Daily Inspiration 4-18-10

Opportunity Week

"I believe in professionalism, but playing is not like a job.

You have to be grateful to have the opportunity to play."

-- Wynton Marsalis

"The essence of all beautiful art, all great art, is gratitude."

-- Friedrich Nietzsche

"I'm thankful for every moment."

-- Al Green

Though in a previous Daily Inspiration, I said that my life was all about being an encourager, and it is, and I would like to add one element to that idea: Of all the concepts that I might like to discuss and promote, there is one that stands out so clearly as if it is a guiding star guiding us to safety. It is gratitude. If I could encourage you to become more grateful and to begin a life-long path of increasing gratitude, there could be no greater encouragement than this.

I've had some life-changing events in recent years, and none is greater and more rewarding than becoming and growing as a person of gratitude. Frankly, it changes EVERYTHING. My entire outlook on life has changed. My daily outlook, even moment to moment outlook has changed. I now love my life, when before, I used to long for a life. To say this is huge is a gross understatement.

To encourage others, I talk about gratitude and being thankful more than any other topic. It is a game changer; a life changer. And, it opens your eyes to opportunities that you didn't even know existed. Harry Truman said, "a pessimist is one who makes difficulties of his opportunities and an optimist is one who makes opportunities of his difficulties." What makes an optimist is gratitude. It is appreciation. It is art.

Many people say, 'God is good. . . all the time!', and then so many turn around and say, 'God, why me? Why did you do this to me?' A dichotomy? For sure, but what is really missing is a belief that God really is good all the time instead of just some of the time. I have learned as I have become more and more grateful for everything in my life that God is indeed good all the time. I praise God for the opportunity of this life every day now and for everything in my life including the things that are not what I want right now. I now see so clearly what gratitude will do for a person. It is flat amazing to me.

So, wherever you are on your life path, I would love to encourage just one simple thing of you: learn to be grateful for everything in and about your life. Praise God, the Universe, the All-Knowing, or whatever you want to call that which created all that is here. Practice growing in thankfulness every day, so that you never ever complain about anything ever again, but give thanks for it instead. I guarantee you that this will be the most important and the most powerful and the most rewarding thing you will ever do. Ever.

I Grow Ever More Grateful Every Minute. Will It Ever End? I Sincerely Hope Not! It Is Way Too Cool.

Spread Some Joy Today--Now that you're a person of gratitude, or committed to becoming one, it is time for you to share that with others. They've already noticed the difference in you. Now they need to know why and how easy it is for them too.