Gratitude Brings Peacefulness & Inner Quiet --by E.H.

Every day as part of my spiritual practice, I make a list of things to be thankful for. I observe the squirrel eating breakfast on top of the telephone pole, the dew droplets on the grass, the gentle breeze tousling the leaves, the rain that waters the flowers. Each day is a new discovery. “What will I write today?” is the first question of the morning, as I wake up and turn on the computer. It often starts out with “slept well and dreamed,” and I make a habit of writing down the positives before mentioning the things to change about life on my other list.

This sense of wonder came through having the time to sit at home while healing from an extended illness. There are so many things that normal people miss when they are rushing from task to task. It was in these moments of stillness that I began to develop a sense of quiet, relaxed being.

When you get quiet, you realize how much of human activity is unnecessary, and you start to get in touch with your inner spirit. You gain a creativity and an awareness like never before. This inner quiet could be sought in a spot near the lake up in the wilderness as you listen to the birds sing, and the geese chat with each other, or it can be sought in the stillness of the morning out on the veranda when you are sleeping outside. It can be sought while you are doing the dishes and observing how wonderful the warm suds feel on your hands.

This quiet can be sought even in moments of chaos, such as at work as a caregiver when you are taking care of a disabled person and you hear their family arguing. You can make the choice: today I will be the calm and I will seek a peaceful, quiet spot and be thankful. This practice of being thankful every day has changed my life and I encourage you to daily track new things to be thankful for.

Wherever you seek your quiet, that is your secret hiding spot, and your home remedy for the soul.