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Gratitude Diet: Day 22 — I’ve recently been blessed to teach a weekly yoga class at a local studio. After this Monday’s class, a fellow yogi and I talked about the practice of yoga for an hour. And we could have gone on for hours more. I love yoga! It’s been a part of my life for so long now I can’t imagine life without it. Many think of yoga as only a set of stretching postures (asanas) where practitioners bend themselves into crazy animal shapes. (Down dog, anyone?) But yoga is so much more than that. It’s movement, breath, energy, philosophy, a lifestyle, a perspective, self awareness, meditation and more. Yoga means unity. When we practice yoga (syncing our breath and movement) we calm and focus our minds and rejuvenate and energize our bodies, leaving us more relaxed, happy and peaceful. Yoga opens up a whole world of benefits for the body, mind and spirt. And ultimately, if we practice it long enough and faithfully enough, it raises our consciousness so that we may experience the essence of Spirit and our connection to It. The stress of our 21st century living cries out for yoga and its refuge of peace and wisdom. And I’m so happy and thankful I have it in my back pocket to carry me through life. If you’re interested in starting a yoga practice, hit me up. I’d love to share what I know and point you in the right direction. Namaste! #GratitudeDiet #NoComplaints #JustPraisesandThanks Gratitude Diet: Day 24 —Today is Christmas Eve and I am elated to be spending it with my family! The delicious food, the games, the fun gift exchange, the karaoke, the smiles, laughs, songs, friendships and the love. Today, I am thankful for our Christmas traditions and the holiday joy! I pray you all will be blessed by the peace and joy of the season now and throughout the new year. Merry Christmas, y’all! #GratitudeDiet #NoComplaints #JustPraisesandThanks  Gratitude Diet: Day 25 — Well, today is an easy one. I’m grateful for Christmas! I hope you are enjoying yours! #GratitudeDiet #NoComplaints #JustPraisesandThanks Gratitude Diet: Day 26 — My phone rang and my friend’s named popped up on it. I answered quickly as I was happy to hear from her. Always pleasant, I could hear her smiling as we talked. We chatted for a short while and then I noticed her voice change. A more serious tone replaced the cheery one and her smile vanished. She started, “I don’t know if you got my email…” I interrupted, explaining I had just popped open my email and noticed she sent something but I hadn’t had the chance to view it before her call. She continued, pacing herself, breaking the news gently. A dear friend of ours had suffered a heart attack. She didn’t have all the details, but she’s knows he’s in the hospital in intensive care. We were both shocked. Here’s a friend who seemed to be so active and in such great health. It sadness us to think that our dear sweet, loving friend (and his lovely wife) are going through such an ordeal. Before our call ended, my friend asked me to add our sick friend to my prayers; and I most certainly will. I am praying for his healing and his complete recovery to a full, happy and healthy life. And I am believing in that healing for him. Today, I am grateful for God’s healing which resides within us and around us. It’s one of the most miraculous things. We can cut ourselves and the tissues will regrow leaving little to no trace. Bones can be broken and reset. Children can regrow a fingertip after amputation. Some diseases can be completely cured. And most of us heal completely after a bout of the common cold with all its nasty varieties. Our immune systems are constantly fighting a slew of viruses, bacteria, toxins, pollutants and other substances that can make us sick. But most days our immune systems are the victors and we count ourselves healthy and well. When you think about all those things, being alive is actually a miracle in itself. And God’s healing, whether it comes through the hands of a surgeon, a shaman, a pill or a bottle of NyQuil, is pretty amazing and miraculous too. And today, I am thankful for it and counting on it. #GratitudeDiet #NoComplaints #JustPraisesandThanks  Gratitude Diet: Day 27 — Today, I am so super grateful for something that I cannot reveal on Facebook. Lol! So instead I’ll be thankful for spa days and massages because (after carrying around heavy bags today) my shoulders and neck could really use a great massage. I’m all about self care; and adding spa days to my calendar is essential. For me, dedicating a whole day to relieving stress, relaxing and detoxing is a necessary indulgence. It's one of my favorite treats. What's your favorite self care treat? #GratitudeDiet #NoComplaints #JustPraisesandThanks  Gratitude Diet: Day 28 — I ran into a familiar face at the grocery store today. It was one of my neighbors. We probably hadn’t