Oh you know the whole, “whatever and however you focus on something, that energy will be what you attract back to you in feeling and form”…well….hmmm..maybe that’s true. Only, of course it took my mind just a little bit longer to figure out what exactly that meant. It was the figuring it out part that kept getting in my way.

I’ve noticed for the past few days, I’ve been feeling really grateful for a variety of people, places, things, ideas, animals, nature in general, etc. etc. etc. I’m feeling like I’ve let go of some unrealistic expectations or at least the doorways that leads to them. Tonight, for instance, David and I took the dogs for a 30 minute walk around our neighborhood. It was right at that dusky time when the light hits everything just so and makes the color seem especially vibrant. It seemed like all the trees in our neighborhood are sprouting new leaves, there is an abundance of wild flowers, the dogs were happy, I enjoyed talking with my husband and I guess I’m feeling about as close to contentment as I let myself get.

Not apathetic contentment, but active contentment.

Meaning, I’m being mindful of what I am grateful for in my life and about my life. For me, active contentment is an exercise in be-ing. I have to really pay attention to what I am thinking and what I am allowing myself to focus on. I’m even paying attention to my perspectives and questioning myself every now and then to jostle myself just enough that I don’t sink into a ditch. Instead, I hover at the horizon of my thoughts and am trying to make good decisions about what I want to keep and what I want to toss.

Kin-esthetically, active contentment in my body feels like everything is humming or maybe it’s purring. It’s closer to a purr I think.

If you know things that you can feel grateful about right now, try writing down three different things to feel gratitude about every night before you go to sleep for one week. If you’re life is sucking right now, you can get as simple as you need to—like you’re grateful for FB so you can read what you’re friends are doing…you know..keep it simple. I promise you that if you will do this for a week, you will begin to feel some changes in the way you think and how you focus.

Active Contentment…..another gift that money can’t buy….