Gratitude

Thanks,

Gracias,

Merci

Dank u wel,

No matter what you call it- it is all the same. Our human way of taking something we received and turning that into energy. When someone gives or says something to us, or we have an experience- that is the energy that is coming into us. So if it's nice because I am around people like me, experiencing the world around me through nature or activity, or in a safe area - I receive golden energy. Awesome, right?

But the flip side, if someone is yelling, name calling, abusing us, lying to or tricking us, there is an accident, pain, fear - any of those situations will send a darker, foggy or sometimes black energy towards us.

No matter what colour or kind of energy you receive, it enters all of us, even into our little cells. It feeds or steals, it helps or harms and then we get rid of it. But it's now at a cost - it literally costs you to allow the negative energy into your life, or to not heal with it. Costs your heart, your health and your happiness.

This is where Gratitude comes in - while I have this ball of 'that' swirling in me, every time I have a grateful thought or a thankful journal entry- I get a shot of light. Just a little zip. So the more I say thanks, the lighter my energy will be. The other amazing part is no matter where in this incredibly confusing galaxy I am (did you know that there is a very real possibility that unicorns and mermaids do exist- just they operate at a completely different frequency so only the deviants or super powerful ones can visit us 3D normies- that's a post for another day. ) Back on topic - no matter what I am going through, I can still say thanks- I can take a grateful breath and get my zap to help me. It's not choosing happiness or pretending the harm is not hard or it's an easy day- it's about taking the time to settle my soul and saying thanks - the connection to the universe and resetting my day. I am the only one who can control my happiness.

This premise works great as a mom, teacher, friend, parent, coach, etc. The grateful breath is where you stop just settle, even if for a microsecond, breathe out, then take a long slow breath in saying thanks for whatever it is. This also creates visuals in our brains - which is the same idea from psychology - but I am stopping, breathing and being positive either way. Then you hold all those great feelings in for as long as you can and release them. I like to think of myself gathering the energy around me like a beautiful long fancy dress from the old days- kinda silkie with feathers on the edges. The harder my feelings are, the bigger the amount of energy or imaginary skirt I try to get. Once you master it, show it to your kids, friends, teams whatever - call it what you like. At home we say reset, at school we call it reset, on the team I just say breathe sometimes as a reminder. And guess what? Helps every. single. time. AND it's guaranteed not to hurt another-its breathing, thinking and thankful intentions.

If that doesn't create the picture - let's get crazy using math. We like to sit at 1 (for this example) and we can vary and range - the spectrum is here too. If you say thanks, you can double your energy (up to +1). Amazing. You just get to enjoy the extra bump and burn off that energy like a beautiful comet until hopefully returning to 1. But if I don't have any thanks or gratitude in my heart, I have a continuous negative integer (despise this word STILL from Grade 7 math), and I essentially just keep leaking my light and energy everywhere. See the dark doesn't have rules, doesn't care that you need your light and energy- just sees some and wants some. The universe/god/gaia/source/higher power understands that you are one being and if you don't have a cup full you can't be your best, but also understands that a constantly overflowing cup isn't healthy or helpful either - so only +1 at a time. The dark will pull from you endlessly, find a way to pull from your family and friends too- just slowly eroding your world (ever know someone was fuming the second they walk in the room? That's the leak and the dark- coming for others energy and light- but that's a whole other bunch of posts.

This has been in my life forever and I never realized it. I would sit on the deck of Papa and Grandma's deck, looking southwest, over the pond- eating cookies usually, and we would just sit and be. Then talk and say thanks and learn and share and heal. Usually I would complain about the frogs or those smell from flowers that she loved. She would giggle and say 'one day you will be grateful for those sounds and smells'. She was right - I miss the frogs they equal space and safety, and some of my favourite flowers are those same ones, the petunia. Grandma O would take us to pray the rosary every day, and that's settling in, breathing and saying thanks. We also got the rosary for our birthdays or special occasions- or sometimes Grandma would buy us one of those really pretty gem ones they sold at the back of the church. I clung to gratitude as I was going through the darkness as a kid, just didn't know it- those that I COULD give thanks for I really really did- like too much probably. As an adult in college/university I had the same prayers for night time, like to an OCD reliance on the order - and every time my sis had a kid, the order grew! Then I had kids and I got worse so it stopped. (I was trying to shove basketballs into a small ring- I have since learned this as well). As a coach I try really hard to show my players this concept- I try to end every practice and game with a 'go thank your other coaches and whoever got you here - or ump/ref etc. (I also say because without them, we wouldn't be here- teaching the why behind gratitude is crucial). Then I used to hide from them saying it to me- I have since stopped and the EXPLOSION of connection, ability and community is humbling, and I cannot wait till science catches up to support this idea.

Now? I start every day with a Gratitude Journal post- but one that works for my ADHD brain - flexible, connected and purposeful. Those ones that 'forced' me to write every day or only about their topic were my worst nightmare lol- no one puts me in a box and tells me what to write.......says the teacher haha. It has evolved over time but right now it looks like:

Date (numerology is so cool)

Title for the Day (this is fun and makes me giggle every morning)

Who/What/Where/How/Lessons I am thankful for. Try for 3, then 5. Even 'I woke up, I can write, I can breathe' works - and if its the same things over and over that's ok. God doesn't judge

Mantra's for the day - I am living in a world with hope. I can create Hope for myself and others- those I have now. Sometimes it was 'I will throw sunshine up grumpy butts today' or 'I will not carry anyone's energetic garbage today'. It was funny, but doesn't give me the zaps I need at this level anymore, so I am in positive ones only.

If I can I go back and write a little recap of the day. It lines up. I was pulling a few cards at the same time as well and tracking the message and recap. Also, start simple though- date and 3 things. If you add more somedays, awesome, but try for 3. This journal then becomes your lighthouse on your dark days. You can use it to look back and reconnect with those moments, and it will provide not just a zip- but a whole darn waterfall of light to blind the spot you are in, reach down and pull you out of the dark and set you back at 1.

Be Safe, Give Thanks and Share Love,

J