Laughing Ladybug Yoga

Usually, when people ask me the inevitable birthday question, “So, do you feel different?” I  have to admit that, “No, I really don’t.” But this year is a big exception. Today is my 40th birthday. I have to say I’m excited to be 40. I feel strong, healthy, optimistic, and happy.

Looking back over the landscape of my 30s, I can see now how transitional those years were. Extremely transitional. I quit smoking, got married, lost weight, and started studying myself. A lot of my 30s became about forgiving myself for things I did in my 20s!  These are all good things, but of course, none of them are easy changes to make. They all take an extraordinary amount of love and commitment, and they take loads of support from the people around me.

Starbucks was giving away free pastries today with the purchase of a beverage. The team I work with in the office, mostly made up of Starbucks fans, decided to take a trip to Starbucks as a group outing. Our building is on the southwest end of downtown Fort Worth, so the closest Starbucks is only a short walk away. 

About 9:30, we stepped out into the sunshine, our eyes squinting against the welcome brightness. The strong breeze ruffled our jackets and shirtsleeves, and it was a cool breeze, but paired with the warm sunshine, it made for lovely walking weather. What a perfect moment. 

I got my tall decaf Americano with steamed soy milk and a petite vanilla scone. While I waited for the rest of the team to finish up their ordering, sugaring, and half-and-halfing, I held my coffee under my nose and inhaled the deep, earthy fragrance.  I thought about how much I love working with these people, and how much I love that they’re willing to have a spontaneous field trip in the middle of the morning for free pastries and coffee. Another perfect moment. 

On our way back to the office, the church bells at one of the downtown churches were ringing. Not just ringing, but playing a song. A long song! They were the most beautiful church bells I’ve ever heard! So there I was, walking through a downtown cityscape that I love, in the cool breeziness of early spring, warmed ever so slightly by a sun that’s just bringing its attention back toward our hemisphere, hot coffee in hand, listening to what seemed to me to be spontaneous church bells. ANOTHER perfect moment!

You know, the truth is, every day is full of perfect moments like this. The trick (is it really a trick?) is to be conscious of them.

My only regret about this supper is that I didn’t take a photo for you. I was so busy enjoying it that the picture-taking slipped my mind.

1. Poach one or two eggs per person, using your favorite, most reliable poaching method. Poaching is a new thing for me. I’ve been doing it the old-fashioned way of slipping the whole eggs gently into salted just-below-boiling water. This is still in the experimental stages. It sometimes does weird stuff. If you have a favorite way, whether it’s stovetop or microwave, do what works best for you.

2. Place gently over a few spears of steamed or boiled asaparagus. The point here is to have it be tender, yet crisp. Season it to taste. I used salt and pepper and a sprinkle of herbal salt.

3. Serve alongside a small mix of your favorite mild greens. I like spinach mixed with a little romaine lettuce. Dress lightly, with maybe a little olive oil, black pepper, and a squeeze of lemon juice. While you’re at it, squeeze some of that lemon over the asparagus for grins.

4. Have a piece of garlic-rubbed toast on the side. Toast your favorite whole grain gread, then rub it with a clove of raw garlic until you just can’t see straight. Add a smudge of butter if you like.

5. Enjoy with an affordable glass of buttery chardonnay. Or your favorite wine, or iced tea or whatever. Just be sure to raise that glass of whatever and clink it with the glass of your dining partner and declare, “I had a wonderful life today.” Do this part as many times as you’re inspired to.

As many of you know, I’ve been consciously practicing gratitude with the help of GratitudeLog.com. I have really grown to love this site. It’s been great support in this practice. If I don’t post for a couple of days, I get a reminder. The reminder I got today was especially thought-provoking, and I’d like to share it with you:

Did you know that there is an effective and
an ineffective way to express gratitude?

Unfortunately, the ineffective way is far more common.
It is sort of the default form of gratitude that most
people fall into.  I was stuck here for a really long
time until I found a far more powerful way to practice
gratitude, one that moved me into perfect alignment
with abundance and greatly accelerated the Law of
Attraction.

First, let me talk about the ineffective way to express
gratitude.  This is gratitude that you express that is
related to what is happening in your life right now. 

It is closely related to the gratitude and appreciation
we learn to express as children (i.e. to say thanks) and
that is probably why it is often the default and why
so many people get stuck here.

Ineffective gratitude includes things such as:
* your health
* your relationships
* your material posessions
* your friends and family
* a nice vacation

I am not saying that there is anything wrong with this
form of gratitude.  All I am saying is that it is not
nearly as powerful as what I am about to show you. 

Often the problem with the above form of gratitude is
that it comes from a place of lack.  If you have ever
expressed gratitude while thinking “at least… I am
healthy, or at least I have a great family” then you
know what I mean. 

This form of gratitude is extremely week because it is
based on the present circumstances.  In other words,
this form of gratitude is conditional.  It makes it
sound that you are grateful “only if you have good
health, a great relationship, etc.”

Unfortunately, conditional gratitude fails to activate
the law of attraction.  The universe does not respond
to conditional requests.

The second form of gratitude is complete in that it is
a celebration of life itself, for all the experiences
you are having. One other key difference is this. 
Effective gratitude comes from an underlying attitude
vs. a temporary focus on one item or thing to be
grateful for.

With practice, this holistic form of gratitude can
become second nature.  When it does, the law of
attraction will flow far more easily into your life.

The more powerful form of gratitude includes items
such as:

* your life
* this awesome planet
* for being who you are
* for future events
* for problems, challenges, and hardships
* for your mistakes
* for your mind
* for your freedom

In other words, you become grateful for this amazing
journey of your life regardless of what happens and
where it takes you because you know that it is just
right for you and that everything is happening for a
reason.

When you are expressing effective gratitude, fear and
loss disappear. There is no focus on any lack and when
you reach this state, that is when abundance can truly
start flowing into your life.

Being grateful for what you have in your life (your
health, relationships, etc.) has its place.  But when
you start feeling truly grateful for everything that is
happening in your life and open your heart, you will be
amazed at how quickly the universe will start to answer. 

So, start creating these feelings now, even in the most
unlikely or unpleasant circumstances and notice how you
begin to attract whatever you focus on into your life.

With love and passion,

Mike

Makes you think, doesn’t it? Made me think. About all the challenges I’m personally facing right now and how they’re part of the journey that’s taking me toward my enlightenment and my true self. It’s hard to find a way to be grateful for those challenges, isn’t it? But I guess it’s the same kind of gratitude you feel for a really good medicine that tastes awful.

I’m learning a lot from GratitudeLog.com. You can join me there, if you want.