Gratitude

   

Remember writing thank yous?  I still do. I think it is fun and maybe nice but what I also know is that it is healthy.  Yes, like good for you kind of healthy.  Dr. Happy, my new nickname for Martin Seligman, studied 411 depressed people and asked them to write a letter of gratitude to someone they had never properly thanked.  You know those people.  We all have one or two.  We love them most.  We think of them when life turns and asks us to think.  AND the cool part is the results was remarkable.  Huge increase in the people's happiness scores and a decrease on the depression scale.  Meaning and purpose increased.  Reaching out became real.  Thinking of others.  Looking for blessings.  Best part?   Benefits lasted.  Pretty cool and REALLY easy. When was the last time you wrote a thank you card?  I decided to write one today.  Click Dr. Seligman to learn how gratitude works. Click CBS to see what writing thank you cards can really do. Positive Stuff!

Anniversary

My husband and I married 31 years ago today.  Today is our anniversary.  I am grateful.  Years ago I came across a picture of my parents.  Britton & Betty Jean.  I paused.  I was amazed.  I did not grow up knowing my father.  I was 3 years old when he left.  When my parents divorced his good bye was forever.  Here is a picture of my husband next to a picture of the father I never knew. Coincidence?  Maybe.  Maybe not.  I continue to trust my relationship with others is important.  I continue to trust all relationships are important.  I am grateful that I can choose each day how I will BE in my relationships.

Forgive

 Forgive.  Are YOU nursing unresolved anger?  Do you believe it is impossible to forgive someone because of the pain they have caused you?  This is 4:45 minutes of a speech by Terry Warner that I have loved for years. 

"Why We Forgive" 

by C. Terry Warner

"If we can find forgiveness in our hearts for those who have caused us hurt and injury, we will rise to a higher level of self esteem and well being" 

James E Faust (2007)

Deseret Book has the full version.

MP3 Download

And/OR

Bookshelp eshelf

Beingness

Carl Rogers makes sense to me. He is credited with the idea of empathy. He beleived for a person to grow they need an environment that encourages openness,

self-disclosure, acceptance, being listened to and understood. In therapist speak the terms are congruence, unconditional positive regard, empathy and presence. What I dig most about Rogers is he believed that people were essentially good and healthy.  His voice was different then the accepted thought of his time. I see him as a courageous pioneer.  He saw the goodness in people when determistic Freud and other abnormal theorist were shouting from the roof tops. During the year I will post much about Carl Rogers.  He is worth knowing. Spirituality was part of his helping others model. He believed that people want to do better and are naturally motivated to reach their potential, what he called their highest level of "human-beingness".  I love courageous people.  I love big thinkers.  Lots of good thinking is what Carl Rogers did.

Song

When I owned an independent book store I listened to hours and hours of inspired song.  That is when I fell hard for music.  I noticed the difference a melody could make.  I noticed customers unaware rejoicing when certain tunes played.  I noticed employee's moods shift when they heard their favorite instruments.  Most of all I noticed my heart.  I noticed my spirit elevate and peace seemed more real when good music played over my head.  I love Fernando Ortega.  His talent moveS me, lifts me, reminds me.  
Click titles to listen to a little worship by Fernando Ortega. 

Let the Words of My Mouth
Oh God, You Are My God
I heard the Voice of Jesus Say

Seeing

Most of the time I look around and see greatness.  I see kind people.  I see others trying.  I love my neighbors and I am aware of blessings.  And then, sometimes I have trouble seeing.  sometimes I think small.  I forget.  I forget all that I know.  I forget how good God is. This video reminds me.  Reminds me that I have a choice.  Reminds me that I might be blind to what is true. Thank you President Uchtdorf for reminding me to look.