The Love Hangover
It is the day after Valentine’s Day. What do we do the day after we focus on love? What do we focus on now besides half-priced chocolate? Love, of course, just like we do every single day of our lives. Just like there are myriad things to be grateful for, there are just as many things to love. What is the difference between love and gratitude anyway? Like our quote says, love is not about possession, it is about appreciation. And when we love like that there is no distinction between love and gratitude.
We are not only grateful on Thanksgiving. We choose it every single day.
We are not only loving on Valentine’s Day. We choose it every single day.
But these holidays remind us of the importance of celebrating. So let’s throw out all that we know about celebrating love and celebrating gratitude. If you built your celebration from scratch, following your heart, what would your celebrations of love and gratitude look like?
So many of us have negative associations with Valentine’s Day and other holidays as well. Maybe feeling lonely, annoyed or even feeling sorry for ourselves. I love this idea of focusing on appreciation not possession and not even association. As we know from practicing gratitude, we can always find something to appreciate. And that is love.
If you love a flower, don’t pick it up. Because if you pick it up it dies and it ceases to be what you love. So if you love a flower, let it be. Love is not about possession. Love is about appreciation.
~Osho
What are you grateful to love but not possess?
LEARNING: LEARNING: On Saturday I was able to find gratitude for my phone battery dying but it definitely was not the first thing I felt. I was lamenting not being able to take photos since it died right at the beginning of our day trip. I was pissed since I had the forethought to charge it before we left. I was feeling ripped off because I paid full price for the phone and after a year it is being completely inadequate. But along side all of those feelings. My gratitude was true too. For instance when we were on the train I kept finding myself looking at my phone instead of being present. And I really wanted to be present. The died battery took away the pull to look at my phone. I was grateful because I knew I didn’t need to capture the memories with photos. Those memories are locked in through experience. And I can’t capture dancing all alone in the hallway in a photo anyway. So, yes, I was able to find gratitude and I was also pissed. But being pissed sure did not last long.
FORGOTTEN GRATITUDE: Last week I was also grateful for a book of remedios, perfect records and my favorite chocolate … Getting rid of extra services and corresponding fees that we don’t need … And I’m grateful for the abundance of gratitude, still having more even after after sharing 21 gratitudes in one day!
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[su_note note_color=”#e7e7e7″ text_color=”#686767″ radius=”0″] My gratitude journey started in May 2011 and continues to this day. Thank you for being a part of it! A daily gratitude practice is simple. Write down three things you are grateful for each day. Download your free GratitudeGuide. My clients focus on gratitude and learn from their successes to make the positive changes they want in their lives. You can too. Call me to set up our first meeting 505.333.9336. [/su_note]