Gratitude Adjustment

I am grateful for signs of Spring

Veterans Day Gratitude

There are two super sized flags (from SAMS) flying from the Marotta mailbox today. Sweetness called from his business trip to make sure I remembered. We should never forget.

Take time today to honor the military. Say thank you in your own way to the men, women, and families who have sacrificed for the greater good of our freedom.

My blog thank you starts with my Dad, Don Yager. He was proud of his service in the Air Force and forever friends with Paul Erickson, and Rod Davison (Thank you X 2). Thank you to Sal's Dad Ernie Marotta, and brother Michael. My long time friend Colonel Dave Slade, and his son Daniel (Gracias). My friends Mari and Tony Farthing, thank you for your dedicated service.

My gratitude to all veterans who are struggling with PTSD symptoms- your sacrifice continues.

Last year my friend Tony Farthing delivered a heartfelt tribute to his wife Mari at the Oklahoma City Listen to Your Mother Show. Mari spent four years in active duty, but her husband wanted to say a special thank you for her service on the home front. Click on the link to remember all families who serve from home. Thank you Suzy Slade- you are "stronger than you know."

Reach out to the military in your life: Write a letter. Make a call to connect. Smile. Spend some time listening. Shout out on Facebook. Wave your flags.

Be Intentional. We should never forget to be grateful.

Mindfulness Mondays: Beginning with the End in Mind

Lake Tenkiller Sunset 2015

One of the highlights of "lake life" is sitting quietly on the deck watching the sunset. It cues me to reflect on the day's blessings.  At dusk I pause to quiet my mind- still my body.

This week begin with stillness.  Set your positive intention for a day filled with blessings.

Consider how grateful you would like to feel at sunset.

This week I will begin with the end in mind.

Mindfulness Mondays: Be G.L.A.D.

Bricktown River Walk 2015

Mindfulness guru Donald Altman developed a technique called *G.L.A.D. In quiet reflection each day consider your:
G- One gratitude
L-  One new thing you learned (google if needed)
A- One accomplishment
D- One thing of delight 

This buffalo statue from the "Spirit of the Buffalo" community art project DELIGHTED me on a recent walk downtown.


This week I will get my G.L.A.D. going.

*You may use this acronym for a journal prompt or record your G.L.A.D. on index cards.

Learn more about Oklahoma Public Art

Feelings Friday: My Thank You Note to the Universe

Mindfulness, Gratitude, and Rest
The Narrows, Zion National Park
h/t Lindsay Marotta 2015 

Dear Universe, 

Thanks for . . .

• My parents- and their warm welcome at every stage of life (even the angsty ones).
• A special needs brother- who stretches, stresses, and continues to teach me.
• Coffee (And 1% milk with a dash of cinnamon)
• Grammie- a “grand mentor” and spirit guide.
• Outstanding achievements and horrifying failures.
• The lousy boyfriends I dated before "the one."
• Chocolate.
• The responsibility of raising two wonderful people (stretch marks are fading).
• Losses that taught me to appreciate life.
• Nature. Including needy squirrels, and pesky mosquitoes.
• Remarkable friends- some lifelong, others time limited.
• Red wine (shared with above mentioned friends).
• Well-deserved laugh lines.
• The world wide web AND screen free zones.
• Talents that shape me.
• Weaknesses that humble me.
• Today.

Thank you Universe for fifty (plus) years of love, loss, joy, and sorrows.

Sincerely,

Me

P.S. If it isn’t too much to ask- I’d like fifty more tomorrows.

    

Mindfulness Mondays: One Thing At A Time

Happy Thanksgiving from Suki!

"I like mindfulness because it tells my brain to think about one thing at a time instead of . . . like...500 things!"
                                          First Grader

We conclude this month of gratitude with the intention of telling our brain to focus on one thing at a time.

Wishing you a calm mind, a still body, and a peaceful gathering at Thanksgiving from our house to yours.



This week I will focus on one thing at a time.

