Today is New. Before Covid19, people used to ask, “how are you?”, as a form of greeting or passing formality; but sadly, too often there was really no further purpose in the inquiry, other than
to serve as a conversation starter. Often people would listen halfheartedly to the responses, too eager to begin the conversation about what they really wanted to talk about. Today, when someone asks, “How Are You?”; they really mean it.
Covid19 has invited us to center our hearts in what is most important to us. Today, when people ask me, “How Are You?”, my only answer is, “I AM Anchored in Gratitude”. Because when I accept “Gratitude” as a place to begin, I create space and hold space for myself and others to be, to pause. The very thought of the word, “Gratitude”, creates a pause within us, and we hear a quiet voice within us whisper. The whispering voice of our heart is reminding us that even in the middle of a global pandemic, in the midst of racial violence and discrimination, in the midst of economic turmoil and mental emotional stress of change and uncertainty, in the midst of it all, there is always something to be grateful for no matter how small it seems to be. It is this quiet voice that whispers to us the secrets that we often forget or tend to ignore with the hustle and bustle of life.
“I AM Anchored in Gratitude”. The power of the I AM statement is profound, and many of you have felt my heart commitment to these words before. I AM, is a dedicated commitment to whatever statement that follows these words. “I AM” is a mantra that can be used for the betterment of all things- it is a tiny step that we all can take. “I AM Feeling better about this”; “I AM getting better about that”; “I AM Anchored in Gratitude”. With conviction of my words, my breath, and my voice, I AM choosing to be and experience this vibration of “Gratitude” and I AM lifted and lightened and brightened with this dedicated statement of positivity that shines through the murk of evidenced experiences of what is happening right now for me.
And in inviting this, ‘Gratitude,” into our hearts, in sitting with this “Gratitude” right now, I am inviting others to do the same.
Let us pause today, and take inventory, make a list if you can, of all the things that you are grateful for today. My son is 10 years old, and every night I ask him, hand on our hearts, “what is one thing that you are grateful for?” and “what is one blessing that you wish for someone else today?”
Gratitude. The energy and action of Gratitude, leaves open the gates of happiness and sometimes just knowing the gates are open, is enough to give us the energy to persevere.
I AM Anchored in Gratitude.
What Anchors You?
Shannon Stone
https://www.atreeofLightIAM.com