My intention is to be grateful for everything in my life.  I have developed a habit of gently reminding myself to be grateful in all circumstances and for all experiences.  This means being grateful for the good, the bad and the ugly - especially the ugly. Sitting down to a fine meal or receiving a special gift from a friend are occasions when gratitude is natural. I have even mastered the technique of being grateful when things don't go my way or a person or conflict arises in my life. For me, the quickest way to seeing the deeper meaning behind events that are unpleasant is to be thankful for them with the unseen knowledge that life unfolds as it is meant to.  My openness to clarity and my trust in the flow of life allows me to see things that I might otherwise choose to avoid or ignore. These often turn out to be behaviours or attitudes which restrict me in my quest for happiness.

      The difficulty I am having with the word gratitude is that it doesn't seem to be big enough to encompass my feelings.  As I take my morning walk I often find myself stopping to stare
enraptured at a weed, a patch of grass in a swamp, nondescript stones along the road or even the branch of a cedar tree. Outwardly there appears to be nothing of particular significance with the objects I see but somewhere, deep within my soul, I am making a connection that is beyond my vocabulary to describe. Even now as I write these words I wonder how I can convey the
incredible sense of appreciation that I feel in these moments. My emotions seem to erupt with a warm glow throughout my body. There is afeeling of knowing that the universe and my world are
one and that the most harmonious of relationships exists in every aspect of both the tangible and the unseen. It almost takes my breath away.

      These feelings are coming to me more often and lasting longer. They manifest when I hear a hymn on the radio, see a picture of my mom and I or stare appreciatively at the colour of paint on my studio walls. The shift that has taken place has moved me into a realm of feeling immense appreciation for literally all that surrounds me. Even at times when my soul and my human self seem distant from each other I am never far from being aware of the enormity of my blessings. After days of numbing busyness I find that when I take a moment to inhale a deep breath I am instantly in a place of gratitude once again. My sense of gratitude has gradually become almost as frequent as my breaths themselves.

      Meister Eckhart is quoted as saying "If the only prayer you say in your whole life is "thank you," that would suffice." No matter what is taking place in my life nor who I am facing at the
moment, I say "thank you", knowing that I am part of the masterpiece of perfection known as life. For all that, I am truly grateful.

Biography

Daryl Clarke has expressed herself creatively since birth through music, art and words.  She has been published in The Toronto Star newspaper and other periodicals in North America.
Founder of The Spirited Woman magazine and Healing Rock Retreat on the shores of Lake Huron in Tobermory, Ontario, she cherishes her life journey while helping others stay connected to their spirit.  Her address is 417 Eagle Road, Tobermory, Ontario. N0H 2R0 and her web site http://www.spiritedwoman.com.