Sunday, as I was on the road, I was listening to KQED—our local NPR station. There was a gentleman (Daniel Gilbert) talking about research done on “being happy”; the state of happiness vs. satisfied with life. He used ownership of a car in examples of happiness—I believe the premiss being that for the most part, a new car doesn’t bring happiness… yet we tend to fantasize about owning a new car as a means of attaining happiness.
As I was listening, I realized that I am very grateful for the vehicles we own. They allow me a lot of freedom of movement and save me a lot of time. AND, yes, I find driving to be a meditative practice and an excellent means to practice mindfulness and compassion—especially when that “idiot” cuts in front of me me to merge onto the freeway.
I think there are a lot of simple things in our life to be grateful for that we might not give much thought to… until they’re gone. You don’t miss the water…
It is a Thursday afternoon and I am sitting in my home office, looking out the window, at the surrounding hills; they are starting to turn from green to gold. I am also watching a Blue Jay fly in and out of the California Poppies that are covering the side garden. He is flying back and forth, from the garden to the vineyard. I hope that he is eating a lot of bugs. I have the north facing window open, which is allowing a nice gentle breeze into the room.
I ran some errands this morning, around our town, I had lunch with my wife at her place of employment and then I retreated back to my home office, where I proceeded to work for the two companies that currently pay me. I had two different lap-tops open on my desk and was going back and forth between them. It was a very productive day. One that I enjoyed very much.
It is Spring and I live in Northern California, out in the country, but not too far from the city.
Alright; second attempt here this evening… what am I grateful for? Ha ha ha… I’m grateful for mi friends who’ve known me over the years. They know more of the truth then I do in some ways.
HA! Except for you, dear friend, that want to put me down and hold me to what you knew of me years ago… why don’t you let me grow? or let me go?
And of course there’s those that know me now, first hand—they see the cracks in the exterior… they know the dents and boils. And still they have a smile to share—a moment of care.
And isn’t that what we all want? To know we are loved fully in the moment that we are… cracks and all. What did Mr. Cohen say?
Yes, that is how the light gets in…
I’m grateful for my joy… and knowing that I may chose it over my fear. I’ve got capability.
I’ll stop here before I head too far off course… of course
Today I had an interesting day at the office. I love this job that I do on a daily basis; going to my office and running the Distribution Center. I started the day a little frustrated. At the end of last year I requested that one of my employees be promoted into a purchasing position; this would take him off of an hourly wage and make him salaried with some bonus structure. So I emailed one of my upper management team this morning, asking him what was happening with the promotion, since neither my employee or myself have heard anything, these past three months. The person who I emailed replied, “I am a little confused. What are you talking about?” I thought, are you kidding me? So I replied that while everyone else who works at my facility had received a raise this new year, the one person who I want to promote, still has not been promoted and is the only person who works for me, that has not received a raise this year. Status Quo. No reply back.
Later I am looking over my P&L for the month of March and I notice a $10 charge for one of my Semi Trailers, only I can’t find the invoice to match up with the charge. I realize that I am charged this same charge every month, yet I can never find the invoice. So after emailing my vendor, who did the charging, inquiring for a copy of the invoice, they told me to ask my fleet department. So I emailed my fleet department, asking them for a copy of the invoice. The director of Fleet, emailed back that it is a 700 page invoice for the whole company. The charge was a management fee for one of my 48 foot trailers. Meanwhile, the director of my division emails me that I should quit chasing $10. My point was that the charge wasn’t for any of my trailers; I was already being billed the fee on another invoice and $10 x 12 months = $120 a year. I know, when we are talking a budget of several million dollars, what is $120. Well if they are charging me frauduently, what if they are doing it to other facilities within the company? We have close to 300 facilities across the country; $120 x 300 = $36,000. If my company can afford to lose $36,000 without thinking about it….my name on the check should begin with two A’s.
