SoooGrateful

Today, May 31, 2005 I am SOOOOOO grateful!

From Anne Lamott, Plan B: Further Thoughts on Faith:

“Gratitude, not understanding, is the secret to joy and equanimity.”

So, it is in the “YES” not in the “I’ll figure it out”

It is in the “Opening” not the “being right.”

It is being grateful, not in “having all the answers”…..

Yes, Yes, Yes…..

And as we litter the world with Gratitude, the world litters us with love.

Please add YOUR gratitude thoughts below by clicking COMMENT: and writing whatever pops into your heart, soul, and mind.

I am grateful for…

My clean kitchen

Coffee and special K

Glorious blue sky and singing birds – how I love my birds!

Kevin Lively, who manages to always shift Emma out of whatever doldrums she is in and right into…. “Yes, I’ll do it!”, this time accepting her role in Peter Pan….

Katherine, my steady, kind, wise, ever-happy thirteen-year-old and no, that isn’t an oxymoron

Mayva and her willingness to rehearse one-on-one tonight.

BCT for having a kid’s program for the Summer, especially since Spotlight doesn’t have anything that fits the kid’s schedule this year.

John Ward – for whatever reason he has popped into my world, intriguing… yes.

Paul Pearsall’s book, “The Heart’s Code” which I found again after it was hiding against my now cleaned kitchen wall…. Great,great, great stuff I suppose I wasn’t supposed to read until now!

The “listening” about Courage, Confidence and Charisma…. Yes, Yes, Yes, Yes, Yes!

Today, May 30 I am SOOOOO grateful.....

My walk with Summer, Sam, Katherine, Emma, Hank and Buttercup…. Watching the wonder on Sam’s face as the helicopters dropped water on the fire below the bluffs…. And reveled in the noisiness of the firetrucks and I pray the fire now minimizes the hazards later in the Summer.

The conversation with the photographer on the bluffs about art, math, life, Sondheim, kids and dogs.  You know, this planet CHOCK FULL of really fascinating people if you are open to meeting them… it is amazing.

My Special K, Coffee, and Morning Pages

“Standing for” my show and making sure the set fit the show – without compromising the other shows, too. The set is going to be SOOOO cool and is a way to showcase everything, not only one or only the other…..

My pancake breakthrough –

Hanging out with Kevin Lively at the Peter Pan auditions and his divine pairing with Emma

Taking the time to encourage some of the shy, scared children at the audition yesterday – and being willing to discern what is really up with my not wanting to direct a kid’s show

Tim Fromm, for his excitement and commitment to the One-Acts

Rossie’s invitation

Decision to teach Courage class again – very cool, I am very excited…. HOORAY! Let’s celebrate…. I am sooooo grateful!

Today, May 29 I am soooo grateful for.....

Seeing Hal last night and having a very enlivening conversation with him, although I was probably basking in the glow of his congratulations regarding my “Miracles on

34^th Street

” and his saying, “You are one of the few people I keep up with…” Wow.  How I adore that man and am SOOOO grateful for his (ongoing) presence in my life… and I forgot to say to him “Congratulations on the funding of your FILM!” which will keep him in Bakersfield a bit longer before attending Grad School… hooray, hooray, hooray – another Divine Delivery… especially for me.

Naked Sam – and spending three leisurely meals with him in the last 24 hours. Not rushed, not focused on the next thing, not eating quickly – but thoroughly enjoying his growly, testosterony, eating off my plate self….

Resting on the front lawn last night – feeling the cool grass against my skin – and chatting on the phone to John Ward, one of my newest friends – laughing, laughing, laughing.

Major League Improv last night – ohmigawsh, I got in my quota of laughter and then some – ohmigawsh! Roger’s Pirate Groaner joke, I couldn’t groan, I was laughing too hard!!!!!  And Emma, being a volunteer as a Pillar onstage… I thought she had died and gone to heaven from the expression on her face. And Dana, Dana, Dana – mentioning Anwar Sadat in “Da Do Run Run”?! WOW!

The end of Rocky Horror – I loved it AND am glad it is over, too.

My two new outfits look great on me plus they fit the “I am only wearing interesting clothes from now on” including the 50% off skirt that I learned (thanks to fashion conscious 13-year-old Katherine) is actually….. a Top?!

Laughter, Laughter, Laughter…. Is carbonated holiness… *thank you, in gratitude to Anne Lamott – I finished “Plan B” yesterday – and need to find my next memoir to read!

I am so, so, so, so, sooooo grateful!

What are YOU grateful for?!

With Love,

Julie

Today, May 27, I am SOOOOOO grateful.....

Here it is: something I had wished for over time.. that I finally decided to create.

An online, collaborative Gratitude Journal.  At the bottom of my list, simply click "Comment" and add your Gratitude thoughts for the day.  There is an energizing force within this positive emotion. Hold Gratitude daily and watch your life expand as an unexpected bonus.

