Gratitude Journal - April 26, 2021 Today, I am grateful for the instant communication tools that I have available to me. Connecting with co-workers, friends, and family at a moment’s notice is a unique and wonderful advancement. For all of these valuable tools, I am grateful.
Mindfulness Journal - April 25, 2021 - Day 27 of 365 Today’s meditation focused on the concept that there is not a right or wrong way to meditate. This idea is essential to me because I often try to find the “best” or “correct” way to complete tasks. To some extent, I think this tendency is an outcropping of a desire to procrastinate and delay the completion of jobs.
Procrastination most often occurs when I am unsure or uncomfortable with what needs to get done. Things like building a deck or finishing a basement fall into this category, but I think meditation also fits this picture. The Meditative practice is individual and unique to each person. There is no one way to be successful in this journey. Instead of focusing on this as a challenge in the path, I will use this as a motivation - that no matter what I do, as long as I keep moving forward, I will be successful.
Today was a good day.
“After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.”” Revelation 7:9-10
Gratitude Journal - April 25, 2021 Today, I am grateful for all of the opportunities I have been given in my life. I know I am very blessed to have lived the wonderful life I have to this point. I work every day to make sure I deserve all I have been given. For each and every opportunity I have been given in life, I am grateful.
Mindfulness Journal - April 24, 2021 - Day 26 of 365
“Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.” Ephesians 4:14-16
Gratitude Journal - April 24, 2021 Today, I am grateful for my Saturday morning men’s bible study. Having a weekly opportunity to meet with positive and thoughtful men is amazing. For this, I am grateful.
Mindfulness Journal - April 23, 2021 - Day 25 of 365 The true purpose of mindfulness practice is not simply finding time to meditate each day but instead bringing the concepts of mindfulness into the rest of your day. Success in mindfulness means being more present and more aware of what you are thinking, feeling, and doing all the time, not just during the first 20 minutes of your day. I’ll admit, this is a challenge for me. I often treat this journey as a checkbox. I focus on getting it done rather than a meaningful process. I need to bring these concepts into the rest of my life. My goal for today and the weekend is to find moments each day where I reset and make sure that I am aware of what I am doing and why I am doing it. I will find opportunities to check in with myself and make sure I am present in my actions and feelings.
“The Lord is a warrior; the Lord is his name.” Exodus 15:3
Gratitude Journal - April 23, 2021 Today, I am grateful for the warriors that go to battle everyday to keep our nation safe. Those who dedicate their lives to the service of our country need to be appreciated daily. For the members of our military, past and present, I am thankful.
Mindfulness Journal - April 22, 2021 - Day 24 of 365
“The student is not above the teacher, nor a servant above his master.” Matthew 10:24
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.
