Those of you who I’m connected to via Facebook or Instagram know that I love my (almost) daily nature walks and I take them wherever I can. Being in nature helps me reconnect to my spirit. When I’m home these walks are usually along the Potomac river on the tow path of the C & O Canal. I use this time to commune with Mother Nature and The G*ddess, to pray and meditate and get inspiration. My routine includes saying three good things I’ve done for myself that day and five things for which I’m grateful. The three good things include things like earning my living and even taking exercise which I’m doing when I walk. The gratitude list can easily be more than five things and includes everything from clean water to drink, to having a vehicle to living my vision.
But, sometimes doing a list of my blessings morphs maniacally into a to-do list or looking at what I don’t have or worst of all I sometimes find myself comparing myself to other people and invariably finding my life lacking! I know that I should not do this and I know that focusing on gratitude is the magic antidote to this perception of lack so the other day when I found myself comparing I put my focus back on my blessings. The discontented feelings that accompany my perception of lack began to lift.
After this I stopped to cool myself at the stream that runs under a sort of covered bridge. I was greeted by a kaleidoscope of tiger swallowtail butterflies puddling in the mud along with one little violet colored butterfly. As I approached, the butterflies flew up in a cloud and danced around me bringing a broad smile to my face and evaporating any remaining traces of my discontent. My heart was filled with gratitude.
After this I realized how amazing my life is; that I get to see things like this on an almost daily basis, that I have created a life for myself where I can work AND have time to take care of myself by going for walks, sitting by streams, meditating and getting to play with butterflies and other beautiful creatures. So life is good when I practice gratitude and stay out of comparing!
