Wednesday, February 4, 2009.....
Prior to being unemployed (my P-U period), every year for the past 4 or 5 years, my sister and I would spend about 5 days at Canyon Ranch in Lenox MA. We initially went to celebrate a milestone birthday, but the experience was so amazing that we went back year after year to kick-start the holiday season.
Our last visit in 2007, we went to this seminar, the name escapes me, but the speaker introduced the concept of practicing gratitude. The speaker, Jerry Posner, had such positive energy he was infectious. He mentioned that he kept a journal for 7 years where he listed on a daily basis 5 things he was grateful for. After 7 years, he ditched the journal because he changed. Changed how he looked at things, approached things and even his lifestyle changed. He is a positive force to be reckoned with.
His lecture spoke to me. I love to journal and while at the Ranch, read a book which discussed the benefits of practicing gratitude.
In November 2007, I started the journal. I stopped once I became unemployed, but started again late summer because I realized that now was the time I needed to recognize what I was most grateful for.
I've been consistent, until this week. I can't think of more than 3 things I'm grateful for. I'm bothered by this. In an effort to remove my block, I thought I'd post about my Rants & Raves for this week. I might make this a regular Wednesday posting and encourage people to share their Rant or Rave in the comments section.
Raves - Got my hubby hooked on watching the Bachelor and now when Jason kisses a girl on the show, we kiss. This is a takeoff of t.v. drinking games (i.e., drink whenever "Miss" is said during the Miss America pageant; or "Hi Bob" during the Bob Newhart Show - thank you TVLD)
Rants - Charmin Ultra Strong TP. It's so strong and thick that it causes problems with the plumbing. Back to Scott's for me.
Rant & Rave - (Rant):The voice in my head that tries to discourage me from exercising. (Rave): My iPod streaming great music through my head to muffle the stupid voice.
That's it for this week.
4 comments:
I love the Rant and Rave idea! Rant and Rave more!
You can pick silly or funny things to be grateful for, not just the deep or significant ones, thus widening the universe of possible things you can put in your journal. I think the daily focus on the exercise brings the cumulative benefit, even when there are days that you don't "feel" like doing it, or that you're having difficulty naming five things. Maybe you're listening to the radio and a song by the Beatles comes on, and you like the Beatles, so, there's one thing you're grateful for. Then, you're grateful for John, Paul, George, Ringo ... now you have the five for the day! Also, in working with people who are looking for work, I suggest that they consider themselves "in-between jobs" instead of "unemployed." It just might feel a bit better! Kindest regards, Jerry Posner
Leslie Jo - feel free to post a Rant or Rave here.
Jerry - I typically am grateful for most everything and want to thank you for the great advice!
Did you write about finding Libby and hopefully adopting her? That would be a good one for your list. Or - Facebook has a Brussel Sprout Appreciation Society group. Or - We will be at Kripalu 2 months from today. Hopefully you will find some things to be thankful for tomorrow. I for one am thankful you are such a good sister to me :).
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