The Power of Gratitude!
by Cyndi Paxton Johnson
It’s easy to be grateful when everything is going our way – there’s no talent in it. In fact, when things ARE going well we tend to become complacent, to take good news and good fortune for granted.
And then something happens that reminds us to appreciate every moment. This week the terrible reminder came in the form of a horrific earthquake in Haiti. The devastating loss of life from the quake has turned into the tip of the iceberg. Now people that survived the quake are dying from hunger, lack of drinkable water and simple injuries.
In the year 2010 – when we, as a people, can do damn near anything – how is this possible? And if we feel helpless, watching the victims on television, how do the family members of those trapped in that devastation deal with their terror? How do any of us move beyond that which terrifies us to achieve a positive result?
First, recognize that fear is the flame that can quickly consume us. Fear not only stops us from going forward, it can quite literally kill us. People have died from fear – we can cause our own hearts to stop beating. But how do we overcome fear?
Start with gratitude. Don’t laugh – there’s ALWAYS time for gratitude. Make a list – right now. As Anthony Robbins says, ask “What’s positive about this situation?” If you can’t quite wrap your mind around that concept, try asking “If something WERE positive about this situation – what would it be?” You might have to start with the ridiculous….”Well, at least my car’s not buried under elephant poop!” (I’ve seen that – in NYC – it WASN’T pretty – and could DEFINITELY mess up your entire day!)
Start laughing – then work on your gratitude list! Maybe you’re grateful the damage wasn’t as bad as it could have been. Or you’re grateful to have been blessed by someone’s love and presence – if only for a short time. Only by truly feeling grateful for the gifts in your life can you move past the hardships and the fear.
Once you’ve lost that “deer in the headlights” look by focusing on the positive, it’s time to turn gratitude to ACTION! Do something positive and feel better about yourself and the world! Start a foundation to help a group or cause, volunteer your time one weekend, send a few dollars to help the earthquake victims. Better yet, canvass your neighborhood, gathering others to work with you for a worthwhile cause.
After all – why shouldn’t they feel grateful and wonderful, too! Remember – it all starts with the power of gratitude!
Murphy's Law of Summer Gardens
by Cyndi Paxton Johnson
Almost every Spring I succumb to the allure of Earth, warmth and bounty. I buy endless seeds and plants, I dig beds, fertilize, and plan. I'm always so proud when the sprouts poke through the earth, announcing the plentiful abundance of things to come.
From there things go downhill for me. Some years, I don't transplant quickly enough, and the sprouts crumple like ice cream on a hot sidewalk. Other times I manage to transplant - but weather or birds quickly destroy my fledgling sprouts. Sometimes they just flatly refuse to grow (other times I forget they need regular watering - SHHH!).
This year I knew the deer and rabbits would attack my garden like hungry children after a birthday cake. I delayed my planting until we had installed a protective fence around the majority of my garden. I replanted my seedlings, added more fertilizer and watered every morning. Finally - I was going to have a bumper crop!!! I'd planted enough tomatoes and peppers to ensure we'd have salsa all year thru! (I lost a few plants to the construction workers, who dumped a load of dirt on them!)
And then I recalled that my husband ALWAYS refers to my spring planting frenzy as "the annual immediately to the gardening gods". First, my lovely tomatoes are all ROTTEN on the bottom. (I'm told I watered a bit TOO frequently). No problem - I'll stop watering everyday - and the REST of the tomatoes will be wonderful!
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