GRATITUDE MONTH: DAY 24: ““We must find time to stop and thank the people who make a difference in our lives. As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them. [Thanksgiving Day Proclamation, 1963]” ― John F. Kennedy
Scary that he made this address just within days of being killed. But we are always on the brink of our own passage from this place. Most of us don’t live like we know this, but it is true.
His speeches were written so well that several of them became well-known and important pieces of the history he became part of. I am grateful for his words of wisdom and insight.
There are so many people for whom I am grateful. I try each morning to write at least a few of them on my list. I don’t know if I leave some off or not. I am currently writing about a few of the folks who were part of my life during a period over 40 years in the past. They were not nice people, and I never believed I would have the opportunity to thank them for anything, except maybe spontaneously bursting into flames; which they did not do.
Instead, I am seeing how their horrific behaviors toward me have increased my life in so many ways. The strength I possess is a gift from them. Knowing what I will and will not allow into my life is one of the teachings I received also. So many gifts are received from situations that caused pain and grief in my life. I am happy to say that today I can recognize the gifts they gave, along with so many other people in the years up to this.
Not all of us can receive and open these gifts. We are sometimes destined to walk through life without being aware of what they are. We do not recognize the tremendous power of the things that have occurred.
When we drink and use drugs, or participate in any other forms of addictions, we are left without the tools of recovery. We cannot recover when we continue to sit in perpetual blaming of others for the things that have shaped us, we are never going to own our power to live through and gain wisdom from the teachings that are brought to our lives.
As we apply the 12 steps to our lives and stop acting in addictive ways, we are FREE to go past this in ways that are nothing short of miraculous.
Today I celebrate the miracles of healing and reframing and wisdom gained in my life so far. I thank everyone I know who is part of my life, because you enhance and enrich me. None of this is done in a vacuum. We teach and enlighten and empower and inform each other in so many ways.
The differences in my life are made by all of you…you are the gifts of every prayer I have ever made, every dream I have ever had, and every bit of Love the Great Creator could formulate and be inspired to develop into this thing called life.
I hope I never forget to walk in the light of gratitude and remain forever mindful of the Grace and blessedness of this life I live. Peace and joy to you all today!
Dolphin Hug 