A Gratitude Vacation in Challenging Times
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- čas přidán 17. 06. 2021
- Discover more about ECKANKAR: www.eckankar.org
This spring a lot of things changed in the world around us. One of those things was that my kids were sent home to do distance learning. Parents were asked to take on a lot of responsibilities that were new to them, on top of the work they were already doing and their previous routines. I found this to be very stressful, because I hold high expectations of myself as a mother and also as an employee, as a wife, as a friend, etc.
I knew the world around me was struggling too, and I felt, as an ECKist, this call to serve and to help them-my community around me, my friends, my family-help them find peace through this process. But I couldn’t, because I could barely make ends meet on my own home front, on the needs that my kids had-teaching them and meeting the school requirements, doing my work, meeting my work requirements, and nurturing my kids and myself through this process.
So I wanted to be able to access this peace that the ECK teachings had taught that I can access during experiences like this.
But because I was so distressed, I couldn’t. Then one day, a friend texted me on a group thread that we are on with five other mothers. The tensions were really high in Minnesota at the time because of a recent event, and she was struggling with how to find gratitude in anything. Instantly, I found this call to service-I could help with this, because I’m all about love and gratitude. I also recognized that the ECK was using her to help remind me to focus on gratitude.
So, I texted her back and said, “Hey, I can help. Why don’t we share lists of things we’re grateful for?” I started out by just sharing some basic things like my friends, my family, my home. And then suddenly something amazing happened, where all of a sudden I felt like I was diving deeper inside my heart. And I was seeing my life from a fresh perspective. I could see things like underlying experiences in my life and was feeling this deep gratitude for those.
One example was that I felt this deep gratitude for growing up in a family where I always knew I was loved. Even though I had divorced parents, I always knew I was loved. So I got to go really deep and share a few things that I had never really looked at through the lens of gratitude before.
Before I entered my text message, I closed my eyes to see if there was anything else I wanted to share. Suddenly I felt and heard the Sound Current move through my whole being. It was like every atom in my body could feel this warmth and hear the Sound. It kind of was like going on this mini vacation on the beach all by myself. I felt like the sun was just kissing my face, and felt this warmth inside me. I felt relaxed and refreshed and at peace for the first time in a few weeks.
So I decided to text them this last bit. I said, “I’m grateful for when I close my eyes; I can feel the peace within me when I hear the Sound that’s coming from within. And no matter what’s going on in the world around me, or where I am, that peace is there.” Then I invited my friends to share what they where grateful for, and we created a gratitude train: I shared mine and tagged one friend; they shared theirs and tagged a friend; and so on, until all of us had shared a lengthy list of what we were grateful for.
By the end, I felt way more hopeful, and I felt a lot more love in my life. I think for me, this is the contentment, the sanctuary, and the peace that Sri Harold mentions in the June 2005 "Mystic World," which is a publication that comes out quarterly for ECK members. He said that even during times of social unrest, we can find an inner peace through the Spiritual Exercises of ECK. Like the simple exercise that I did with my friends, on sharing gratitude. We can help others find that peace by being ourselves, then also sharing it with others.
This is one way that I love to serve. As the Mahanta is teaching me how to cope and learn from new ideas or new responsibilities that are being asked of me, I can share that process with people. I can share the struggle. I can share the resolution. And I can also share the love that I’m gaining from the experience.
This year, the one thing that I am really gaining from all these experiences is this deep recognition that gratitude is a critical key in spiritually surviving through this new world that we’re living in.
Thanks for sharing your beautiful experience.
Gratitude is beautiful ❤️
Thank HU so mutch. BARAKA BASHAD.
I so agree that gratitude can change my consciousness and life.
THANK YOU SO MUCH ❤🌹
GOD BLESS YOU
Thanks for sharing your amazing experience in gratitude 🙏🙌💙
I chanted hu this morning and saw this white light in my mind. I came online to show gratitude!😘
Thank HU for opening my heart to things I can be grateful for! Your experience was beautiful
merci💓
Thank you, Crary. May the blessings be. 💙
Thanks for your words
A beautiful video. Thank you for making it.
Beautiful experience! Love and hugs . May the blessings be 💕
Gratitude is essential for survival. Sharing gratitudes with others provides an outlet for more gifts. Wonderful job! HUgs!
IF YOU HELP AN ANIMAL ESCAPE A BAD SITUATION AND IT RUNS OFF , YOU ARE HAPPY FOR IT'S NEW FOUND FREEDOM, BUT IF YOU HELP SOMEONE WITH A FLAT TIRE AND THEY JUST DRIVE OFF WITH NO RECOGNITION OF YOUR SERVICE AND HELP , HOW DO YOU FEEL, NOT BAD FOR YOURSELF SO MUCH , BUT SAD FOR THE LACK OF CONSCIOUS THANKFULNESS OF THE HELP , THANKING PEOPLE FOR THERE SERVICE BRIGHTENS THE ENVIRONMENT , MORE SO THE ENVIRONMENT WITHIN .
You're really awesome, Crary. I think you're doing a great job, and thank you for your love as a fellow Eckist!
♥️🌷♥️
Kiss your father on my behalf.
Gorgeous.