Gratitude Journal - April 22, 2021 Today, I am grateful for my students. While I don’t teach as frequently as I would like, when I get a new section of students eager to learn, it reminds me of the fun and importance of education. I know I am blessed and lucky to have opportunities to teach others and pass along a little of what I have learned over the years. For my students, I am grateful.
Mindfulness Journal - April 21, 2021 - Day 23 of 365 Because I had to work today at the fire station, I couldn’t meditate first thing this morning. Typically, this causes me issues and makes the session less than optimal. Tonight, I was able to break through that, and, despite the less than perfect conditions, I was able to find focus and have a positive meditation session. There was external noise, a kid playing video games while talking on his phone to a friend, a tv on upstairs and other kids running around, yet I was still able to break through and close that out and focus on my exhale. I still had other thoughts pass by, but I let them go and returned to my breathing focus. I am pleased with this progress.
“If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.” Ecclesiastes 4:10
Gratitude Journal - April 21, 2021 Today, I am grateful for being able to help other people. I know that I am lucky that I get the opportunity to help people on a daily basis. For this, I am grateful.
Mindfulness Journal - April 20, 2021 - Day 22 of 365 Today’s meditation proved to be both peaceful and relaxing. Trying to find the impact of emotions or thoughts on the quality of breathing is an interesting approach to finding calm. I found it easier today to disconnect my physical space and feelings from my mental state. Overall, a good day.
“And the little ones that you said would be taken captive, your children who do not yet know good from bad—they will enter the land. I will give it to them and they will take possession of it.” Deuteronomy 1:39
Gratitude Journal - April 20, 2021 Today, I am grateful for accountability. Today we saw someone held accountable for his actions. That’s a good thing. For accountability, I am grateful.
Mindfulness Journal - April 19, 2021 - Day 21 of 365 Today was a more productive day than yesterday. I was able to focus more fully and concentrate. While I didn’t solve the problem I was faced with yesterday, I was able to find some clarity as to what was bothering me so much. Now I can better work to solve that part of the problem, rather than just being angry. It was a good day.
“I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.” Philippians 4:12
Gratitude Journal - April 19, 2021 Today, I am grateful for fully stocked grocery stores. Being able to drive to the grocery store, pick up pretty much any food item or ingredients you need is a gift. For grocery stores, I am thankful.
Mindfulness Journal - April 18, 2021 - Day 20 of 365 So, I’ve learned that there are many stops and starts with establishing a practice of mindfulness. Meaning, some days are valuable and move your training forward, and some days are not so great. Today was a not-so-great day for me. I found it difficult to focus; there was too much noise and too many distractions around me to allow for calm. I didn’t find what I was looking for. I know in the long run, having an off day is ok. There will be good days, and there will be bad days (like with everything). However, today’s failure hit me a little deeper because I feel like I needed the calm and the focus of a good meditation session. I’ve been deep in thought a lot today, focused on a personal problem, and I was hoping to sort it out during meditation. Instead, I just got stuck and couldn’t find my way out of it.
I’ll sleep on it and drive through it again tomorrow.
“The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in people who are trustworthy.” Proverbs 12:22
Gratitude Journal - April 18, 2021 Today, I am grateful for honesty. There is nothing more hurtful in life than dishonesty and deceit. Further, there is no reason for it other than selfishness, fear, and lack of integrity. Just be honest. Tell the truth, especially to those for whom you are supposed to care. For honesty, I am grateful.
Mindfulness Journal - April 17, 2021 - Day 19 of 365 I completed my meditation first thing this morning in a peaceful, quiet house. For me, that is the key to success: a quiet and calm home: no one else up, no interruptions. Today was a good day.
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” Jeremiah 1:5
Gratitude Journal - April 17, 2021 Today, I am grateful for popcorn. Popcorn is an awesome snack and I enjoy it. For popcorn, I am grateful.
Mindfulness Journal - April 16, 2021 - Day 18 of 365 My meditation today focused on my breathing and how thoughts can impact the breath. When you are not actively thinking about your breath, it just works—air in, air out. You don’t even recognize that it is happening. However, when you start paying attention to the breath, you find that each breath is different. Each chest rise is more or less than the last, and the volume of air and length of intake continually changes. Anxiety can cause you to breathe differently. Exercise can make your lungs work harder. Everything you do can impact the automatic process of bringing air in and out of your lungs. Yet, we very rarely even think of what is happening. We are not present enough to recognize the subtle changes in our bodies. Mindfulness helps me bring this presence back to other parts of my life by allowing me to focus on the simplest of things and let everything else pass by.
“God has ascended amid shouts of joy, the Lord amid the sounding of trumpets. Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises to our King, sing praises. For God is the King of all the earth; sing to him a psalm of praise.” Psalms 47:5-7
Gratitude Journal - April 16, 2021 Today, I am grateful for getting up early and accomplishing a couple of my most important tasks. The quiet of the morning helps me achieve the things I need to without interruption. For this, I am grateful.
Mindfulness Journal - April 15, 2021 - Day 17 of 365 Today I focused on applying my mindfulness techniques to my stretching routine. Today’s routine was long and I use the breathing and focus techniques to help make the time and stress of stretching pass a little bit quicker. It worked very well and I was able to find clam while improving my flexibility. Big win.
