Middle-Pause Pump-Priming Prompt
How is Your Heart Expressing Your Gratitude, Generosity, and Appreciation?
A thanksgiving question with a year-round answer
It all starts with an attitude of gratitude.
Which is huge. It’s so easy to focus on what’s wrong with and in our lives. In fact, those are the squeakiest wheels most of the time. Often urgent fires we have to put out or get burnt.
So no wonder, right?
But don’t we also know that adage, we get what we focus on?
If not, let the Thanksgiving holiday remind us to step back, once the flames are under control, and take stock of what we’re grateful for.
It might be personal and tangible. Our health, or our recovery from health challenges, gifts, and blessings received. Time with our loved ones. Decent weather. A roof over our heads. Food for the table.
It might be personal and intangible. The release of another layer of stress or anger. Mental fog clearing enough to take care of business. Bursts of joy between longer stretches of grief. A deepening of our faith.
It might involve our broader community and planet. Trees folks are planting. The contributions of our Native American sisters and brothers to their communities, the nations, and the planet. That paper-thin layer of ozone that keeps us safe from outer space. Those gazillions of stars lighting up our nights.
Once we stop and acknowledge what and who we’re grateful for, let’s take time to feel that gratitude. Allow our hearts to fill and overflow with the blessings showered our way. Even if all we can come up with is I woke up to live and enjoy another day.
Let that be a river pouring forth from our hearts.
Pouring where? And to whom?
The lesson this Thanksgiving season teaches me is that a grateful heart is a giving heart. Feeling full and blessed opens me up to a space of grace when appreciation and generosity like to dance in each other’s arms.
I’m moved to acknowledge and appreciate those I love, reminding them not only that, but exactly how, they make a difference in my life. I’m moved to give generously as one of the ways I can show that appreciation.
So here’s this week’s Middle Pause pump-priming prompt: What or who are you grateful for and why? How are or will you express that gratitude in words and action (appreciation and generosity)?
I’m grateful to go first.
Because I have a story I’m eager to share.
Our visionary leader, Debbie walker just had her first cataract surgery. In December she’ll have the other eye done. Her spiritual visions are sharp, clear; the reason we’re all here.
Her physical vision needs help.
Recently Debbie shared with me how much better her vision would be if she was able to get the special corrective lenses recommended. But she wasn’t sure how to pay for them. Until we talked.
It just so happened that my roommate Aikya just had both of her eyes done. She was going to get special lenses that would have cost the same amount as Debbie’s. She, too, did not have a way to pay for them.
I did. So I offered, knowing what a huge difference clear vision makes for all of us, and grateful my abundance allows me to do this.
It turned out those special lenses would not work in AIkya’s eyes. She went with the corrective lenses that came with the cataract procedure at no extra cost.
She’s doing well and even driving now!
Debbie’s eyes need those special lenses.
When she described how big she has to blow up her computer screen to be able to read on it, and the difference the lenses would make, including her ability to drive again, I was full to bursting.
Here’s what I said:
Debbie, it just so happens that I had set aside exactly that amount so Aikya could get her lenses. Then it turned out she didn’t need to get them.
Would you be comfortable accepting my gift of that amount?
I asked it that way because some people have a hard time saying yes to such offers. Some people have a hard time accepting abundance when it comes to them from sources outside their own efforts.
Debbie is not one of those people!
She lept at the offer and started praising the Lord. I could ‘see’ her through the phone line jumping up and down with joy.
Her next words were, This is what happens every time I tithe. Heaven has just opened up and poured me out a blessing!
As she rejoiced and exclaimed, I went on Paypal and transferred the money. As I did, my heart overflowed with joy.
My heart still overflows with that joy.
I knew I would feel good and happy, but I did not anticipate ongoing joy, enthusiasm, and delight overflowing from my heart.
Maybe that’s because of who Debbie is in my life.
She picks me up when I’m down. She prays for me with a voice full of healing conviction. Walking her talk, she totally embodies the living Spirit.
And gives her all to Middle-Pause — even when she can’t see the computer screen. She keeps going and keeps us going full speed ahead!
And in case you’re new on the scene or somehow missed it, Middle-Pause is not just a publication. It’s a vision, cast by Debbie, embraced by our team and all of you.
A vision empowering women in the middle of our lives to break through challenges to be who we came here to be, with the support of this loving community. Can I get an amen?
What I’m Learning
In giving this gift, I discovered that I feel more abundant after giving a generous amount than I did before. Even though my bank account is that much lower.
My sense of my life and the people in it as abundant has burst its seams. Everything looks and feels different. I’m seeing through my heart.
Which overflows with love and joy. May it spread everywhere I go and everywhere I post.
Okay, now it’s your turn. Again the questions: What or who are you grateful for and why? How are or will you express that gratitude in words and action (appreciation and generosity)?
We know you’re busy. We are, too. But maybe while that turkey’s defrosting, the yeast’s rising, and the oven’s warming, take a breather and jot a few notes. We look forward to hearing from you!
What are you ‘too old’ or ‘too scared’ to do? Let me show you how!
Marilyn Flower writes political humor and satire to delight socially and spiritually conscious folks. She’s the author of Creative Blogging: Ninja Writers Guide to Character Development and Bucket Listers, Get Your Brave On: How to Do the Thing You’re ‘Too Old’ & ‘Too Scared’ to Do. Clowning and improvisation strengthen her resolve during these crazy times. Stay in touch!
