Do you have an abundant life?

I do!  And I am not wealthy.  As a matter of fact, often I live on the very edge financially.  I am not one of those people with thousands of dollars stockpiled in a savings account or in stocks or IRAs.  I don’t even have any credit cards.  I have only what is in my purse and in my checking account.  And sometimes that’s not even enough to buy breakfast.  But most people would never know that because I have a really blessedly abundant life.

I live in a home in the mountains.  I am completely surrounded by natural beauty.  There are majestic snow-capped mountain peaks in my backyard and out my front door is an incredible valley covered by an enormous sky.  Each day as I sit at my computer, I look out over that great gorgeous ever-changing sky. I gaze at the distant mountains on the western horizon.  I watch beautiful sunsets.

Often when I go for a walk, I see gentle deer grazing among the pinon and juniper trees.  I may hear ravens or magpies.  I may see a scampering chipmunk.  In the evening, I eagerly await the song of the coyotes.  And at night I gaze with wonder at the brilliant stars in the vast black canopy over my head.

I have food in my kitchen and most of the time I have gas in my car.  I have a home that’s warm in the winter and cool in the summer.  I have good health.  I have a loving family and oodles of really wonderful friends.  The people I love are my greatest blessings.

What are your blessings?  Even if you do not like where you live, even if you hate your job, even if you have a totally dysfunctional family, even if you don’t feel well, I bet if you tried, you could find things to be grateful for.

Are you breathing?  Congratulations!  You’re alive!  Are you walking?  Congratulations!  You have legs!  Can you speak?  Congratulations!  You have a voice!  Do you have children?  Do you have friends?  Do you have a place to live?  Do you have clothes to wear?  Do you have opportunities – to move, to learn, to love, to walk, to feel the wind through your hair, to feel the sun on your face?

If you look, you will find blessings.  And the more blessings you find, the more you will receive.  Gratitude reaps more things to be grateful for.  It just seems to be the way the Universe works.

Many people suggest the spiritual practice of keeping a gratitude journal.  Simply list five things you are grateful for each morning and five things you are grateful for each night.  Or count your blessings before you go to sleep.  Or count them before you rise from bed in the morning.  You will know you’re getting the hang of this gratitude thing when you find yourself living in a place of joy.

So, my friends, this is what I wish for you: 

May blessings abound in your life. 

May you walk each day in a state of gratitude and joy.