Appreciation Magic

Appreciating Tea – Day 15

I love tea and I love all kinds of it. Some years ago, I had the pleasure of visiting Japan, where I discovered “macha” tea: the green tea powder. But what was really special about it was participating in a tea ceremony. The rituals, the sharing, the reflection and the quietitude of the experience are really quite special.

When I consciously am “present” with any tea that I drink, I can make my own ritual out of it. By taking deep breaths, pausing, being present and saying positive affirmations, I often create my own tea ceremony at home. It can be truly a meditative experience.

We can be consciously present about any drink or food we partake, if we slow down and make that choice. In doing so, we can realize what we often take for granted: the abundance in our lives. Our bodies can better receive what we put in them when we slow down and appreciate as we eat and drink, too.

So today I’m appreciating tea, the ceremony back in Japan plus the ones I’ve created here in my home, and the reminder that conscious eating and drinking creates a special peace within me, and more appreciation and gratitude for the things I eat and drink.

Appreciating The Contrast – Day 14

Today’s appreciation has to do with the law of attraction. The law of attraction works, whether or not we focus on what we want or we focus on what we don’t want: we get what we focus on. And we get what we focus on, whether we’re consciously creating it or just living life, reacting to events, people and circumstances. When I talk about focus, I’m not referring just to your thoughts, but also your feelings as we’re really talking about energy. So when you focus on being well, for example, but worry inside because you’re sneezing and fear you’re catching a cold or getting the flu, you’re really focusing on what you don’t want. Guess what happens? You likely will get that cold and end up in bed with the flu!

Contrast doesn’t have to be “bad,” but often we focus on what is unwanted because it doesn’t feel good. Unwanted contrast truly serves as a tool to clarify and focus on what one really wants. When you’re sick in bed with the flu, you really, really want to get better. Those desires are great, but if you keep reminding yourself of how sick you feel and tell others about how awful you’re feeling, you’re not aligning yourself to becoming better.

So as crazy as it sounds, you get what you want when you learn to focus and appreciate the contrast (the good and the bad). You learn to let go of “what is” and appreciate it because you know that something so much better is on its way.

So today, I’m appreciating the contrast. Contrast such as:

how sickness reminds us to take better care of our bodies, or can serve as a reminder to self to S-L-O-W down and relax

the confession from a child that s/he broke a favorite family heirloom as an appreciation of telling the truth (and our great relationship with the child who felt comfortable confessing)

rain on a picnic outing for the value it brings to making things grow (and appreciation for the shelter at the park where we can still have our picnic)

the loss of a job to help us focus on pursuing a better job or our own business

a family crisis for the appreciation it brings in bringing people together and strengthening ties

an earthquake for the appreciation of new buildings designed to withstand earthquakes, the emergency-preparedness of the community, the people who come together in times of tragedy, the emergency workers and the opportunities to re-build in new ways.

Tragedies serve to remind us to appreciate what’s important: people, our pets, the joy of life and being present.

In times of appreciating great unwanted contrast, others may feel that we are not truly caring. But appreciating unwanted contrast is truly caring: it’s caring about how we feel enough to not re-tell the unwanted contrast story that digs a hole of pity and sorrow so deep that we become depressed! It’s caring in a way that helps us find peace with where we are right now. In doing so, we are offering ourselves and others a focused energy of appreciation, peace and love in being OK with “what is,” as we anticipate better times ahead.

Appreciating Great Quotes – Day 13

I just love a great quote. There are so many fun and inspiring quotes from all kinds of people and the internet makes it easy to look for them on any subject and it’s a great place to share them (emails, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google+, etc.). I often spend time looking at great quotes for my contribution to my day job’s “House Organ Online,” an online communication tool sent to all the office employees. I like to start my posts with an inspirational quote. I find that great quotes inspire people to dream big, create, laugh, ponder and reflect. I love the feeling of a great quote that invokes in me an “I wish I said that” feeling and I especially love quotes that make me chuckle!

I have so many quotes that I just adore but I’ll only list a few of them here for today. I’d love to read some of your favorite quotes, so please feel free to leave yours in the comments.

My happiness depends upon me so you’re off the hook. – Abraham-Hicks

The time is relax is when you don’t have time for it. – Sydney Harris

True friends stab you in the front. – Oscar Wilde

Hitch your wagon to a star. -Ralph Waldo Emerson

The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched – they must be felt with the heart. – Helen Keller

Appreciating Making Videos – Day 12

I appreciate the ease of technology in making videos! I just love watching videos and can really get inspired by many on YouTube. I love making videos using photography (much of it my own). I get inspired by making videos and can stay up for hours once I get started creating!

