I’m snuggled in a blanket on my friend’s sofa in Brooklyn.
Cozy. Warm. Grateful beyond belief.
I left my home in New Jersey late Tuesday night, after losing power and cell service for an undetermined length of time. My neighborhood left storm ravaged.
Before I left, I was mildly annoyed about my lack of access. My thoughts wandered: “How will I be in touch with my clients?”; “I’m going to miss my dentist appointment”; “What will I do without email access?”.
After finding my way to Brooklyn, I made some tea and turned on the news.
Within moments, my perspective was jolted into focus:
My adopted state is in ruin.
The death toll continues to rise.
Neighborhoods I know are burned or washed away.
Much of the Caribbean is in crisis.
Perspective is everything.
It brings focus to what’s really important.
It wakes us up to our incredible fortune.
It connects us to the value of life.
In the race to create the life we want, we often stop living the life we have.
Ambition without appreciation is shallow, unsatisfying and ungrounded.
Look and see how you are already free. There are reasons to rejoice.
Pay attention.
Are you unfocused, or obsessing over the unimportant?
Are you awake to your incredible fortune?
Are you connected to the beauty and value of life?
Today:
Take a moment to say this prayer: THANK YOU.
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Find a way to give. Give fully and wholeheartedly.
If you want to help hurricane survivors, the White House says how here.
—> In the comments below, share the gratitude that you are awake to, and how you will give today. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
I’ll get us started. I am grateful for the safety of my friends, for this perspective shift and for a safe place to stay.
I will give by finding some people I can buy sandwiches for.
I am grateful for life itself and for the kindness of “strangers”. I am grateful for power and food and the safety of my family and friends. I will give by donating to the relief cause in whatever way I can.
Beautiful, Nicole. How will you donate? Let me know — I’d love to get creative with this.
I’m grateful for the opportunity to be half way around the world in Asia. Its a blessing, but its hard to hear about the dire straits people are in without being able to help. I’m also grateful for the little positivities I keep hearing. Like John Romaniello joking about how uncharacteristically nice people are being to each other. Or Casey Neistat’s video of biking in the squall. I hope it will shift people towards simplicity and kindheartedness in a lasting way.
Fortunately I donated some blood before I left.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abawK4JRT2w
(btw Nisha, I just saw you got shouted out on AmberRae’s blog. The Manifestation Equation. Love it!)
Thank goodness you’re away, Steven! It’s nuts here. Blood donation — yes. I’ve gotta get on that.
Thanks for the head’s up about Amber’s blog!
Nisha- Thank you for sharing this beautiful post. I am so grateful that my family and friends are safe. I am grateful to be able to connect and reach out to others who need support. I am scheduled to give blood on Saturday. I love that fact that my life energy can give others life. It is truly amazing.
Okay, you guys have me totally committed to giving blood this week! Thank you for the extra push, Michelle. xo
Awesome Nisha. It’s funny…I was writing a newsletter about giving blood when your awesome love letter came. Made me know for sure I was meant to do it….even though I am a wimp about needles. xo
Thank you, Nisha! Thank you. Thank you Spirit for every single bit. xoxo!
I am grateful for this beautiful post, and the amazing support system I have in my life.
Thank you, Leah! Yes, we are so fortunate for our incredible support.
Love this! THank-you Nisha, Thank-you God, Thank-you Universe! So well put. Today I am grateful just to be alive. Today I will give a complete stranger a loving compliment. xoxo
This is awesome, Jacquie! I’m inspired. Now I just need to find a stranger to compliment. Thanks for the idea!