“A thankful heart hath a continual feast”–W.J. Cameron
This is the monthly download of my daily gratitude practice–everyday I post five things I am grateful for. Gratitude has changed my life. You don’t need to read my list, but I hope you will start your own.
December 2012
Thank you for being Freshly Pressed and the lessons it has taught me; all the likes, comments, and follows; my amazing wife who taught me to see the doughnut, not the hole; my youngest doing his business on the toilet–Freshly Pressed and no dirty diaper today; validation that comes from within.
Doing something a little different today thanks to A Table in the Sun. Here is my top five wish list of things money can’t buy.
1. A constant reminder of how lucky we are to be alive in this wonderful country where anything is possible.
2. To be able to hug the chubby cheeks of my sons whenever I feel like it.
3. To have peace of mind no matter what is going on around me.
4. To have all the people I love know in their hearts that I love them.
5. To continue to grow in all ways towards unending happiness and joy
Thank you for Mirth and Motivation for passing on the hugs symbol–{{{HUGS}}}; all the wonderful feedback I have been getting about everything; Christmas cheer that is on WordPress–including the snow flakes. :); my wonderful wife, again; Rarasaur’s great post on blogging.
Thank you for Tracy nominating Everyday Gurus for another Inspiring Blogger award;
the new customization from WordPress; all the wonderful feedback on my first Sci-Fi short story; walking in the rain with my son; my new blogger friends at MRTB, MindMindfulness, Professions for Peace, Enjoy Life for Once, Jiltaroo, and Far Away in the Sunshine.
Thank you for meditation with my two sons, even if it only lasted 1 minute; the dreams of my 2 year old. When he woke up, he asked, “Daddy, can I ride a sea otter?”; the Compassion Cultivation Training I will be taking with my wife in January.: my eldest son starting basketball; the wonderful Christmas cards we have already received.
Thank you for palm trees in December; my sons being bilingual even though I am not; the love that is put in our food; how my 2 year old loves to say thank you; dinner with the family.
Thank you for my wife getting up at 7 am to work on a Saturday; my older son’s growing independence; all the parenting advice from fellow bloggers; air-popped popcorn for movie night; awareness of counter-productive thinking.
Thank you for how my boys play together while I nap; udon lunch at church; reconnecting with my dear friend, Nancy; my wife taking care of everything while I volunteered at church; FOCUS: PEACE posted by Mirth and Motivation.
Thank you for the time off to see my son’s Christmas performance; the abundance of clean, hot water available to us; the wonderful feedback from Gina on a controversial post; the re-connection meditation lead by Joumana Rizk on FOCUS: PEACE; all the wonderful skills I am learning everyday.
Thank you for our 4 foot plastic Christmas tree; peace in our neighborhood/country; the cheese sampler my friend Edward brought me; tennis with my son; bigger smiles.
Thank you for my 5 year old’s tantrum to teach me patience; blue sky that paved my walk on a rainy day; the tender kiss my son gave me while I napped; the consistent visits from my faithful followers; being reminded to “be one with the reality of love” by FOCUS: PEACE morning meditation.
Thank you for my 2 year old’s growl–Fox, time for a nap. Grrrrr!; Lady Ruby’s two page comment on a 2 week old post; no television all day; the wonderful grapefruit dessert recipe from a A Taste of Morning’s blog; Ravi Shankar’s music.
Thank you for the safety of my sons on this day of senseless death; Cassandra’s post that gave me musical support this morning; the Rarasaur experience my blog had today; all the love that exists in the world; all the things I take for granted everyday.
Thank you for the kind people who helped me find my son when I lost him in the mall; Roald Dahl and his wonderful books; all the new followers thanks to Rarasaur; all the wonderful poems to help us heal; the abundance of fruit available in December.
Thank you for my oldest son’s Christmas spirit; the kind woman who wished me well at church; my youngest son forgetting what I wrapped for his gift right after watching me wrap it; handwritten letters and cards; the smell of applewood bacon cooking on a cool morning.
Thank you for being able to watch my 2 year old stand like a deer in the headlights during his entire Christmas performance; Pajarigirls nominating Everydaygurus for the Liebster Award; Tracy’s guest post;my son getting addicted to reading books with no pictures–imagination; my wife working despite being sick.
Thank you for Bloggers for Peace; my dad coming to take Jett to the park; the wonderful support on my “peace in 2013” post; being able to sleep with my sons; the joy of popping bubble wrap.
Thank you for all the wonderful bloggers who signed up for Bloggers for Peace; how my older son giggles when he sleeps; the wonderful teachers, helpers, crossing guards, and parent helpers at my son’s school; the insomnia last night that lead to creative expression; for all the lessons that lead to happiness in 2012.
