I’m grateful for all the continued chatter in various online venues to raise awareness of the Dopamine Challenge. I am also grateful for everyone reading and participating. Many of you aren’t sharing here with me, but be sure and keep a written record of your positive experiences and your new gratitudes each day. I welcome your participation anytime you want to share. And for those of you just now discovering our quest – start today! There was nothing magical about starting on February 13, except I had time over the weekend to gather my thoughts in preparation!
Gratitudes
- Cheryl shared with me another great TED Talk by Drew Dudley
- Sally illuminated for me a new definition of meditation
- Access to the cultural arts
- Having the capacity to perform acts of kindness
- Time and freedom to pursue personal interests
- Hearing from a sweet friend
- The value of talking with my daughter
Positive Experience
My positive experience took less than five minutes to transpire, but the result of a brief conversation on Twitter has filled my heart all day long. Yesterday I mentioned that for the purpose of this exercise, meditation is the most challenging for me. Today, my friend Sally reminded me “how often we trick ourselves into thinking we’re not doing something right just because others do it different.” Sally helped me see that meditation can be “presence in moment,” which she explained can be as simple as “Pausing, seeing, feeling, being at one with, carrying that with you and yes, gratitude – it’s definitely a method!”
Has anyone else experienced these beautiful moments of meditation? I am grateful to Sally for illuminating for me the possibilities of presence and meditation.
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My “positive experience” excitement yesterday (along with all the “usual” ones!) was that I went to an oil class on portrait painting. For years, I’ve promised myself that, when I had time, I would take oil painting classes. Who knew “when I had time” was such a limiting obstacle?
So, I broke out, signed up, and attended! (Even though it meant ignoring 2 potential coinciding appointments.)
Wow! It felt so good to do something totally and absolutely just for me and just for fun! I hope this proves to be addicting!
Gratitudes from day one:
1. An ever-loving family
2. The ability to receive a college education
3. Living a life free from illness
What a great experience for you, Karen! And like we’ve discussed before – scheduling time to be creative is critical to your ability to continue being productive in other areas of your life. I can’t wait to see what you painted!
I am grateful for your list, Lindsey. There are so many “core gratitudes” that in many ways ground us, enabling us to see other things around us that are also amazing. I’m excited you’ve joined the challenge, and can’t wait to see your list grow and expand.
Hi – Is the photo on today’s posting a picture of the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas’ lobby ceiling? I took a photo almost identical to your when I was there!
Deb
My Gratitudes/positives for yesterday were: (1) Having a good conversation with my nephew, Joseph. (2) Actually accomplishing some housework AFTER working all day, (3) My husband serving me a wonderful florentine pasta dish for dinner. (4) Keeping my son. Patrick, off the internet for most of the evening. (5) Watching an Audrey Hepburn movie, “The Nun” on TCM. (6) Sorting and getting rid of two boxes of old papers and receipts. (7) Leaving work while it was still light outside. (8) Knowing that my pantry is stocked enough for about a year – working toward my goal of minizing all market expenses by 50% this year. (9) Started a vacation fund jar for this summer. (10) Learning at work that multitasking is a myth! (from a professional neuroscientist!) I have an exercise I can share with everyone to demonstrate how impossible multitasking really is!
It sure is! Beautiful, right?!
Gratitude, Day One, right now
1. Sleeping pup at my feet.
2. Sound of my kids laughing as they play upstairs.
3. Work that I love … even when details get bumpy, like today.
4. Falling rain reminding me of continuous changes and growth in life.
5. Good coffee when I’m feeling sleepy on rainy afternoons : )
Thank you Arminda for starting this amazing gratitude stream for us. Reading what others have written and sharing has perked me up from a little case of the blahs. Thanks girlfriend!
I don’t know why I didn’t respond sooner to this, Cheryl! But I love your list! Those are all gratitudes that resemble my life, as well, and so I can easily be in each of those moments with you and a peace fills my heart. Thank you for participating and for your willingness to share your gratitudes “out loud” with the rest of us!