seen each other since spring. She introduced me to another lady who was formerly a neighbor and the three of us chatted a bit there in the frozen food aisle. We talked about hanging out at the pool together over the summer as well as practicing yoga together. And those are certainly things to look forward to. What I’m grateful for today is community, those familiar places and faces that bring us enjoyment, connection and make us feel like we belong. Whether you find your community on the golf course, the basketball court, the coffee shop or the PTA, I wish you many happy and fulfilling connections that bring you camaraderie and joy. #GratitudeDiet #NoComplaints #JustPraisesandThanks  Gratitude Diet: Day 29 — Today, I visited the African American Museum of Dallas to view their exhibition — Slavery at Jefferson’s Monticello: Paradox of Liberty. It featured items from Monticello owned by Thomas Jefferson’s family and the slaves he owned. More importantly, the exhibition presented the slave families of Monticello and humanized them by giving their names, revealing their family trees and telling the stories of their lives (albeit with the sparse details available.) Exhibits like this are so important. We must never forget how difficult their lives were and how much pain and humiliation they endured daily! Exhibitions, books and films on slavery always bring up a lot of heavy emotions in me - sadness and anger are always resident. But something else stirs within me too - pride. It's pride that says, "Look at what your ancestors built. Look at this great country made from their hard labor, sweat, blood and broken bodies. Look at how they survived hate, abuse and systematic oppression. You see that?! Your people are survivors, founders, warriors." As pride rises, anger begins to fade into the background and I find myself standing taller, far far beyond the height of my physical stature. See that's what standing on the shoulders of your ancestors will do. Today, I am thankful for the strength and resilience of my ancestors and all those of African-American descent who endured the inhumanity of slavery. To treated as a human is reasonable, to be treated as an equal is righteous and to be treated as less than human is deplorable. The legacy of slavery is still very real. Despite our many successes, African-Americans as a whole have yet to overcome the effects of slavery. We are still in the struggle. I pray one day we'll all exhibit the great strength and resilience of our ancestors. #GratitudeDiet #NoComplaints #JustPraisesandThanks  Gratitude Diet: Day 30 — Today, I’m thankful for my Sunday Night Movie Night with two of my favorite ladies in the world. It’s been a fantastic weekend and a great end to the year. #GratitudeDiet #NoComplaints #JustPraisesandThanks
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Gratitude Diet: Day 15 — Today is the last day to sign up for health insurance through the Health Insurance Marketplace. Though I started looking up plans early, I waited until today to choose a plan as I deliberated long and hard over which one was the best for me. Save money with the lower premium on A? Or have more peace of mind choosing B? I wish there were better choices and that health care was more affordable. The Affordable Care Act needs a lot of fixing. Unfortunately, most of the Republicans in Congress refuse to work with Democrats to fix it. They would rather try their hardest to tear it down and see it fail than find a win-win solution that benefits us all. And it’s really a shame because affordable health care should be a basic human right. After all, there is no “life, liberty and pursuit of happiness” when you’re dead, too sick to work or too poor to pay for health care. Today, I’m thankful for my good health and health insurance. I’m also thankful for the right to vote, to rally, to protest, to resist, and to write and call my representatives to voice my opinion on policy and to hold them accountable. I hope you’re thankful for those rights too. Let’s use them to create the changes this country so desperately needs. Don’t sleep! Power is dangerous in the hands of the greedy, the ignorant or the few. #GratitudeDiet #NoComplaints #JustPraisesandThanks Gratitude Diet: Day 16 — Sunday is usually family-filled for me and it is such a blessing. So, today I am grateful for all my family - all the love, hugs, support, long conversations, family dinners, road trips, walks, laughs, birthday cakes, sweet memories and more. I have the best family ever and I love you all! #GratitudeDiet #NoComplaints #JustPraisesandThanks Gratitude Diet: Day 17 — It’s time for bed so I retire upstairs for the evening. As I begin to settle in, I hear a noise downstairs. I’m puzzled. It doesn't sound like any of the normal house noises or the washing machine which is running mid-cycle. I think “What was that?” I hear the noise again. I pause to decipher it. It sounds like paper rattling. Then I quickly realize it can be nothing other than the mischievous family dog. Deciding to watch his latest caper to see what he is truly up to, I slowly walk down the stairs, making sure not to hit a squeaky one. I peer over the banister to find him gnawing and pawing at a big bag of dog food! I caught him red handed! 