Thank you for blanket forts; playing with my kids at a park on a rainy day with no one around; the mochicream desserts we bought today; my wife’s support; Halu Ramen.
Thank you for making the sorriest sugar cookies with my smiling sons; my older son asking, “Do you mean inner peace,” when I tried to explain what a peace sign was; both my sons meditating in church yesterday; shelter from the torrential rains; clean running hot water.
Thank you for how my 2 year old says, “Yessh” instead of “yes”; early morning group hugs full of pillowy cheeks, button noses, and sweet morning breath; the thoughtful gift from my wonderful wife; the abundance of gifts for my sons; spending the day inside with my sons playing Beyblades.
Thank you for the cool night air to soothe my 2 year old’s croup attacks; Elizabeth from Mirth and Motivation joining Bloggers for Peace since she was the inspiration/motivation for the entire project; all the love I received from the blogging community on the post about online friendships; the amazing guidance from a consultation with Russell Bradley; my sister-in-law taking my sons, so my wife and I can have a date night.
Thank you for the undying love of my beautiful wife; all the abundance we enjoyed this year; the health we enjoyed this year; the love we enjoyed this year; all the blessings coming our way in 2013.
Thank you for reading, sharing, and/or smiling.
Related articles
- Everyday Thanksgiving – November (everydaygurus.com)
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- Everyday Thanksgiving in October (everydaygurus.com)
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Reblogged this on Jonathan Hilton.
Beautiful!!!
Thanks, OneG4AW. May your 2013 be filled with gratitude. {{{Hugs}}}
More thanks than ever, Kozo. Practice of Gratitude every waking moment brings harmony and balance in our daily life. Thank you Kozo for I will start using your {{{hugs}}}.
Yay, Seeker. A new {{{Hugger}}}. Grateful for your friendship.
Your list is proof that gratitude brings light everywhere it goes. Your words are like beacons glowing in this foggy morning of the first day of the year. Thank you for your kindness 🙂
Anyes, I really feel like we feed off each other’s energy and light up those around us. Let’s keep shining in 2013.
Works for me 🙂
I am glad that you enjoyed the grapefruit recipe. I hope that you and your family have a wonderful 2013!
Thank you, Laurie. We’ve had the glazed grapefruit 3x already. It is one of our favorite desserts. Looking forward to more great recipes from your blog in 2013.
Your post has started off my day with the reminder to live from an inner place of gratitude. It makes such a difference. Two days ago I talked to a close friend on the phone and drank tea at home. I looked around my cozy apartment and thought about what amazing friends and family I have. Yes, there will be setbacks and sadness sometimes, but it’s a miracle that we are even here experiencing it all. If everyone had your attitude the world would be a much happier place. I hope the New Year brings more joy, learning, growth and adventures for you.
We are truly blessed just to be alive, Dieu. We also are blessed to have access to each other. I am grateful for your poetry and unique perspective on the world. Thank you for your friendship. Let’s keep it going in 2013.
Yes, gratitude is very healing. There are so many joyous daily events to be thankful for, regardless of your financial status. Thanks for tagging along on Table in the Sun’s post. We can change the world by changing our energy!
Your last sentence says it all. Teresa. I have already seen so much change in my life from changing my energy. And if all else fails, I’ll just make some of that Ginger bread popcorn on your blog. 🙂
Happy New Year! Eat more cookies!
Great advice, Rumpydog. Too bad one of my New Year’s resolutions is to eat less refined sugar. haha
Happy New Year to you, DeDe, June Buggie, and Jenny. Keep waggin’ that tail.
Very sweet post, Kozo! So cozy! 🙂
And the pics of your kids are epic! They are soo cute! :))
And oh by the way, I got your second email (didn’t get the first one though:( )
but it was delivered to my Spam mailbox :(((( and i lost it 😦
Please take a moment and resend me your email again, I can’t seem to find your contact on the blog.
🙂
Your son is going to love you for posting that toilet picture when he gets older. 😉
I love the sea otter question. Children’s minds are so pure and wacky that you just have to love it.
Oops, good point, Goldfish. I don’t want to be that parent who shows the same embarrassing picture of their kids to everyone who visits. ;(
I love kids’ minds. The other day, my older son asked me, “Daddy, how many hours a day do I have to meditate to move earth?”
Thanks for the comment, Goldfish. Looking forward to finding out which one of your posts gets Freshly Pressed this year. haha
It’s your prerogative to post embarrassing pictures of your children. In fact, it’s almost required. 🙂
Nice. I have a friend who has a five year old I love to death and he says amazing things, too. It’s a shame that most of them lose that as they get older. Some of us, like me, don’t though. Enjoy their creativity, spontaneity and absolute adorableness while you can. All too soon, they’ll be men.
