Gratitude

I’ve shared my thoughts on gratitude in the past.  I think I have.  Maybe I haven’t.  Nonetheless, I’d like to share more now.

This email came to my inbox today:

I'm a most lucky and thankful person. Lucky and thankful for each morning I wake up.

~Thelma Elliott

Gratitude for what's been offered us in our lives softens the harsh attitudes we occasionally harbor. Life presents us with an assortment of blessings; some bring us immediate joy; some invite tears; others foster fear. What we need help in understanding is that all experiences are meant for our good, all bless us in some manner. If we are able to see the big picture, we'd greet all situations, large and small, with a thankful heart.

It's so very easy to wish away our lives, never finding satisfaction with our families, our jobs, and our friends. The more we find fault with life, the more fault we are guaranteed to find. Negative attitudes attract negative experiences; while positive attitudes lighten whatever burden we may be learning from.

The years pass so quickly. Our chances to enjoy life pass quickly too. We can grab what comes our way and be grateful. We are never certain that this experience offered now might not be our last.

The words here have a different meaning now that I’ve had the day that I’ve had   And it’s not over actually   

My plan this morning was to take the train from Kyoto to Hiroshima   That didn’t happen   And it didn’t happen because of anything bad   It happened because I went to grab breakfast at the Family Mart( think American convenience store....only a lot more Japanese) and brought it back to the hostel to eat it   As I ate it, my pal Pablo came in   If you remember, I met Pablo on my first night here in Kyoto   We started talking and he invited me to go with him on a train ride and then a boat ride.  At that moment I had the choice to “stick to the plan” and “achieve, achieve, achieve.”  Because honestly one of the things that trips me up in solo travel is the need to say, “See.  See.  See.   I did all THIS.  Aren’t you proud of me, world?”   Sounds exhausting, doesn’t it?  It is   Believe me.  It is  

I said yes to Pablo and we have just completed one of the most fun and connected and peaceful days in recent memory for me.   We took the Romantic Train Ride (he’s married.  I’m heterosexual.  No judgment, just humorous name for a train that two heterosexual males hopped on in Kyoto), took a boat ride down the Hozu-gawa River (which was awesome   Small rapids but tons of fun.  I wish I could have understood the guide but he seemed freaking hilarious) and then we visited the Tenryu-Ji Temple.   Oh and we stopped for Okonomiyaki underneath Kyoto Station (Which was.....wow).  

Get to the point Brian.

I am super grateful for Pablo.   I am super grateful for travel....that I get to travel around the world.  I’m super fortunate to be able to do what I do.

But standing walking around Tenryu-Ji temple, pausing in the temple, walking slowly through the walkways and the garden, stopping and listening to the trees blow in the wind and birds chirp, smelling the beauty in the air, gazing at the fish in the pond, and just simply stopping the PURSUIT for more.....I was reminded that this is the life I have.  I don’t have to pursue things that will take me away from who I am.  I can slow down.  I can stop.  I can pursue things that bring life.  

It doesn’t mean I have to fly to Japan every time I need to connect.  Although that sounds pretty good.  It means I can find and engage with life giving people and moments in Columbia.  I can also connect with myself.  The latter is what I’m finding is the real key to contentment.   Don’t ask me to explain what that means just yet, but I think I’m on to something.

This post started out talking about gratitude.  I’m thankful for Pablo.  I’m thankful that he shows up and is Pablo.  I’m thankful that I chose to be with him today.  

How cool is it to be able to spend a day with someone from another part of the world and learn about his world.  His wife.  His kids.  He’s fascinating.  But here’s the kicker:  That opportunity exists for me back home.  I can show up and experience others, the world and myself. 

I’m getting cut short here but I wanted to get some thoughts on quickly.  I’m heading back out with Pablo.   

Here.  We.  Go.