This one is a video I did using Animoto. I was inspired to make a video where one could watch and listen to get in that “feel good” emotional grid – a concept from the works of Abraham-Hicks.

I hope you enJOY!

Appreciating Blogs -Day 11

I really appreciate blogs. It is such a cool thing to find interesting blogs and people who are writing about every topic imaginable. I like a lot of things, so it is pretty fair to say that I like a lot of blogs. But there are blogs that I really, really like: ones that are inspiring, entertaining or have great photos. I have a very small list of some of my favorite blogs to the right under BLOG LOVE. I invite you to check them out and see if there is something there you can appreciate, too. In the meantime, I invite to take my poll about what attracts you to reading/viewing blogs.

Appreciating Banana Bread – Day 10

It may seem as if my posts are “random” but any energy of appreciation is a very good thing. We can appreciate little things, big things, major events, people, circumstances, and just ANYTHING. The important part is to remember to appreciate!

As part of my renewed commitment to post in my 41 days of Appreciating Rampages Facebook group, I’m now on Day 10 and today I’m appreciating banana bread! It’s something I grew up with and something I love to bake. My mom taught me to throw those ripe bananas in the freezer for a “rainy day of baking” later and then defrost them when you want to do some batches. This is how I bake banana bread.

It’s a great feeling knowing that I’m not wasting the bananas that ripen, and that I’m creating something really yummy that I can then share with my world of family and friends. As I usually bake several batches at once, I always end up giving some to others and that feels really good.

Some people look for evidence in their bank account to “see” abundance showing up in their lives. The beauty of a daily practice of appreciation is that one can see and feel many signs of abundance. I appreciate that banana bread is one of the signs of great abundance in my life. So thank you, banana bread! It feels good to make you, to share you with others and you taste delicious, too!

Appreciating Origami – Day 9

I’ve always loved origami, although I’m not such a master of it. I love how a simple piece of paper can be folded and folded and folded to make all kinds of shapes. I love the variety of origami papers to choose from, too!

Last year I had the opportunity to try my hand again at origami during a work event with a visiting Japanese delegation.

The photos represent my creation: easy (as long as I have someone to show me how to do it!), and beautiful.

I Appreciate Gardening – Day 8

Growing up in Iowa, I never had trouble growing anything. The soil is so rich and everywhere it’s like top soil. But here in New York, the soil around me has red tones and I’ve found a whole lot of extra work is required to make things grow. So I’ve experimented with some container gardening and I have to say that I really like it. Whether it’s planted directly in the ground or in a planter, I love the excitement of seeing seed grow into plants, and plants into vegetables, fruits or herbs. This year I’m trying some container strawberries. I can’t wait to taste them! I love checking in frequently and talking to my plants to encourage them to keep growing and I especially love the end result! Yes, I talk to my plants! I love and appreciate gardening for I know how I take care of the plants, and know exactly that everything is truly “organic.” I love gardening!

Appreciating Firefighters – Day 7

I appreciate firefighters! They put their lives in danger for the safety of all of us. We could easily take them for granted but when we’re in need, they are there! Whether they are the first responders to a health emergency, a cat stuck in a tree, or a raging house fire or forest fire, all of their service to the community is greatly appreciated! In my lifetime, I’ve had a house fire and a health emergency where the firefighters were the first to respond to the scene. I truly appreciate that we can dial 911 and they’ll show up – FAST. And they are trained and equipped to know exactly what to do. I appreciate that!

Not everyone wants to be a firefighter and I’m glad for those that do! So I’m saying a big THANK YOU to all firefighters out there- and a special hug to the volunteer firefighters! Without you all, our lives might just go up in smoke. 🙂 Thank you so much for your service.

I Appreciate Trees – Day 6

I love trees. I have always loved trees. There is something majestic about them. I love all kinds of trees, and especially deciduous trees: I love the changes each season. I love a tree full of leaves in the middle of the summer, with its leaves that make a rustling music with the wind. They sing their own song while they provide a quiet shade from the hot sun of sizzling summer days. The autumn leaves of all colors that so gently fall to the ground create works of art in the sky as well as on the ground when the pile of leaves lay below. There’s something so fun about playing in a pile of leaves! Winter branches remind me of the cycle of life: the transitions from life on this planet to moving on to a higher place, and taking time to rest, reflect and renew for the upcoming springtime. Spring buds give such promise and excitement of a new birth, new lives and new journeys that blossom once again into summer fullness. The cycle repeats. Change is indeed inevitable and the tree grows stronger.