🤔 Or, shall I say wet-nosed? There he was trying to put together a little midnight snack without anyone knowing. He was taking advantage of the fact that the dog food bag was bigger than usual and hadn't fit completely into its plastic container. Our dog is always up to something. After 13 years, he still can’t be trusted and his mischievous acts never cease to amaze. He’ll dig through your purse to find a snack - be it emory boards, business cards or anything else made of paper. He’ll eat artwork, money, your socks and your homework, just to name a few. So, today, I am thankful for our mischievous cockapoo. He’s provided us with lots of laughs, entertainment and, Lord knows, he’s increased my patience probably threefold at the very least. 😂 #GratitudeDiet #NoComplaints #JustPraisesandThanks  Gratitude Diet: Day 18 — We are one week away from the big day. All the prepping, decorating and shopping is almost done and we can finally settle into the enjoyment of Christmas Day. The holiday season is often busy and stressful, but how joyous and peaceful it is when we focus on the real reason for the season - Jesus and his incredible message of love for one another, compassion, understanding and forgiveness. No matter what religion we are, I think that’s a universal message we can all celebrate. Today, I am thankful for Jesus, that beautiful Christ Spirit. Wishing you all a happy holiday and the peace and joy of the season. Much love! #GratitudeDiet #NoComplaints #JustPraisesandThanks  Gratitude Diet: Day 19 - This is one of my favorite poems since childhood. It reminds me to be thankful for that ever-growing pile of dishes in the kitchen sink. And I am truly thankful for for them. #GratitudeDiet #NoComplaints #JustPraisesandThanks Gratitude Diet: Day 20 — Today, I came home to find my cousin had returned home from college for the holidays. Having no idea she was already home, I was quite surprised. And what a beautiful surprise it was! It was a joy to see her smiling face and to hear the excitement and happiness in her voice. Today, I am thankful for pleasant surprises, especially those filled with so much love! #GratitudeDiet #NoComplaints #JustPraisesandThanks Gratitude Diet: Day 21— About 6:30pm today I was drained and sleepy. I was so tired I was pretty sure I could have gone to bed for the night at that very moment. But seeing how 6:30pm is far from my normal bed time, I decided to stay up despite wanting to crawl under the covers. Needing a boost of energy, I opened up Spotify to find some tunes to power me through the rest of the day. After 30 minutes or so I was singing, dancing, snapping my fingers, energized and wide awake. I love music! I love how it can take me down memory lane and make me fifteen again, lift my spirits, send me daydreaming or make me dance so hard I think I’m one of the Jacksons - uh, Janet or Michael, of course. 😄 Lol! So, today, I am thankful for music and all the tunes that have become the soundtrack of my life. What power music has to move, to motivate and to connect to our emotions. And when music is sacred, it can also bring us into deep self awareness and devotion, raise our consciousness and open our hearts. Every day, I’ve got an “earworm” and a chant in my heart, making me move or bringing my joy. And I am thankful. #GratitudeDiet #NoComplaints #JustPraisesandThanks   Gratitude Diet: Day 8 — Today, I am thankful for peace. And we need a lot more of it in this world. But if we can find peace in ourselves and create more of it in both our inner and outer environments then we are really lucky. But this luck isn't for a few; it's for all of us. We all have the ability to access great peace. Whether we find peace in prayer, meditation, nature, playing an instrument, etc. it's there waiting for us to dive even deeper into it. And we can also create more of it by seeking to be peaceful and loving in our thoughts, words and actions. So let's all up our peace vibration this holiday season and change the world from the inside out. Om. Shanti, shanti, shanti. "Let us therefore, make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification." - Romans 14:19 NIV #GratitudeDiet #NoComplaints #JustPraisesandThanks Gratitude Diet: Day 9 — Over the past couple of months, I have been so blessed to see and experience things that have truly inspired me. I don’t know about you all, but I absolutely love inspiration! I am inspired by people, wisdom, Spirit, acts of kindness, service, nature, art -- the list goes on and on and