A Beautiful Morning
Gratitude and Appreciation
Dear friend,
It’s very still in the garden. I’m missing the honey bees, but that’s the way my mind is wired. The first impulse is to notice what’s changed or gone. I’ve trained myself to make the next impulse and notice whats good and beautiful.
The way the wisteria curls around its guide lines. One ivory flower. The quiet before my neighbours wake up and the bustle of the day kicks in.
The calm inside me as I write to you.
When I first started learning about gratitude as a practice it felt very uncomfortable. I had a ‘cap in hand’ bug in my code. Feelings of thankfulness were mixed up with feelings of shame.
Thankful not to be starving like the children on the news.
Or Billy Liar, if you know the film. Tom Courtney’s character grateful for the job that is crushing his soul.
It’s simpler for me now.
A morning coffee. The sun slanting across the tall grasses. The imperceptible nodding of their seeded heads, like golden horses mains.
My heart beating softly in my chest.
A busy day ahead.
There won’t be time in it today to cut back the lavender. I don’t like to when the bees are still visiting but now it will have to wait until after I get back from visiting Chiara in Budapest.
Feeling my way into new ways of living.
A breeze comes in through the open door and washes over my skin. Caressed. By the atmosphere. The precious air we share.
One atmosphere, one ocean, one planet.
One people.
Challenges will come and go. My heart beat will fluctuate for sure. The mind will be ruffled, who knows there may even be storms.
The practice is to return to appreciation and stillness and acceptance. Not to worry about how long you lose sight of peace, but to be glad you knew enough to want it to return.
That you have found a way to return.
Giving thanks for the beauty and the love that surrounds us.
Till tomorrow
Love
Mikey