Appreciation can make a day, even change a life. Your willingness to put it into words is all that is necessary..
Margaret Cousins
Reblogged from: http://lakesidelane.wordpress.com. With thanks Dianne 🙂
My friend and colleague, Marian whose e-books I posted about in Promoting Goodness also takes stunning photos. She has a new camera to play with and snapped this wonderful photo of a Tui feeding on a flax flower in her garden.
There is much to appreciate about these beautiful birds. I hope you enjoy this photo as much as I do.
We have a Melia azedarach tree in our front garden and it has grown enormously since we first moved in over 22 years ago. We had it trimmed a few years back and the arborist told me he would refuse to cut it down because it was such a beautiful tree.
In the past year or two I have working hard on being more aware and noticing more and my attention on this tree has increased. Then in the last few months I have been reading Juliet Batten’s blog http://seasonalinspiration.blogspot.com and she too is watching Melia trees and we have shared our observations and findings.
I had, until recently known the tree as the Bead tree and I have just learnt why it is so named, thanks to Juliet. The green seeds that are visible on my tree right now, contain a hard, five sided kernel or bead and these beads are used to make rosary beads.
The word “azedarach” comes from a contraction of the Persian vernacular “azaddhirakt” or noble tree.
I have a new and deeper appreciation for my Melia and the small gifts it gives to spiritual seekers and for its ancient noble status.
I picked up a book yesterday and out dropped a card with handwritten wisdom on it. I see the writer dated it Oct 1994. Her wisdom that she offered me back then still resonates with me today so I thought I would share it with you.
“Lower expectations, raise appreciation”
“Work is love in action.”
“Worry is an unproductive exercise”
“Let us hope for the future instead of regret for the past.”
“My three D’s: Discipline, Determination, Dedication”
Go well today.
Keeping a daily gratitude journal is a popular means of keeping our focus on the positive and pleasant things in our lives.
Other things you might like to include in your daily notes are things that you appreciate, things that make you laugh and things that bring you joy.
My list for the day so far includes being grateful for good food and clean water, hot water in the shower, a flushing toilet, my family and pets and the love they give to me.
I am feeling very joyful today because our neighbours are topping and cutting back their trees which means we will get lots more sunshine in our liviing area, as well as lots more sunshine and light in the garden.
I have family members on a long road trip today and I appreciate the benefits of text messages as they let us know where they are. It is great to know they are safe.
It is only noon here so I will have some more notes to make by the end of the day. Do you keep a daily gratitude/appreciation journal?
ordinarygoodness 