So what is my point, here? Well, once I vented to my warehouse manager, behind closed doors, I went about my business. The facility continued to run; the trucks were loaded and everyone went home and we all have a job to return to. I realized that it is what it is. I can only ask for and share information. Some things are out of my control and that is what it is. If I don’t like it, I need to change it. If I can’t change it, and it really bothers me. I can always find another job. My choice.
Later my phone rang while I was on the other line, the person who I want to promote answered for me. It was upper management. They asked my employee if it was true, that they had not received their promotion yet. My employee answered that they had not been promoted yet. Upper management said that was supposed to have gone into effect on January 1st, and that they would look into it. I also received an email from the director of Fleet stating they would look into my $10 fee, to make sure that I am not being double charged.
I am grateful that I am who I am; and a part me has learned some patience over the years and that if you don’t communicate, you only know what you think. Unfortunately, what we think, is not always reality. I am grateful for that knowledge as well.
Look at our children. Be with them. This madcap rush around world—stay busy;be busy… no time to wait and reflect—this isn’t our children’s world. This isn’t our world. Listen to a story, play a game—just watch the wind blow… reflect. peace.
I am grateful for our prophets; they are not characters from story books—they’re alive today. We’ll be okay if we listen… we are all children. Play nice.
This past week I spent three wonderful days in Southern California with family, and friends that I consider family. Right now as I write this I am sitting behind the left side of home plate, lower box level at ATT Park, with my wife and daughter. I am watching the Oakland Athletics beat up on the Giants; for which I am grateful.
I am grateful that I am able to travel and spend quality time with people that I care about; but right now I am really grateful for the technology that is allowing me to write this now,while at the game, so that I don’t have to do it much later tonight.
I had a wonderful experience yesterday with a healer in Marin, Christine Tulis. She gives a free 1/2 hour healing to people—so easy to sign up from her site. A real blessing.
I arrived at her home with the thought that I wanted to be healed from my thought(s) that there was anything to be healed from. And from there was an incredible time/experience shared with her. Really, if we all were released from all thoughts of needing to be fixed, healed, solved, resolved? A lot more time for peace and play.
Anyway, I wanted to post about Christine in today’s post—but just posting about my experience wasn’t quite it.
Today I am grateful for community. Made up of individuals—holding the presence of all members. I am very grateful for all people who know me—friends and family—truly, life happens with others.
….and that is what I am grateful for! No really; I am enjoying what I do. I love running businesses and meeting new people, helping them solve their problems or just helping them run more efficiently and save themselves some money; which in the long run makes everyone more money.
They say that time goes by faster when you are busy. I cannot believe that it is already Thursday! This has been a busy week, but I have enjoyed the work that I am doing; and it will pay dividends for me later on. That is also something that I am grateful for. Somewhere in my future is a beach with me planted on it, enjoying the sun and water.
Do what you enjoy and if you are lucky, you get paid for doing it…I know that I do; and for that I am Grateful!
i am grateful for the perfect day i live today
i am grateful for the grit in the oyster that creates the pearl
i am grateful for the cloudy skies, bringing rain to quench the seeds thirst
the light transforming energy into sustenance
you can see what i have sown, for its yield is before me
such a perfect day
i think it is time for me to get out in the fields and get some workin’ done
This week I am so grateful for the knowledge that allows me to control my life. I have assigned myself some tasks that I could very have easily avoided this week; meaning that if I don’t do them, nothing catastrophic will happen. Since I have done one of them already, (one that I have been putting off for the past two weeks), I feel that I will increase my sales because of it. This makes me wonder why I didn’t do it two weeks ago.
Face your fears or whatever it is that makes you uncomfortable. Once you face them and overcome them, that part of your life becomes increasingly easier.
I have set myself some goals for this year and I am on my way to accomplishing them. There are some steps that I must climb, maybe a river or two that I must cross, but with a positive attitude, nothing is impossible. I didn’t say nothing is hard…just not impossible.
I look at all of the beauty around me and I am so grateful for all that I have; and it is this that keeps me moving forward and enjoying life. I am FREE!