Mindfulness Mondays: Warmth

"Struggling Upstream" by Cherrie Hampton

When I saw this quilt (yes quilt!) at an exhibition in August I knew it needed a showcase on the blog.  It is the week before Thanksgiving and there is a blanket of snow covering all of Edmond, Oklahoma

As we bring our attention to gratitude, lets reflect on warmth.  What brings you warmth?  Is it the smile of someone you love? The smell of hot cocoa? The sound of a crackling fire?  Call to mind all of the senses of warmth.





This week I will notice the gift of warmth, and share it with others.

Mindfulness Mondays: Friendships

Santa Fe Gals 2012

This month let's direct our attention to gratitude.  

"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend."     - Melody Beattie

Consider ways in which to put your intention into action- write a thank you note, make a call, spring for Starbucks . . .

This week I will show gratitude for my friendships.

Monday Mindfulness: Memorial Day Mindset

Many of our service men and women are still wounded.  The Veteran's Administration news further punctuates our need to be mindful about the way in which we show gratitude to the people who have sacrificed to protect our freedom.

Become aware of the nonverbal ways you demonstrate gratitude to our military:

Show your flag
Make eye contact and smile
Be considerate
Lend support to military families
Remember

Let your actions speak loudly.

I CAN BECOME INTENTIONAL IN HOW I SHOW RESPECT AND GRATITUDE.

Mindfulness Mondays: Sunset Reflections

 

Sunsets are my favorite visual anchor, reminding me to take time for mindfulness.

As the sun is doing it's spectacular show, quiet your mind and be still in the moment.  Notice the colors as they spread across the sky. Clear your mind-clutter and breathe in gratitude. Travel lightly into tomorrow.


Be present to the end of this day, it will not come again.

Mindfulness Mondays: Express Gratitude

Me & Sweetness Celebrating our 20th in Disney World 2005

Let's use the momentum of Valentines Day to boost our attention to our relationships- 

Keep the focus, be kind, share, and celebrate with the people that you love. 

This weeks Affirmation: 

I WILL EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE THROUGH WORDS AND ACTIONS.

Birthday Blog: A prayer of thanksgiving

Dear God,

   Thank you

• For choosing the first day of Spring as my birthday. 
• For my parents, who have always believed in me.
• For my brother Chris, who stretches and teaches me still.
• For so many years with my Grammie.
• For the triumphs and failures of growing up. 
• For guiding me to Church.
• For the lousy boyfriends I dated before "the one."
• For finding "the one" for me, when I didn't know what I was looking for.
• For the responsibility of raising two wonderful people.
• For comforting me in the loss of a child.
• For directing me to Oklahoma.
• For friends I have made and kept, and those that were time limited.
• For talents that shape me.
• For weaknesses that humble me.
• For love and a context for hate in the world.
• For the past 50 years.
• For today.

      Thank you.
      Amen

Attitude of Gratitude

You have a plan for what you are going to do on any particular day, and then life throws you a curve--or even a pitchfork.  Last Sunday after a quick getaway at the lake with friends, I was eager to get back home in time for Kate's last North Central Honors Concert.  After 12 years of violin, I have missed only a handful of the recitals, concerts, solos, and talent shows.  I certainly didn't want to miss one of the "last" anything. 

Traveling down the highway the conversation was lively and light.  On the highway up ahead I saw a large branch in the lane next to ours, and slowed down anticipating that it was going to break or cause the other vehicle to swerve. Within seconds a loud "thwack" rocked the car.  Thinking that we had damage from the branch we pulled over to a nearby gas station.  It was not a branch.  A flatbed truck had also pulled over because drivers had alerted them that there was a problem.

"Excuse me sir, are you missing a pitchfork?"

What happened next was surreal. My friend Anne Jacobs had the presence of mind to snap the photo because who would believe that this would be the result of stray farming equipment at 50-65 miles per hour? Certainly not the farmer, who was a very nice man.  Its just a car, no one was hurt, this is why we have insurance, and I am grateful. I choose gratitude because what else is there? When life throws you a curve--or a pitchfork-- it feels better to me to be grateful rather than paranoid.

Oh, and I even made it to the concert. It was especially beautiful.