on. Inspiration excites me and gives me something completely intangible that I can hold on to and feel at my very core. So, today, I am thankful for inspiration and the rich joy it brings to life. #GratitudeDiet #NoComplaints #JustPraisesandThanks Gratitude Diet: Day 10 — Today, I’m feeling it. It’s been a busy weekend and a full Monday so I could use some really good rest. Thinking about turning in for the night and how amazing that is going to feel, I am grateful for good, restful sleep which is one of my favorite things. And it’s something one should never take for granted. Sleep is necessary for the proper functioning of our body and brain. And it gives us the juice to power forward the next day. But I’m not grateful for sleep alone. I’m also thankful for my soft, cozy bed, my nice warm covers and those plump pillows to rest my head on. Sometimes when I lie down to sleep, I think of the people in our world without a home, without a soft, warm place to sleep at night. They make their bed on the streets, under a bridge, in a cardboard box. No protection from the elements. Vulnerable and exposed. I am reminded that my comfort should not be taken for granted. Having a warm bed and a home I count myself among the blessed. And for that, I am thankful. Good night, friends. Sleep well! #GratitudeDiet #NoComplaints #JustPraisesandThanks Gratitude Diet: Day 11 — Man, oh, man! I have met some really cool people over the last two days — actually over the last couple of months. And I know that many of these new acquaintances are destined for friendship. My heart is so full and my spirit is joyful when I think about the amazing friendships I have made in this lifetime. True friendship is one of the sweetest things in life, a great gift from the Divine. And there are few things more special than having someone choose you as their lifelong friend - through the good, the bad, the sad, the fun times and those embarrassing times we’d rather forget. ☺️There is nothing like a friend to help you remember who you really are and that although you are deeply flawed, you are perfectly lovable just the way you are! Dear Friends, whether we’ve been friends for a short while or longer than we both want to admit (because we can’t be that old!), I am so grateful for you today. Thanks for making my life sweeter! I love you all. #GratitudeDiet #NoComplaints #JustPraisesandThanks  Gratitude Diet: Day 12 — When’s the last time you laughed so hard your stomach hurt? Or spent an afternoon on a swing? Or hung upside down from the monkey bars? Been that long, huh? Today, I am grateful for play. Several years back, a wise man told me I needed to play more. And I’ve been trying to follow his advice ever since. And when I do play I feel so much more relaxed, renewed and it makes everything better. Now is a wonderful time of year to think less about work and more about having a good time with friends and family. I hope you get to play over the holidays and that you plan plenty of play in 2019. #GratitudeDiet #NoComplaints #JustPraisesandThanks #KidatHeart Gratitude Diet: Day 13 —Today, I spent a large part of my day working on a project my writing partner and I started quite a while back. You know the saying, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step?” Well, isn’t it surprising when your journey of a thousand miles begins to feel more like a journey of a million miles? Or maybe even a billion? Some days it feels like it would be easier to just hibernate. So today, I am thankful for willpower and perseverance because quitting just won’t do. And well, because I am not a bear. 😃#GratitudeDiet #NoComplaints #JustPraisesandThanks #NeverGiveUpNeverSurrender #ActivatetheOmega13 Gratitude Diet: Day 14 — What I’m grateful for today is depthless, simple and true — pure LOVE. Yep, that Divine Mama Love. Not that “I love you if” or “I love you when” love, but that unconditional, always and forever LOVE that will exist after this universe is long gone. Indeed, it’s the very LOVE that holds the universe together. I wish you all more LOVE. #GratitudeDiet #NoComplaints #JustPraisesandThanks  Gratitude Diet: Day 1 — So, this is it. It’s the first of December, a brand new month and the last one of the year. It’s the perfect time to start on a brand new diet. And no, I’m not going to be starving myself or giving up all the sweet treats of the holidays. Nope, this is a Gratitude Diet. I’m dedicating the next 31 days to thanks and praises and tossing all complaints aside. It’s such a great time of year to reflect on all my blessings and that is exactly what I plan to do. Join me on this diet if you like. 31 days of thanks and not one single complaint. Do you think we can do it? Let’s give it a try. Today, I am thankful for things that make me laugh (like this dog hightailing it across the floor in his cage 😂). What about you? Gratitude Diet: Day 2 — Okay, it's Day 2 of my Gratitude Diet. And today I am thankful for learning. It seems I am always studying something because I love to learn. Today, I spent most of my day studying yoga - not just the physical postures or asanas as they are called, but also the principles and philosophy of yoga. Yogic wisdom is vast and applying it to one's life is transformative. So thankful to have the opportunity to learn as much as I can about this wonderful practice. What are you grateful for today? Gratitude Diet: Day 3 — Alrightee, it's Day 3 of my Gratitude Diet and I've already fallen off the wagon already. Yikes! 