Say Yes to Life with a Grateful Heart

New years are new beginnings. What a better way to start it by saying “Yes to Life!” And I believe the best way to saying yes to life is to be grateful for everything and everyone in it.

Gulp. Does it have to be everything and everyone…all of the things and people in our lives? That seems to be pretty tough. No way! How about those times when someone you love betrayed, abused, deceived and lied to you? Or how about those times when we faced challenging moments of financial crisis, emotional turmoil, separation and loss of a loved one or the difficulty of having physical ailments, cancer and the list goes on. Do I have to be grateful for that too?

The answer remains the same. Yes!

Allow me to share with you a true story.

Several years ago, a sixty year old man with twinkling eyes arrived in the doorway of our learning center. We were so used to students with heights below our waist level that this was a surprise, albeit a pleasant one. He asked if we have a one on one program where he could study and improve his English speaking skills. Curious, I asked why he wanted to do this and what it was intended for.

I smiled as he confessed sheepishly. “I am a businessman and well, I just want to learn how to speak English well. Am I too old for this?”

“Why no?!” I exclaimed. “Nobody is ever too old for anything. To tell you frankly, I admire you for doing this.”

He must have sensed my sincerity for he grew quiet and told me something more. He shared that a month ago, his doctor announced to him that he had liver cancer. He remembered how stunned he was as he walked out of the clinic in a dazed state.

When he was outside, he found himself looking up at the sky. “It was such a beautiful day. The sun was shining and I was amazed at how blue the sky was. And there were so many white clouds all around. And right then and there, I just realized how busy I was with my business that I had totally forgotten to appreciate the things around me. Do you know that was the first time, after a very long time, I recall taking the time to look at the sky and appreciating it?”

He was scheduled for an operation but before all of that he turned over his business to his partner and decided he was going to spend the rest of his life living. One of the things he wanted to do was learn English and thus, for some unknown reason made his way into our lives.

For a month, he came. He shared. He learned. We all grew. When it was his last day of his month long program, he brought some food for us as a thank you gift. I remember the bittersweet feelings of the pain of not knowing how long he had to live and yet the joy of having found himself and able to enjoy and live life truly.

I remember him vividly up to now because he brought into my awareness that saying yes to life is to be grateful for who I am and for all my experiences that taught me to be a better person. And how could I ever forget this sixty year old man whose enrollment form bore the name of Angel?

1. Every morning when you wake up thank God that you are alive and you have a new day to live.
2. Show your appreciation to the people who have made a difference in your life. Write a letter. Give a gift. Express it in a hug. Say “thank you.” Tell them what they did or who they are that has touched you.
3. Allow yourself to show delight and gratitude. Stretch those facial muscles into a beautiful smile, skip and dance if you want to, shout with glee, break into a hearty laughter. Allow..allow…allow!

I can not stop being grateful for all the moments someone comes up to you as they express a word of thanks. It has made all the gloomy days bright and brings a large amount of inspiration.

1. Know and believe that in each situation and challenge that comes our way, there is a blessing. You may not see it immediately but trust in the process of life's unfolding.
2. When tough times come, say thank you instead of grumbling and complaining. This puts you in a state of awareness that brings in the wisdom and the courage to respond in a better way.
3. Recognizing the blessing in each situation will bring more peace and contentment in your life.

Learn how to view things differently:

Self Improvement: Get Out of the Box

I am so grateful to be alive.

I am so grateful for all the experiences that has made my life into what it is today.

I am so grateful for all the people who have taught me and brought out of me all the good qualities that I have.

I am so grateful to have a consciousness.

I am so grateful for every gift, skill, talent and ability that I could use to improve my life.

I am so grateful that I have the power to choose.

I am so grateful to think and feel.

I am so grateful to the Divine for giving me each brand new day to live a full life – a life of joy, peace, love and abundance.

I am so grateful knowing that each time I plant the seeds of gratitude, I know that they are blooming and growing constantly.

I am so grateful, ever so grateful, very grateful!

I am grateful for all that I have received and all that is yet to come!

Gratitude is a state of consciousness. A grateful heart declares to the Universe that everything is right and is in its proper place. It sees beyond the imperfections and acknowledges the perfection of things.

Say "Yes to Life" with a grateful heart and watch how beautiful life can be.

By: Michelle Simtoco