Wedding Song - God Knew That I Needed You

Friday, November 18, 2022

APPRECIATION SHABBAT: From Meh to Amazing

Meh = uninspiring; unexceptional.

Amazing = wonderful, cool; great.

Gratitude = appreciation, gratefulness, thankfulness; positive reception.

I mentioned in an earlier post this week, that “happiness is a choice”: an actual decision (aka, a series of small choices made every day) towards fulfillment of your goal to live a happy life.

What we end up as, is a confirmation of every choice we have ever made – and we are constantly one choice away from change: we just have to decide to take that step forward towards the change we want.

I woke up this morning thinking that come Spring 2023, I want to be back to exercising every day. I want to have a toned body again (I am smart enough to understand that I’ll never look 20 – or even 30 – again; but I can be a toner 66 😉). I want a healthier skin color; I as telling Chrystal the other day, “I haven’t been outside much this year, and I’m starting to look {ghostly} – my skin is so pale”: and it’s true! Building “community” (network of friends across three counties) has not left me much time to be outside, soaking up the sunrays and strengthening my muscles. I need to get back to that in 2023.

So, that is my goal looking towards the New Year, should Elohim grant me another 12 months of Life.

As well as honing spiritual fortitude, a strong Friends community, and a healthy body structure … it is also necessary to absorb gratitude into our daily life.

Gratitude causes a shift in perspective: instead of languishing in a state of “meh”, you shake off the gray funk and reroute your thoughts to take steps in active decisions that will focus on the changes you want to see manifest in your life.

Shifting your awareness isn’t that hard, once you set your mind to do it.

So, while drinking my first cup of coffee this morning, I heard birds chirping at the birdfeeder – and glancing towards the front livingroom window I noticed the bright yellow leaves of the ornamental maple in the front of my home … and all the bright colors of my immediate surroundings inside my home: my thoughts were filled with appreciation. I like color in my small corner of the world 😊

Walking from the livingroom to the kitchen to rinse the coffee cup before refilling it, my peripheral vision caught sight of the rolled exercise mat laying against the bag holding my latest knitting project in progress; I felt my lazy bone being prodded to unroll it and get busy using it. I was home – now was a good time to kickstart afore mentioned {goal}. So, that’s what I did. I skipped the second cup of coffee which would have sidelined the prod … I set the coffee cup on the end table, unrolled the mat and did some quick sets of glute exercises. It felt good!

Then, feeling inspired to “go the extra mile” – literally as well as figuratively – I gave Chrystal a jingle and asked if she’d like to go for a walk with me: she would … so, we did 😊

Right off the bat, we saw a white egret; that was a good sign. White Egrets are known to represent blessing and prosperity (conformation of Chrystal’s prayer request). White Egrets are also symbolic of gratitude and contentment (thank You, Yeshua, for this Shabbat confirmation).

I also got a text from another friend, reminding me that there are angels around me. I don’t need remindingbut it was a friendly reminder from a loving friend, that I am not alone even when it appears so, to myself at times – or to strangers who see me out and about solo lobo. I texted him back that I appreciate his agape love, and I appreciate his brotherly friendship: Elohim is faithful to keep Christian companions in my new life, that encourages me always with positive vibes.

And when I parked at home, the evergreen tree across the way seemed to be signaling a “Victory!” sign 😉 

Matthew Ward – ‘Trust in You’ song: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDhvVCTdGmk)

There was so much to be grateful for this Shabbat: a hot cup of coffee; bright color to boost the day’s mood; a body still agile enough to ‘work’, so it continues to work for me; friendship that gives – and generates – a smile; conversation that keeps the ‘lonelies’ at bay; nature that awes and soothes the spirit; a cozy home: my day was oozing with thankfulness.

L’chiam! To Life! Happy Shabbat ðŸ˜Š

With just a prod from my peripheral vision, my “ordinary” day of {just me, today; nowhere to go, no one to see} suddenly went from meh to great 😊

“GOALS ~2023 Kickstart” Post, earlier today: https://jeastofeden.blogspot.com/2022/11/goals-2023-kickstart.html

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