😳 Where did I go wrong? Well, the rule of the diet is to be grateful and to eliminate all complaints. And well, early this morning, I complained about the weather. Yep, I did. I'm a spring/summer lover and my body isn't feeling this cooler weather. So forgetting my diet, I let a complaint fly. But truly, I should be thankful for fall because it offers a time to rest and reflect. As much as I love spring and summer, there were several recent years in which I was so busy that I didn't have time to enjoy spring and summer at all. Buried in work and activity, I felt like I had missed those fun months altogether. Those years, I was so happy to welcome fall because I needed the change of pace, and the rest and calm that come with it. There's just something in those changing leaves and crisp air that beckons us to slow down, to rest and reflect and to enjoy the many fruits of our labor. I don’t know about you, but to me the changing colors of the leaves seem to say, “Remember, everything changes. And if you don’t slow down and notice, you may miss something that will soon be gone forever.” So, today, I am thankful for fall and its many lessons on rejuvenation, gratitude and introspection; and I surrender to it. #GratitudeDiet #NoComplaints #JustPraisesandThanks  Gratitude Diet: Day 4 — It’s day 4 of my Gratitude Diet. And today, I am thankful for clarity, that often elusive quality that many of us could probably use a lot more of. Clarity is clear vision, the ability to see beyond our own experiences, prejudices and environmental influences to understand the true essence of something. And it's not always easy to come by. Unfortunately, even the vision we have of ourselves is often clouded. Though I am grateful for clarity, I’m not claiming I have a lot it! But I am thankful for the small bit I do have and faithful that the rest I need is surely to come — in this lifetime or the next! #GratitudeDiet #NoComplaints #JustPraisesandThanks Gratitude Diet: Day 5 — It's been said that our nightly sleep is like death and every morning we rise is like the beginning of a new life. So every morning, we get a chance to start anew, to pick up where we left off or to fix something that's not quite right. Aren't we lucky? Today, I am thankful for second chances. I've used my second chances to fix relationships, to change directions and to pursue a better me. I'm thankful for all my second chances; and I hope to wake up to many, many more. #GratitudeDiet #JustPraisesandThanks #NoComplaints Gratitude Diet: Day 6 -- Two weeks ago, I celebrated Thanksgiving with a wonderful group of new friends half way around the world in India. At that time, we were attending a spiritual assembly at the Yogoda Satsanga Society (YSS) Ranchi ashram in northeast India. That day, while addressing an audience of over a thousand, one of the YSS swamis noted that it was the American holiday of Thanksgiving; and that it's a terrific tradition that more countries are beginning to recognize and celebrate. We Americans export a lot - both good and bad - goods, culture, etc. But Thanksgiving (once we come to terms with its controversial history) is probably one of our best exports to date. So today, I am thankful for the spirit of love and thanksgiving that inspires and reaches all the way around the world. Because though far from home that day, I was surrounded by love and the spirit of gratitude and devotion. And it was beautiful!! Oh, and this is a picture of my Thanksgiving meal. It may not look all that appealing compared to our traditional, holiday fare, but it was quite tasty, especially for ashram food! BTW, I haven't had the opportunity to interview any turkeys in India, but I am sure they are happy so many Indians are vegetarian. 😄 #TBT #GratitudeDiet #JustPraisesandThanks #NoComplaints  Gratitude Diet: Day 7 — It’s the weekend! And I am so thankful for them — sleeping in, staying up late, partying into the night, hanging with my family and my crew, rolling into church on Sunday, a lazy afternoon with a cup of hot tea and a good book. Yep! That’s what weekends are for - bring them on! #GratitudeDiet #JustPraisesandThanks #NoComplaints That's week one. And I'm grateful for it! WIth Gratitude and Love, Anietie |
Anietie
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