"One Thousand Gifts" Book Review

Tonight I finished reading "One Thousand Gifts" by Ann Voskamp. At first I didn't care for her writing style, which is more of a poetic style, but after getting into the book, it grew on me. The book is about her journey to find "grace" in a life filled with tragedy and stress and writing down one thousand things to be grateful for. I would highly recommend this book; it is good. If you have difficulty with her "way of writing," read 2 or 3 chapters and then go back. It kind of grows on you after awhile.

In her last chapter, after her long journey on finding Gods grace, she wrote something very powerful.

" I can hear Him, what He is telling the whole world: this is for you. The earth under your feet, the rain over your face upturned, the stars spinning all around you in the brazen glory: this is for you. These are for you---gifts---these are for you---grace---these are for you---God. So count the ways He loves, a thousand, more, never stop, that when you wake in the morning you can't help turn humbly to the east, unfold your hand to the heavens, and though you tremble and though you wonder, though the world is ugly, it is beautiful, and you can slow and you can trust and you can receive each moment as grace."

You can check out her book site at www.onethousandgifts.com  or her blog where you will get a feel of her writing style at www.aholyexperience.com

Finding Joy

The definition of joy is: a feeling of great pleasure and happiness. It's hard to find joy in our every day lives when we have kids screaming, televisions blaring, bills stacking up, fears of losing everything,  or jobs we hate..... you get my drift.  So let's start searching for the joy in our lives. As Ann Voskamp said in her book One Thousand Gifts: " The brave who focus on all things good and all things beautiful and all things true, even in the small, who give thanks for it and discover joy even in the here and now, they are the change agents who bring fullest Light to all the world."

Starting today let's write down at least one joyful thing; something that gave you that feeling of pleasure. Try not to be repetitive, pay attention, really open your eyes and truly see. As Annie Dilliard said, "Unless I call attention to what passes before my eyes. I simply won't see it." We need to open our eyes and write down those joys; before you know it that one joy will add up to at least 365 joys. After writing down your joy, give thanks, and you will begin to see the world in a more positive light.

Alternative to killing your husband!

As I start on this journey of looking at the brighter spots in life, I hit upon a bump in the road. A day of annoyances from my husband. I have been fairly calm and good natured for quite some time now but today I was trying to get the dishes done, the floors washed, some laundry done, make his lunch and dinner (with absolutely no assistance) so that I could start on my homework, which is quite a bit of reading. What's he doing? Watching a movie that the whole neighborhood could hear!

So, in my spare time today, I picked up my Redbook magazine that I got a couple of days ago, and I start reading. I came across this cute article about putting your man on craigslist and what would you say? I read this and laughed out loud:

                                                    Free Husband
                                                      Sitting by the curb
                                                 In front of 1234 First Street.
                                                  If this posting is still up,
                                                      he's still out there.
                                                                 by Rachel Bourbois

All is calm now. I laughed my frustrations away. And what's even funnier.... he would be out there for a long time! (But I still love him).

Awakening the Heart

Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy by Sarah Ban Breathnach has a wonderful entry for January 13th. I have had this book for awhile and I decided on January 1st that I should to commit to reading the daily entry every day. When I read it today, I thought of so many people that are experiencing problems with money including myself. It was one of those "wow" moments.

Today's entry talks of how we all yearn for financial security, which makes us depressed because in today's economic reality, there is none. Instead of focusing on financial security, we should focus on financial serenity. Here's a quote from today's entry: "When I surrendered my desire for security and sought serenity instead, I looked at my life with open eyes. I saw that I had much for which to be grateful. I felt humbled by my riches and regretted that I took for granted the abundance that already existed in my life. How could I expect more from the Universe when I didn't appreciate what I already had?" She goes on and makes an inventory of her life's assets, which doesn't include money, and finds she is very wealthy.

So, in today's contemplation, lets stop yearning for more and look at what we have. Make a list of all the wonderful things in your life that you are grateful for and smile because you have so much. I am grateful for my wonderful husband of 26 years, my four boys, my soon to be 4 grandchildren, my cuddly pets, all my family and friends, and the food and shelter I have, which so many do not have. So, in reality, I am truly very wealthy.