“Acknowledging the good that you already have in your life is the foundation for all abundance.” ― Eckhart Tolle
The male staff pointed out yesterday that Pugsley and I have pretty much two modes: eating or waiting to eat. I had to begrudgingly admit he’s right. So it got me thinking….about being grateful for what I have and not always sitting around waiting for “what’s next.”
I think humans do this too – spend a lot of time waiting for “what’s next” and forget to appreciate all you have now!
Pugsley and I get fed four times a day. Yep, four. And we get a delicious, high quality food that the staff is always reminding us about. As if we deserve anything less. But, whatever.
The point is, we have it pretty darn good. In fact, we have it great. It’s been a few years but we can still remember what it was like to not have a family to love us. To not have enough to eat. To sleep in a cage. To be scared all the time. To feel sick and sad.
I hope if you are reading this you’ve never had to sleep in a cage….but I’m sure some of you have experienced not having enough to eat, feeling scared or sick or sad. I hope things are better for you now. I’m guessing if you look around you and start thinking about the things you do have, you might be surprised at what life has given you.
Here are some tips for practicing gratitude.
1. Just begin. Start counting your blessings. They add up quickly, no matter how bad things may seem. The staff being late to serve lunch doesn’t seem quite so bad once I think about all the other great stuff I have.
2. Say it out loud. Tell people you appreciate them. Or what they’ve done for you. Email, text or call them. Or, do it my way: jump on their lap and snuggle with them. Thank you for taking good care of me, staff.
3. Don’t forget the little stuff. A beautiful flower. A warm breeze. A leftover treat that got stuck under the bowl.
4. Take some time every day to stop and be grateful. Make it a habit and you’ll never regret the time you spend on this.
5. It’s okay to bitch and moan. Or meow/whine. Geez, we’re only human. Well, you are.
Tell me, friends. What are you grateful for today?
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Very wise words.
Purrs
We are grateful for all of our blessings. A roof over our heads, good noms, plenty of toys, clean litter boxes and most of all, a Mommy who saved us, from who knows what, and loves each and everyone of us, no matter what! Our Mommy says she is blessed too! By having all of us!
Well said! The humans can learn a lot from us kitties.
Mom says she is greatful for healthy foster kittens. We had a bad scare this year and the ones we have seem to be hanging in there and playing and getting bigger – which is always good news.
(we tend to be more greatful that they are getting bigger which means they will be leaving to find their OWN homes soon – MOL)
I am thankful for my wonderful husband of 50 years, my children and grandchildren (and great-grandchildren, I am really old). I am also thankful for cats, especially Kiki and you, Romeo and Pugsley.
Well, we’re not thankful Jan is so forgetful and it’s rubbed off on us. But we are thankful Jan remembers to put food in our bowls – eventually.
i love this blog, thank you and keep it up!
We try to take every moment we can to really enjoy each other and ‘be together.’ Those moments are the most precious when the time comes, inevitably, to say goodbye.
My health and the health of those I love!