Today, May 26, 2005, I am soooooo grateful for....

Being able to see (and “re-see”) Ryan’s face as he received the bouquet of flowers we brought him last night after watching “The Merchant of Venice” at the Empty Space.  What a cool collection of emotions peering through his *completely non poker* face.

Finally having my cast complete for “The Talents” as I gave Marissa a script last night, she will be playing Marissa – hooray hooray hooray

My physical strength which helped me to get Sam home today during our walk – he is almost as stubborn as me, but I edged him out as I lugged him home, crying and whining and complaining for the last five blocks. I used muscles I rarely use and they ache well now.

The day ahead, with no set appointments though many tasks – mostly fun, like gathering props for “The Talents.”

The fact that tonight is my last night offering my skills as Light Operator for “Rocky Horror” – I have enjoyed it AND am glad my contribution is almost complete.

Hank, who always makes me smile and offered excellent entertainment this morning for an older couple who stopped to watch him as Sam laughed and laughed and laughed and we waved – and they waved – and light prevailed across the space.

I am grateful for beginnings – and new beginnings – and conclusions…..

I am soooo grateful.

What are YOU grateful for today? Please click comment and tell us simply ONE thing....

Today, May 25, 2005 - I am sooooo grateful

Once Gratitude is birthed, you will naturally be drawn to take it a step deeper than observing.

Allow it to permeate your being. In the same way as you turn the heat up a notch on your stove, turn the heat up a notch on your gratitude.

Note it, reflect upon it, and see how to apply the lessons you are learning from it. Then, make those applications a reality.

One of the ways we increase the utilization of Gratitude Energy in our lives is to create (and share) Gratitude lists. Please add to the increase by sharing your list here by clicking “Comment” below this post:

Today, May 25, 2005 I am SOOOOO grateful….

I am grateful for my willingness to feel fully – to allow this empty-carafe-shaped-void-space to speak, to be heard, to be understood and to be a building block towards greatness.

I am grateful for my writing practice and daily walk – and today, for reading Anne Lamott’s  Plan B. 

I am grateful for my children’s energy

I am grateful for ceiling fans

I am grateful for paint

I am grateful for my clean clothes

I am grateful for my socks

I am grateful for my friends

I am grateful for Marissa and for Mayva’s husband

I am grateful for time, for love, for gratitude, for awareness

I am grateful for my affiliates

I am grateful for the students who are responding to my invitation now

I am grateful for the exact space I am in right here, right now.

Now: What are YOU grateful for today?

Click COMMENT and add your thoughts here:

What are YOU grateful for today, May 24, 2005?

This Blog was created with one thought in mind: I wanted to create a space for folks to literally spread their Gratitude Lists out into the world – like a living, breathing, community and universal Gratitude Journal.

Please join us today by simply clicking COMMENT at the end of the list and post one thing (or more!) that you are grateful for… and put this site under “Favorites” on your computer and see if you can challenge (and reward!) yourself by coming back and adding your gratitude witness daily….

Today I am SOOOO grateful…..

For this pencil and this notebook

This exact cup of coffee, this exact moment to hear Kathie singing as she readies for her day.

To know “Maurice” is ready to become another “Talent” – hooray!

For the purity and progress I saw at rehearsal last night

For Todd Parr’s “It’s Ok to be Different” book and Emma’s speed reading of it to Sam.

For Anne Lamott – her incredible writing voice and humanity, perfectly sliced

My students, so precious and such gifts to me

Special K

Bananas

Hank, who is always by my side and never annoying

Love, Love, Love… and “For all that has been, Thanks – for all that is yet to be, Yes.” Said so wisely by Dag Hammerskjold, one of my heroes.

What are you grateful for today?

Today, May 23 I am sooooo grateful for....

The clear, crisp, gorgeous sunrise I experienced today

Being cast in “Laugh-In” (yes, a la Rowan and Martin) in a hilarious part – I was looking to have some good, old fashioned fun this summer and you bet your bippy, I think I have found it….

The incredible walk along the bluffs last night with Sam and Emma – enjoying the sacred ambiance of day becoming night, of connection to the infinite and pure love for the other folks who were out there, too.

The ending, once again, of the 42 Days of Passionate Prosperity Program AND the knowledge that it will be coming around again, before I know it AND the excitement to know what a cool space we are moving into –and what incredible growth will happen between now and then…..

Katherine’s sweet kindness, joyful spirit and tenacity.

My writing practice – Julia Cameron, I bow to you –

Kahlil Gibran, again –

The cast of “The Talents”, my One Act for the BCT One Act Festival.

Miss Foley, my first grade teacher – wherever she may be today

Miss Campbell, my fifth grade Chorus teacher – I adored her… and she taught me my first significant lesson in loss – and I am now seeing, once again, the significance of that fifth grade year for me.  Eleven years old – and so much happened that year.

