spiritedstrider – Page 4 – Appreciation Magic

I Love New York! – Day 19

I love New York! Why? Here’s a short list! Central Park, Times Square, Soho, The Village, Riverside Park, Union Square, Bronx Zoo, Brooklyn Botannical Garden, Snug Harbor Cultural Center in Staten Island, Broadway shows, off-Broadway shows, off-off Broadway shows, the Staten Island ferry, Statue of Liberty, pizza, cheesecake, bagels, delis, the tourists, 4th of July fireworks, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade, Rockefeller Center, Christmas tree lighting, public transportation, taxis, ferries, bridges galore, JFK airport, Coney Island, Rockaway Beach, museums, museums, museums, art, art, art, film, Tribeca, Tribeca Film Festival, Chelsea, Hell’s Kitchen, Garment district, Chelsea Market, Chelsea Piers, bike lanes, Wall street, Chinatown, Chinatown shopping, Chinese noodles at Wo Hop in Chinatown, the opera, Lincoln Center, Shakespeare in the Park, Public Theater, the Greenbelt, fashion, department stores, Grand Central Station, the Northeast Corridor line connecting cities, boardwalks, fishing piers, harbor cruises, Brooklyn bridge, the Verrazano bridge, so many bridges!, St. John The Divine, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, the snow removal system, the NYC Parks and Recreation Department, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, online grocery delivery, order delivery or takeout all hours of the night, Century 21, the Freedom Tower, Empire State Building, tradition, ethnic foods, the many varieties of Chinese food mixed with other ethnic spices and flavors (like Chinese Jamaican Spanish food!), delicious Italian food, US Open, Knicks or Nets?, Jets or Giants?, Mets or Yankees?,cheap places, expensive places, free concerts, baseball games, diversity at the grocery store, friendly New Yorkers who willingly give directions with a recommendation on what’s good to eat at the destination, and the whole world is represented here!

Appreciating Treasures – Day 18

I always was fascinated with the idea of the pot of gold at the end of a rainbow. As a young child, I could find treasures in anything I found outside: a dandelion, a piece of shiny rock, a robin’s egg that fell from a nest, a fossil carved into a rock, or a beach shell. Items like these felt like real treasures to me because they were shiny, colorful, fun, and exciting.

I appreciate today that wonder that I felt as a child for all the treasures I would find. I appreciate that I still find treasures today, when I choose to be more observant and present. I appreciate living in the present moment for the treasures that it reveals all around me. I appreciate the treasures of family, friends, and colleagues who shine up my life with joy. I appreciate that anything and anyone can be seen as a treasure in life, if I appreciate!

Appreciating Mondays – Day 17

Monday, Monday! What feeling do you get when you think of Mondays? A lot of people don’t like Mondays because it means they have to go to work after the weekend off. But a little appreciation can go a long ways in making Mondays marvelous!

I appreciate Mondays for the beginning of my work week as a symbol of the abundance in my life. I have a job that I appreciate very much, so waking up on Monday mornings to get ready for work is a blessing!

I also appreciate Mondays because it reminds me of an old Mamas and Papas song that I like. So this Monday morning, I’m singing along to it!

I also appreciate Mondays because I got back to my Weight Watchers meetings and my favorite leader is there on Monday nights. She’s an inspiration with her 100 pounds lighter body and her inspirational attitude.

I also appreciate that if I look for and expect great things today, I will have a Marvelous Monday!

I Appreciate Following My Own Path – Day 16

Life presents us with choices in life and there are many! Society, family, friends and “experts” may tell us what we “should” do. Decisions are made: some with regret, but living a life of regret serves no real purpose than to make yourself unhappy. While others may mean well, these influences can guide us, but if we don’t follow what lights our fire, life won’t be a lot of fun. I don’t know about you, but I believe that life is supposed to be fun! If we’re not having much fun, then it’s time to follow a different path.

I haven’t always followed my own gut instincts, but when I do, I get a confirmation every time that this is the way that makes me happy. I appreciate today that I am following my own path. I appreciate my “knowing” that when I’m feeling passionate and “on fire” about something, that it’s a Divine message that I’m following my purpose in life.

I have to say that I am getting really good at this. Perhaps I am just listening more as I grow older, or perhaps it’s part of life’s cycle of maturity in that I don’t give a hoot what others think! 😉 I don’t really care to analyze it – just appreciate it!

I appreciate that my way is my way and most likely different from yours. It would get too crowded if we all went the same way! (hee hee). So go your own way and appreciate yourself for the wisdom in knowing that this way is the path of your purpose. If you’re not feeling it, then turn around and try a new way. You won’t get lost if you follow your passion in life.

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 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!