Monday, April 16, 2007

Gratitude


Last night I was meditating on all the things for which I'm grateful. My mind is not always cooperative. One minute I'm grateful and the next I'm wondering if I remembered to turn something off or if I remembered to feed one of the animals or are the kids sleeping, on and on. I spend a lot of my meditation time getting my mind back on track until I am actually feeling grateful...then it comes easily.

I was thinking last night that I need something that will help me remain focused. I suppose I'm a tactile person. That's something I'm learning about myself as I become more interested in different styles of art and craft.

I started thinking (you realize all of this is while I'm supposed to be meditating on the things for which I'm grateful, right? LOL)about prayer beads and it dawned on me that I could make Gratitude Beads. Something to hold onto and even use to mark off...to make a beginning and an ending..because sometimes if you're really blessed, you run out of time to meditate before you run out of things to be grateful for. I immediately turned on the light and wrote down "Gratitude beads" and then wrote "Thank you" because that just came to me and I am grateful for it. I then went back to my meditating ...praying...whatever you like to call your conscious connecting with the Creator and Source.

I like these but I was in a hurry to have them so I didn't really make them as long as I'd like. I used beads I had handy. I'm going to go buy some special beads and make some longer ones. I love the ones on my SoulCollage Cards that are really long and actually wrap around the hand.

I hope everyone is well today. The wind was really wild here last night. I foresee a nice nap because I slept very little last night. I got up and lit an oil lamp for a while, just in case the power went off. I felt like a mother lion or something because I felt sure I could have slept fine if the boys hadn't been here, but I walked the floors making sure limbs weren't bursting through the roof to hurt my babies, checking the weather to be sure I didn't need to move everyone to the basement. I am so grateful that it wasn't necessary because getting Lois down there would have been quite a challenge.

Today the sun is out and while it's still chilly and windy, it's beautiful and happy looking. :)

Have a wonderful week everyone. Love you all.

15 comments:

Lisa Oceandreamer Swifka said...

This is a FANTASTIC idea...and one I may adopt to try and keep focused. My mind is like a buzzing hive so that I can never just rest completely calm and reflect. I am a tactile person as well and using each bead as a means of counting blessings is wonderful.
Thank you.
We've had horrible winds here too and now allergies are kicking up. I've been hearing of the weather on your side of the country and hope all are safe. I love that your mother lion kicks in no matter the age of your children.
Sending you love and light,
Lisa
XOXO

gma said...

Lisa...The beads were truely an inspiration....you were focused enough to recieve.
Once I heard someone say....picture a peaceful scene at a lake....then sure enough a motorboat goes whizzing by.
LOL

PennyBlue said...

Cool beans! I've made Chaplets before representing the Fruits of the Spirit. I like the idea of Gratitude beads!

Anonymous said...

Wonderful idea Froggy!!!! That's what I do too..hehehehehehe I have ideas floating around up there and they'll pop out when I'm relaxing. I'll have so many things going on in my head!!!I'm glad that I'm not the only one! :) Wonderful idea tooo! YOU GOO GIRL!
*HUGS*

homespun living said...

It turned out very pretty, Lisa! I'm glad you have sunshine ~ here, it is very nasty with wind and rain, maybe snow later.
Debbie

Mrs. Goodneedle said...

The gratitude beads are inspired! There's been wicked, wild wind here too; thank goodness all is well today.

Pam Aries said...

I am thinking about you..I just saw the news about virginia Tech...

Lisa said...

Thanks Pam. Tim's mom mentioned it this morning but I had no idea of the scope of it until an hour or so ago. It's really shocking.

gilfling said...

These are a beautiful and wonderful idea. I am far too easily distracted and I feel that just to spend a few minutes at the beginning and end of the day would really enable me to appreciate, think and plan, to be focused on the things are grateful for, and the things I would like to achieve for that day. Wonderful

Kate Robertson said...

Great idea Lisa, similar to buddhist Mala beads. I was always going to make one of those but now a gratitude bead set sounds like a better idea.
Thanks for the insiration.

Kate

Dot said...

Lisa, what a great idea! I think you are right on track with your journey right now. And your intuition is working beautifully.

I am very tactile too and love the idea of gratitude beads. That sits with me very well.

So pleased that life is unfolding in beautiful ways for you. That makes me SO happy..

Janet said...

I love the idea of Gratitude beads. I have so much trouble staying focused....my mind always wanders off on its own!!

Melissa said...

What an absolutely FABULOUS idea!!

Marcia said...

a wonderful idea. I think just carrying them with you would be a reminder to enjoy life. I think you've hit upon something, by jove!

Crafty Green Poet said...

lovely idea and they look great too!