11/22/2023
So, Merriam-Webster defines thanksgiving as: “1.The act of giving thanks; 2. A prayer expressing gratitude.”
If your gratitude practice thus far has consisted of holding hands and going around the dinner table saying what you’re thankful for once a year on the third Thursday of November, let's upgrade that sh*t.
Gratitude is a 24/7 mindset. It’s a way of living in the world, seeing the blessing in everything, looking for the gifts inherent in every experience, the opportunity for learning that exists in all that appears to transpire.
It’s an attitude, being thankful for whatever unfolds – knowing that it is all perfect.
There was a time in my life when I believed that all of my problems, challenges, struggles, and issues were someone else’s fault. That other people or situations (out of my control, of course) were responsible for my unhappiness. Parents, husbands, family members, friends, jobs, finances, lack of education, weight, hormones, blah blah blah whatEVER.
I thought that others had been set up for a better life, or been luckier, or maybe more deserving or had better karma – and I carried a sh*tload of resentment about that. It seemed like everyone else got to have happier relationships, or were better off financially, or had more fulfilling careers, or better bodies, or greater fill-in-the-f*ing blank than I did.
When I finally got what A Course in Miracles is really teaching about gratitude (aka forgiveness) my life became miraculous.
A Course in Miracles Workbook lesson 123 is
“I thank my father for His gifts to me.”
Forgiveness is the gift for which I am most grateful, because it has healed so many of my false perceptions and transformed my life to a place where it is almost unrecognizable to me.
True forgiveness returns us to sanity, seeing the innocence in the other person – our bro – so we can see it in ourselves. It reminds us that what is true is the perfection of God in each of us, and what is fake and illusory is anything else.
What the gift of forgiveness helped me to shift to was a place of gratitude for ALL of what I formerly judged as the bad or negative things in my life.
That actually, those challenges that I went through taught me things.
Those conflicted partnerships inspired me to heal parts of myself so that I could be ready for the peaceful and loving one I have now.
My former bosses and jobs called forth in me abilities and talents that I didn’t think I possessed, which ultimately gave me the confidence to become self-employed in my dream job.
Estrangement from loved ones motivated me to seek a better way, and find my way back to peace in all of my relationships.
Financial challenges lit a flame under my ass to become more responsible with money.
Whatever my parents were not able to give me I was meant to learn to provide to myself by being aligned with the abundance of God that is the truth of us all.
I could go on and on describing all of the ways in which the people and situations I used to blame and judge turned out to be companions and doorways leading to a life of greater love, peace, joy, abundance, fun, success, fulfilling work and lovely adventures than I could have ever imagined.
Instead, I’ll just say Thanksforgiving, God.
Happy Thanksgiving. I am so very grateful for your presence in my life.
I love you. 🧡
You can check out the video on my Youtube channel here: https://youtu.be/XPOu2_mjok4.
