emma's love for Darwin and the time she spent holding him and petting him.

More than enough

I am grateful for the food that is provided for me daily. I am gateful I can sustain my life, my strengt and my health with more than enough of this gift to me. I am grateful for the cabin as a nice quiet place to nap when movies are playing and there is lots of noise in the house. I am grateful we are able to refinance our mortgages and increase our cash flow. I am grateful when people treat me with affection and respect that I deserve.

Only Beauty

I am grateful for the birds that grace the feeder this morning. Their colors speak to me of the extravagnace, variety and abundance that is in the natural world. I am gratful for my friend Bill visiting last night and for his contageous zest for life. Having such a friend engages me and challenges me to stay engaged in the goodness of life. I am gratful for the protection of the spirits from the unintentional damage done by angry individuals around me. For these things I give thanks.

Another Day Above Ground

I am grateful for another day of life...another day above ground. It is an opportunity to notice the beauty around me, show compassion where there is suffering, healing where there is woundedness and express my love to my family. I am grateful for this opportunity.

I am grateful that Darwin felt well enough to walk to the stop sign - the first time he has been there in over a month. I am grateful for the medicine and the expert medical care that can offer him his best chance at a life filled with good things with minimal pain.

I am grateful that the neighbors appear to be intimidated by me and have not yet confronted me with their anger and abusive treatment. I am grateful for the protection of the spirits from the psychic fallout of their wrath.

I am grateful for neighbors Tom and Marve who served in Viet Nam out of duty and love for this country. I am grateful for the sacrifice they have made in their attempt to defend my freedom and well-being from those who would enslave.

I am grateful for the strong cup of coffee this morning that, even while I write, is coursing through my veins.

For all these things and more, I give thanks.

Opportunity Knocks!

I am grateful for the information on Vitamin D as a possible protective measure against the possible flu pandemic that may be upon us. I am grateful that I live in a part of the world that has access to the best medical care possible and that I have a good chance of staying healthy and living a long and fulfilling life.

I am grateful for Bill O'Hanlon and his pioneering spirit that helps to challenge me to "think Big." I have so much to give. I am sitting on so much experience, so many learnings, so much gold. I am grateful for all the difficult lessons of my life and the ability to learn from them. I am intelligent and perceptive and open to transformation. My eye and my body are full of light.

I am grateful for the connections with others and their need that allow the power of healing to come through me. My learnings have not made me a source of healing but a conduit of healing. I am grateful to the spirits for their willingness to work through me. I am grateful for the time and opportunity that lies ahead for me.

For these gifts I give thanks.

I am grateful for the life-giving rain we had last night and yesterday. Everything is renewed and turning green. I am grateful for the leaves on the trees shielding the view from my neighbors giving me greater privacy. I am grateful for the "sanctuary" that is given to me each spring.

I am grateful for the good weekend with Lee and the opportunity to hold each other and take pleasure in each other's company. I am grateful she made it back to the condo safely and enjoyed a movie with her daughter. I am grateful for her words of love and devotion in her text before bed. Her words assure me that I am loved and wanted by her.

I am grateful for a good night's sleep and enough energy to meet the day. I find myself hopeful and looking forward to working and interacting today and doing good work and making a difference. I am grateful for my soul's direction as a healer that provides a compass for my day.

Shelter from the storm

Darwin came all the way down to my bathroom to greet me this morning! He is chewing a bone now after playing the bone game with Carter. I am so grateful he is feeling more like himself! I am grateful for the resources to help him with his episode of IMT. I am grateful for Tim and his staff as well as Paul for all their help in getting Darwin the help he needs.

I am grateful for Lee being with me for the weekend and for her insultating herself from some of the family drama. I am grateful to have a partner who has the resources to respond to the challenges of life in a resourceful and mature way.

I am grateful for all the work that Alicia did to get the house cleaned up yesterday. I am grateful for a clean place to work and to live. I am grateful that it is clean and healthy and peaceful. I am grateful for a warm house that is inviting and protects me from the cold and the rain. Shelter is an incredible gift.. I give thanks for these gifts.

When it reigns...

The weather spirits are reigning this morning like they do every morning. It has rained in the night. I am grateful for the spirit of weather - for the insite that I live in a relationship with weather rather than a victim of weather wishing I could be master over the weather. I am grateful I am not in control. I would not want that responsibility.

I am grateful Darwin seems to be doing better. He is one of life's greatest gifts to me. His presence in my life reminds me I am loved and accepted unconditionally by the Creator and that I am fortunate to live in a time and place with the resources for nurturing this kind of friendship. He chose me. I did not chose him. I am honored that Darwin would choose me as his friend and choose to bond with me. He not only provides love in my life but purpose as well. One of my main pleasures in life is being able to be present for Darwin and return his love and his trust in me with a good life the best I can. For the gift of Darwin, I give thanks.

The power blinked off briefly this morning reminding me how grateful I am for electricity that helps make my work easier and much of it even possible. This force connects me with the world. It helps my mind, my thoughts and my compassion extend out into the world. All good things can return to me three-fold. For the gift of electricity, I give thanks.

Life Wins

I am grateful for the resiliency and tenacity of life. The forms of life are fragile and transient, but Life itself, is enduring. It is true everything that is alive dies. But even death is folded in as an essential process supporting Life. Death is merely an event. Life is an endless process. I give thanks for the gift of life in me and my loved ones. I give thanks for the strength of the life-force in me that has led to my healing. I am so grateful to have a wife that reminds me regularly that I am not old. I am not dying. I am living – each precious moment of my life.

An Experiment - Taking up the Challenge

I happened to be listening to a recording online on gratitude by a realtor in Nevada named Sanda Sumpter located at http://www.backtogratitude.com/. It didn't say anything that I haven't heard a hundred times but while listening, I had an insight about how life works and what I could do to make my life better.

If you get more of what you focus on in life, what are the implications of seeing yourself as a "problem solver" and a "fixer?" If you approach life as primarily a problem to be solved or a challenge to be met, does that mean you will get more than your fair share of problems? Does this mean that focusing on problems will bring more of them into your life? I suspect this is true.

(A variation of the above theme is focusing on what you want in life - i.e. a goal. Does focusing on what you don't have bring more of "not having" into your life? I think so.)

So, if I want fewer problems in my life, I would do well to deal with them as necessary but keep my focus on the blessings that are in my life. This should lead to more blessing and fewer problems, right? If I want to achieve more of my goals in life, would I be better off focusing on the goals I have already accomplished?

I decided it was worth an experiment to find out. I took the challenge that the speaker offered to journal for 10 minutes a day for 7 days on what I am grateful for and why. (The "why" was also a new thought to me as I have journaled list of gratitudes before and found it trite and somewhat boring. The point is to "connect the dots" of blessing in your life with the purpose and mission of your life. The speaker promised a "transformed life in 7 days."

I don't know about "transformed" but after 7 days, I had noticed my mood lifting (maybe its Spring) and my days going smoother. I noticed more peace and joy in my life. Though it is subtle, I think the change is significant to extend the experiment for another month.

What follows, therefor, is a running "thought stream" of my morning meditations as I focus on the blessings of my life and how my life is better just by focusing on the good things I already have.