The Spotlight Theatre

Meeting Callum last night – very odd and wonderful all at once

What are YOU grateful for?

I am soooooo grateful and FULLLLL of everything GREAT!

May 22, 2005 - I am soooooo grateful....

Having a very cool discussion with Ashleymarie’s brother who is in the Rocky Horror band. This kid, a senior in high school? My matchmaking mind thinks, in five years, not a bad choice for Katherine to date… oy!

Getting some extra sleep today after keeping myself awake after “Rocky” last night – from 3:45 to 5:30 AM was tough and I did it… and I am grateful for Adela for calling me (once again) to make sure I was on my way to class, which I was – albeit very tired!

My cell phone

Coffee and Diet Coke

My children, even in their loudness

Sam – hooray that he sat through his first ever play, which means he can start “hanging” with the Girls and Me on our theatre romps around town/

Kahlil Gibran

Julia Cameron

Anne Lamott – so enjoying her new book

Everyone in the 42 Days of Passionate Prosperity Program. The experience this time has been remarkable and extraordinary from the very beginning, and now to know we are ending? I am incredibly blessed.

That Katherine and Emma feel better today - hooray, life is feeling normal again with them.....

And that I am not going to work Rocky next Saturday night - although I might be in the audience..... will be happy to contribute on Friday night and then... be complete with it.

What are you grateful for today?

Today, May 21, 2005 I am sooooo grateful....

Gratitude is born out of intentional awareness.

You must be awake and alert to life as it unfolds
in order to be grateful for all that surrounds you.

To do this, simply make the conscious
choice to observe.

Today, May 21, 2005 I am sooooo grateful....

For the glorious sunshine streaming through
my window directly into my heart

For Sam's sunshiney, testosteroney, stubborn
little personality

For the exceptionally fun energy at Rocky Horror
last night - I especially enjoyed watching the
band playing with such exuberance

For the guy at karaoke who said, "I knew you
were going to do a great job from the very first
note..." and then proceeded to buy me a
Diet Coke and show me pictures of his 20 month
old daughter, Sarah. I need to remember
to sing that song again - I am always known
to enjoy Diet Coke!  *smile*

For the breakfast yesterday with Sheila - who
ended up taking a sick day so that she could
meet me for breakfast - what an honor that is!

For the opportunities unfolding in front of me
today - so wondrous and glorious - and freeing...

Ahhhhhhhh -- yes.

This photo was snapped as I was

saying a Gratitude Prayer on the

Bluffs, two blocks from my home....

here in Bakersfield.

What are you grateful for today?

Today, May 20, 2005...I am sooooo grateful.....

Remember the story of Albert Schweitzer?

He knew - in his heart, mind and soul -  about gratitude.

Isn't it time for you to accept it, too?

Here is what he said, in his words:

"You must learn to understand the secret of
gratitude. It is more than just so-called virtue.
It is revealed to you as a mysterious
law of existence. In obedience to it we
have to fulfill our destiny."

Knowing what you know, believing what
you believe -- let the good, the bad, the
ugly and the indifferent come out
from the hiding places within
your soul....

Today, May 20, I am soooo grateful for....

Watching the last episode of Carter's experience
on ER. I loved how he walked out of the ER for the
last time and heard echoes from past conversations
fill his heart and mind, kind of like what happened
to me the other day after my "Laugh-In" audition.
So magical.....I have said it before, "Everyone
needs a Carter in their life."

Finding the Anne Lamott quote, "Laughter
is carbonated holiness."  Yes!

Listening to the precious voices sharing on
our 42 Days of Passionate Prosperity Call.
(How did it get to be Day 39 already?)

My morning pages notebook, and this entry from
October 16, 2004 which is such a treasure - I
love this section: "It started with a vowel sound, a
sunrise, a vowel sound singing its tones into my
ear. Aaaaaaahhhhhhhh no more like ahahahahahahaha
like in c_a_t or tr_a_sh or spl_a_t. 
Th_a_t sound in my heart - it opens....  like a
cosmic can opener."

The early morning sounds again, sprinklers -
birds and a very occasional car

The greyness of the morning which has such a
different texture than yesterday's bright sunshiney
quality. This may be the last grey morning until
late Fall, so I am revelling in it.

Breakfast in a few hours with Sheila - amazing
how someone I didn't even know a year ago - actually,
it is almost the anniversary of our meeting - can
become such a treasured friend so quickly.
We see heart-to-heart, mind-to-mind,
soul-to-soul......

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you.........

For the Dag Hammerskjold quote:

"For all that has been, thanks. For all that will be - YES!"

Thank you, Thank you , Thank you!

I am soooooo grateful!

What are YOU grateful for today?