Gratitude and Letting Go - Day 2

Daily Order: Day 2

Yesterday you began creating a gratitude and letting go list. What did you notice? Did you find any commonalities?

I wonder what will happen to our day when we fill it with thoughts of what we are most thankful? There are people out there who have already been researching this like the Greater Good Science Center, linked on Day 1. What I think is really cool about this stuff is that it scientifically reinforces what I believe most of us already know somewhere inside of us, but don't always take the time to admit to ourselves. Recognizing those things we are most thankful for makes us happy. Expressing our gratitude spreads the happiness. This happiness can ripple through our day, changing our perspectives, changing our actions, changing our words.
Who is the happiest person you know? This is someone whose happiness extends beyond the everyday smile. This is someone who erupts not just with happiness, but joy. To walk around with that kind of happiness says something about their ability to not only recognize the things they are thankful for and share those things with others. It also says something about their ability to let go of their need to control or justify everything. Instead, they see things for what they are and choose to celebrate the beauty they find.

Sabbath is gratitude. Sabbath is happiness. Sabbath is joy. Sabbath is a perspective of time and life that says it's okay to enjoy those things for which we are most grateful. We don't have to earn them. They are gifts from the Creator. Gifts from the randomness of life that can't be explained. Gifts from the unexpected. Gifts without reason. Gifts... just because.

Take some time rolling that connection over your brain. In what places, people, relationships, or random occurrences do you see the intertwining of gratitude and joy?

Track down a copy of this 2012 documentary entitled simply, "Happy." You can stream it for free with an amazon prime, hulu plus, netflix, http://www.thehappymovie.com/, or rented from your local library.


There is something within us that tells us we cannot trust happiness. It doesn't last. It doesn't sustain. While that may be true in some ways, let go of that voice and recognize the deeper happiness that does last. It is there where our happiness becomes joy. That joy comes from relationship and recognition of our interdependence. It comes from vulnerability. So, give thanks for happiness and let go of the fear of vulnerability. Practice trust. Rest.