Thanks for the nod, Kozo. I’m glad we could connect, and I’m sure there’s much more good stuff to come. Happy New Year!
P.S. Have you gotten any traffic yet on your Tako post?
Yeah, Adam, thanks for the link. It is a great gift to get likes on a post that is two months old.
I look forward to all the new changes at RTB. I have to tell you that some of the best parts of your blog are the comments. I don’t know if that is a backhanded compliment, but I love bursting into laughter when reading your replies.
I’m glad to hear that!
Yes, the comments are always priceless. That’s the easy part, and the fun part, too. Feel free to jump in anywhere. The more complicated it gets, the funner it gets!
Gratitude reminds us of the abundance in life. Thank you for your post!
Thank you for your comment and follow, Jean. I look forward to reading your Bloggers for Peace posts. Thank you so much for joining the cause. I love how you straddle the line between passion and peace. I’ve never thought about this dichotomy, but it makes perfect sense, especially when our passions are controlled by that pesky ego. 🙂
a beautiful moment in time…thanks for sharing your gratitude summary for indeed it does inspire. 🙂
abundant peace & love
Always grateful for the Sunshine shining on my home on the internet. Thank you, Sunshine.
Your welcome. 😉
Thank you for Kozo who makes the day brighter 🙂 x
That says a lot, Annie, because your day is our night. haha. Let’s make 2013 full of light.
and when I lay me down to sleep…I can pass the baton my friend
I’ve long been keeping a journal, & I write 5 or more “gratefuls” in it (almost) everyday. I like that you put yours on your blog, & think I shall begin to do that too
Yay, Shala. I would love to read your gratitude journal. It amazes me what we take for granted sometimes. I’m sure I will end up “stealing” some of your “gratefuls.” 🙂
Inevitable, I’m sure:)
I started noting them each day, from the idea of increasing gratitude would increase prosperity…….. which is nonsense, I realize now, haha. But being grateful, for its own sake, isn’t. It’s a good practice, because I find myself noting things to be grateful for all through the day ………
Another beautiful post, Kozo. If only the entire world thought this way there would surely be nothing but peace and happiness. Senind big {{{hugs}}} your way 😀
Thanks, Dianne. {{{Hugs}}} back to you. Can’t wait for the next Cayo book. I think I’ll delve into Soul’s Child while I wait. I’m grateful to have you as a friend.
😀 Reading gratitudes are so heart-warming. I was wondering if you were going to compile these somewhere. 🙂 Do get large quantity of searches for sea otters? I mentioned them a time or two, and it’s still my top search, haha. 🙂 Also, I don’t know if you guys have a Wii, but if you do, and you ever get Wii Fit, there’s a little meditation exercise on there that works great for kids. You have to sit really still on the Wii Fit pad so the candle doesn’t blow out. It made meditations with my godchildren infinitely easier. 🙂 Beautiful list, beautiful post!
Thanks, Rara. I love sea otters. I’m probably one of the ones who searched your site. haha.
Love the idea of using the Wii to teach meditation. I bet the future will have a monitor that will tell you when you reach enlightenment. 🙂
P.S.
We have 51 Bloggers for Peace now!
Kozo, I’m sending you an email tonight. Opt out if you’re not interested, but I’d love to have you aboard. Let me know!
Wait a minute. I just realized you don’t have an email address on your Gravatar. Drop me a line on the Guest Panel tab if you’re interested in joining.
Adam,
If you go to manage comments and find my comment, it will have my email address there. It has my name in it and is on hotmail. I don’t want to post it on my blog in case you are a stalker. haha.
I have to mention my buiedds have been checking out the best solutions located on your web site and so then came up with an awful idea: I never thanked the web site owner for them. All of the boys became passionate to study all of them and already have pretty much been making the most of them. Appreciation for really being so thoughtful as well as for choosing these kinds of perfect areas millions of individuals are really eager to learn about. Our sincere regret for not expressing appreciation to you sooner.
Thank you for your recent visit to my site and the comment. I am not very tech savvy but so much want to be a part of your Bloggers for Peace movement. I don’t know how to add the logo to my site could you please help me. Sincerely Yours Nancy
This is a beautiful post Kozo and I am grateful for you too! 🙂
I’m glad to reconnect with you this year and many thanks for the blog support too.
•.★♥★Happy New Year to You & Yours!★♥★.•
Eliz
Today was one of those days where I really needed to be reminded of all the good things I have going on in my life. Thank you for this post. The award I nominated you for seems even more fitting after reading this entry…http://wp.me/p2LjRv-cc
Thanks to God for everyday miracles like sharing love through blog posts such as this. Bless you Kozo! Big hugs back at ya…. {{{huggies}}}
Oh, Maddie, your form of hugs is so squishy. I love it, except it kind of reminds me of my younger son’s diapers. haha.
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