Why GRATITUDE?

Maya Angelou

“Stormy or sunny days, glorious or lonely nights, I maintain an attitude of gratitude. If I insist on being pessimistic, there is always tomorrow. Today I am blessed.”
—  Maya Angelou

While reflecting on the above quote, let’s consider this:

Like many of us,  Maya had an early history of abuse.

And, like many of us she developed a variety of coping mechanisms to get through the rest of her life.

For me, I always had a sense of a SPIRITUAL PRESENCE with me. I didn’t question that presence. No, I don’t know why. I just know that even in my despair of those years, I still felt a presence with me.

So, I guess one could say I’ve always been on a Spiritual Journey, at least since about four years old.

Somewhere along the line, I developed my “weird” SENSE OF HUMOR that tends to see the ironies in everyday life.  That’s been a key coping mechanism through the years, and now I frequently talk about the healing power of LAUGHTER.

After the memories of the early abuse returned, exactly 23 years ago today, I learned about FORGIVENESS and how my deep spiritual awareness made that possible. What a healing it was to truly let go.

And, that brings me around to what Maya speaks of:  GRATITUDE. I talk about GRATITUDE frequently because that is what my journey has taught and is teaching me. GRATITUDE in every day.

GRATITUDE in the small things that cause me to smile, such as: 10# bundle of energy, my 13-yr. old mini-doxie, Heidi; my cozy apartment with the deck & its beautiful wooded view that nurtures my soul; a successful Haiku when I can tame my natural wordiness to 17 syllables; my family; my spiritual friends; my health & talents that are still intact (I turn 69 in a couple weeks!) and MANY more.

There have been other tragedies, like my younger son’s suicide 23 years ago. But, there have been MANY occasions  for Optimism and MANY more for GRATITUDE.

Blessed be.

Related articles

• Guest Post: Character Ed: Laughter – It REALLY is the Best Medicine, and Then Some (prettyopinionated.com)
• Gratitude (lindalouisereiki.wordpress.com)
• On Coping Mechanisms (theintrepids.wordpress.com)
• Maya Angelou honored at National Theater (wjla.com)
• Oprah and Her Spiritual Mod Squad (joanneguidoccio.com)
• Friday’s A mother’s last word: Inspiration (coach4singlemom.wordpress.com)
• “I can be changed by what happens to me, but I refuse to be reduced by it.” Maya Angelou (endosucks.wordpress.com)
• A Sense of Humor is Key To Life (rawmultimedia.wordpress.com)
• Inspirational quotes for women about life: The spoken word of Maya Angelou (msladyg2.wordpress.com)