As we become ensconced in adulthood, there may be fewer firsts, and many more obligations. Life can become pretty serious and demanding, and it can be a challenge to keep things fresh and exciting. However, even in the more commonplace activities of life, there are many opportunities that supply endless reasons for gratitude and joy. I am so very grateful for those opportunities, and I think it advantageous to consider them, and express appreciation for them on a regular basis--the warmth of my home on a cold day, the smell of dinner roasting in the oven, the sounds of music, the laughter of children, the happiness of a family gathering. There are so many opportunities that present themselves. Each a reason for thanksgiving.
Learning is one of those opportunities. Because it is an ever present possibility in life, and found in so many forms, I find it to be an exciting and enriching aspect of life.
Last week I had the opportunity of addressing a women's group. I talked about maintaining a spirit of gratitude, even in the face of adversity. I pointed out some of the science behind routinely training our thoughts in a positive direction, and the power we have over our own brain chemistry, and how we can influence our own mental and emotional health. I further shared some direction in exactly how to alter our thinking and some skills that can be used to accomplish that. Although speaking publicly is not new for me, it was still exciting to prepare my remarks and then share positive, thought provoking information.
I find some areas of my life limited because of my husband's illness, so I am especially grateful for those times when I get to share a positive perspective with others. It is equally exciting when others are sharing new and uplifting information with me.
I've also recently been training to do some "at home" work--an opportunity I'm grateful for because it will allow me to be with my husband and still supply needed income. As I was being trained, all the information seemed a bit overwhelming. However, I've had enough new learning experiences to know that what initially seems to flood and overflow our minds soon gets absorbed and is, indeed, taken in and learned. As I was going through this process, I was struck by how very capable and marvelous our brains are; how they can take an abundance of new information, order it, make sense of it, and remember it, allowing us to learn new skill sets and become proficient in areas that were previously unexplored and unknown.
I know there was a time when I would have run away from such opportunities. How silly. What if every child born into the world simply sat in a corner, refusing to move because hand-eye coordination seemed too overwhelming, or because taking first steps seemed dangerous, or because holding a bottle was confusing. Of course, babies don't do that--it wouldn't occur to them not to learn and progress. Sometimes, as we get older, however, we become fearful--the reasons can be many--and stop allowing ourselves to take advantage of wonderful opportunities that would increase our joy and satisfaction with life. 
No matter what stage of life we are in, there are many opportunities for excitement, and many reasons for new experiences, if we allow ourselves, like a small child, to wander a little outside our comfort zone--to explore, feel overwhelmed for awhile, and then trust that our brains will do their marvelous work of processing and ordering things. They will, you know, and we will get to enjoy new experiences that, perhaps, we felt were outside our realm of possibility.
TODAY'S GENTLE ENCOURAGEMENT: “Don’t wait for extraordinary opportunities. Seize common occasions and make them great.”(Orison Swett Marden ) It is gratitude that turns common into precious and elevates ordinary to exciting!! (me)
