The attitude of gratitude has become such a cliché, it’s hard to circumvent the tendency to scroll past any post that has gratitude as its theme.
We know gratitude is important, yes? We like giving and receiving it. But we don’t—at least I don’t—necessarily want to read yet another post about it. We already know that stuff, even if we don’t always practice it, and we don’t want to feel guilty about yet another thing we aren’t doing enough of, amirite?? We’re busy. Give us something we don’t know already!
And if I’m honest, although my spirit/soul/mucho mojo Self just lurves to slurp in gratitude like gravy on turkey and mashed potatoes, my more human snarky self, often likes to do this:
We know gratitude is important, yes? We like giving and receiving it. But we don’t—at least I don’t—necessarily want to read yet another post about it. We already know that stuff, even if we don’t always practice it, and we don’t want to feel guilty about yet another thing we aren’t doing enough of, amirite?? We’re busy. Give us something we don’t know already!
And if I’m honest, although my spirit/soul/mucho mojo Self just lurves to slurp in gratitude like gravy on turkey and mashed potatoes, my more human snarky self, often likes to do this:
So, I’m not going to try to talk you into gratitude and out of the complaint line. Stay right there! There’s a whole heckuva lotta sh**y things happening in the world, right now. And there will be tomorrow, too.
But, while you’re in that complaint line, imagine that someone sets down before you the absolutely perfect Thanksgiving dinner. It’s free. You can feast to your heart’s delight, enjoying all your favorites, cooked just perfectly, and better yet, not gain any weight! Would you be thankful that someone met you where you were at, and just gave and gave and gave and gave to you, until where you were (the complaint line) became irrelevant, because who cares anyway? There’s so much to enjoy!!
That’s the Spirit of Thanksgiving in my book. Grace upon grace upon grace is always being given. We just don’t always see it because of all the crappy stuff that’s in the way. And because we don’t see it, then we don’t open to receive and experience all that grace upon grace upon grace. The cup is always overflowing. Always. Here are some of the Spiritual “Ts” you can drink to overfilling if you realize and let yourself receive…
Beau-tea
See what I did there? (I can't completely leave my snark out...)
Uni-tea
Sereni-tea
Prosperi-tea
Possibili-tea
Plen-tea-tude
Simplici-tea
Tranquili-tea
Creativi-tea
Clari-tea
Gra-tea-tude (I snuck in the attitude of gratitude and you didn’t mind!)
What other “teas” can you come up with?
But, while you’re in that complaint line, imagine that someone sets down before you the absolutely perfect Thanksgiving dinner. It’s free. You can feast to your heart’s delight, enjoying all your favorites, cooked just perfectly, and better yet, not gain any weight! Would you be thankful that someone met you where you were at, and just gave and gave and gave and gave to you, until where you were (the complaint line) became irrelevant, because who cares anyway? There’s so much to enjoy!!
That’s the Spirit of Thanksgiving in my book. Grace upon grace upon grace is always being given. We just don’t always see it because of all the crappy stuff that’s in the way. And because we don’t see it, then we don’t open to receive and experience all that grace upon grace upon grace. The cup is always overflowing. Always. Here are some of the Spiritual “Ts” you can drink to overfilling if you realize and let yourself receive…
Beau-tea
See what I did there? (I can't completely leave my snark out...)
Uni-tea
Sereni-tea
Prosperi-tea
Possibili-tea
Plen-tea-tude
Simplici-tea
Tranquili-tea
Creativi-tea
Clari-tea
Gra-tea-tude (I snuck in the attitude of gratitude and you didn’t mind!)
What other “teas” can you come up with?
My hope for you is to try to receive so much grace this Thanksgiving (rather than just do, do, and more do) that gra-tea-tude just pours forth from within you because you've been so filled up with spiritual "Tea" that there's nothing else left in you for you to give, but "Tea".
Monica's Prescription for attitude-of-gratitude apathy: Drink up of the Spirit's “Tea’s” to your delight and automatically and energetically you will hit the "share" button and spread that grace to everyone around you.
And here’s a poem for you, to boot. Happy Thanksgiving!!
Monica's Prescription for attitude-of-gratitude apathy: Drink up of the Spirit's “Tea’s” to your delight and automatically and energetically you will hit the "share" button and spread that grace to everyone around you.
And here’s a poem for you, to boot. Happy Thanksgiving!!
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Monica McDowell is a dynamic speaker, author, and practitioner in alternative wellness and spirituality. She is the author of Confessions of a Mystic Soccer Mom, You are Light (internationally published by 6th Books in over 14 countries) and My Karma Ran Over My Dogma, and has the distinction of being the first ordained minister in America granted civil rights by a federal ruling. She lives in Seattle, Washington, USA, and can be reached at monica@monicamcdowell.com.
Monica McDowell is a dynamic speaker, author, and practitioner in alternative wellness and spirituality. She is the author of Confessions of a Mystic Soccer Mom, You are Light (internationally published by 6th Books in over 14 countries) and My Karma Ran Over My Dogma, and has the distinction of being the first ordained minister in America granted civil rights by a federal ruling. She lives in Seattle, Washington, USA, and can be reached at monica@monicamcdowell.com.
