I have been witness to a flurry of appreciative posts on Facebook lately, and while I have yet to be tagged to participate in the “gratitude challenge” it’s interesting to see my friends give pause and contemplate what they are truly thankful for. And as one might guess, many of these posts have to do with how awesome their kids are. Every freaking day. Which frankly can be hard to read if you are struggling with how awesome your kids are NOT being – like I was this week.
The implicit idea behind this, I assume, is that if one begins to habitually FEEL grateful then one will perpetuate this energy and therefore be open to receiving a bounty of desires – none of which need be material.
If you are a believer in the laws of the universe – you know, the hippie-dippy ones based on energies and vibrations – then this is nothing new. But for those of you who cringe merely at the word manifestation… well, stick with me.
About six months ago I went over to my friend Lana’s. It was an evening she designed to bring together good people for great hospitality – and to create vision boards. We had piles of magazines to pick through, scissors to snip with, Bristol board and glue sticks galore.
It felt a little bit like nursery school, but with wine.
In fact, in the end I had a half-finished vision board thanks to the endless amount of rich conversation, a whole bunch of clippings for consideration, and new friends. I was more than happy with
my outcome.
I took my vision board, such as it was, home with me and tucked it away for another day.
Fast forward four months when I spontaneously decided that our living-room furniture no longer suited our family and certainly didn’t reflect the type of design I long for in my home. I posted it on a local buy and sell site and within a few hours it was being carted away.
Our little family dreamed about what we might do with the newfound space in our home. I envisioned a vibrant couch in a dynamic colour that was eye-catching and full of personality. (Yes, I really do fantasize about such things.)
Late, late that night, I roused my husband from sleep and showed him a picture on my laptop. I had found our couch. It was a rich kelly-green velvet and modern in a Danish 1970s sort of way. I was giddy.
Surprisingly, he loved it. “Let’s do it,”
he said.
About six weeks later we brought home our new acquisition, and as we readied the room I unearthed my still unfinished – and now slightly dusty – vision board with, you guessed it, a picture of the exact same green couch.
Evidently, if you let yourself feel it, before you even have it, and be in a place of gratitude, then there is no reason why it can’t be so. Visualization is key – whether it’s on paper or not.
Which is why I’m giving myself my own “gratitude challenge.” Today and every day this month I am grateful for my two daughters who joyfully treat each other with love and respect.
And so it is.
Kirsten Andrews offers Simplicity Parenting courses, workshops and private consultations in the Corridor and Lower Mainland. Visit Sea To Sky Simplicity Parenting on Facebook or www.SeaToSkySimplicityParenting.com.
