One of my favorite activities is something that brings so much joy and juiciness that I do it all throughout the day. It enlivens and energizes me when I feel like I am running a quart low. It puts a big ‘ol smile on my face when I feel my cheeks sagging a bit.  It lightens my step and my load. It costs nothing and is, in fact, priceless. It is simply this:  counting my blessings.  It is so easy at times, to get caught up in what seems not to be ‘going my way’..translated to how I, in my ‘infinite wisdom and desires’ think things oughta be.  As I mentioned in the Sweet Surrender entry, there is always a choice…to resist what is or embrace and learn from it. More often, I am choosing the latter.

I consider my blessings as an endlessly flowing stream of good in which I get to swim and a waterfall under which I get to stand and bask. Good thing I like water, having been a water baby-competitive swimmer-lifeguard-coach.  It never runs dry and is easily replenished, each time I offer thanks. Some of my streams include treasured family and friends, creative work that I love and that serves the healing of the planet, deep and abiding Spiritual practice, enjoyment of music and dance, drumming and yoga, healthy strong, fit  body that I take better care of than ever before, my newly birthed Bliss Book, stretching my comfort zones in new adventures, a first time trip to Arizona recently, attending the Celebrate Your Life Conference, and visiting friends in Sedona, abundance in all areas of my life, a sense of humor that gets me through challenges, learned resilience, an ongoing connection with my parents who have passed over. When I consider all of this, I sigh in delight.

For me, every day is Thanksgiving Day. No matter where you are and who you are with, please take even a few moments in the stillness of your mind and fullness of your heart to express appreciation for all that you have and all that you are.  It will be sweeter than pumpkin pie with a dollop of whip cream, I promise.

Waterfall by Cris Williamson
Sometimes it takes a rainy day
Just to let you know
Everything’s gonna be – all right
All right

I’ve been dreaming in the sun
won’t you wake me up someone
I need a little piece of mind

Wake me from this dream
That I have dreamed so many times
I need a little piece of mind
Oh, I need a little piece of mind

When you open up your life to the living
All things come spilling in on you
And you’re flowing like a river
the Changer and the Changed
You’ve got to spill some over
Spill some over
Spill some over
Over all

Filling up and spilling over
It’s an endless waterfall
Filling up and spilling over
Over all

Filling up and spilling over
It’s an endless waterfall
Filling up and spilling over
Over all

Like the rain, falling on the ground
Like the rain, falling all around….

Sometimes it takes a rainy day
Just to let you know
Everything’s gonna be – All right
I know, I know, I know all right

Filling up and spilling over
An endless waterfall
Filling up and spilling over
Over all

Filling up and spilling over
It’s an endless waterfall
Filling up and spilling over
Over all

ah ba bah, ba ba ba dum ba ba da bum ba ba ba ba ba ba ba

ah ba bah, ba ba ba dum ba ba da bam ba ba ba ba ba ba ba
(4x)
(filling up and spilling over)

More from Beliefnet and our partners