DAILY GRATITUDE FAMILY AND FRIENDS

 

I am grateful throughout my life…

as my life moves by so swift…

To have viewed any time with family and friends

not only a bonus…but as a gift.

TOGETHERNESS

 

If we ever want to fix our divided world 

may we all be blessed…

To understand…

We heal, 

not inisolation

but in togetherness

UMBUNTU AGAIN

 

In a world where humanity is something many lack…

Here’s another reminder…it’s not too late to bring it back…

UBUNTU

It was an anthropological study…that I shall now describe:

A basket of fruit was placed near a tree…in front of the children of an African tribe

Who were told they needed not only to be fast but resolute

because the one who gets to the basket first…gets to eat all the fruit.

When they were told to run…they didn’t at first…instead like birds of a feather

they each took the hand of the child next to them…and then they ran…together.

Together they ran to the basket…fast and resolute

Together they reached the basket… and together…they ate the fruit.

When asked why they chose to run that way…”UBUNTU” cried each lad…

adding, “How can one of us be happy…if all the other ones are sad?”

In South Africa the word UBUNTU…means ‘I am because we are’

It’s a belief we are defined by our compassion and kindness towards others…

and it’s a word that travels far

For every culture, every civilization…across the land, the sky, the seas 

has a word with similar meaning…In America…it’s humanity.

Arabic, French, German and Hindi have similar words like these:

(Al Insaniyya, Humanite, Menschlichkeit, Manavata)

So do the Spanish, the Italians, the Finnish as well as the Chinese

(Humanidad, Umanita, Ihmiskunta (Renlei) 

It’s a simple word…humanity…that has an allure…a wonderful attraction

but it remains only a word…until we put it into action.

I’m glad to see so many cultures have this word as part of their folklore…

I think, however, the entire world…need sto practice UBUNTU a little more.

We need to spread humanity and let our actions travel far….

We need to teach the world UBUNTU…'I am because we are’.

We need to follow the example of the children…we need to be fast and resolute…

We need to join hands as one…together…and together enjoy our fruit.

FINDING JOY

 

I am grateful for something my parents instilled in me

from the time I was a little boy…

how the less things in life I need to be content…

the easier it is to find my joy.

REMEMBERING JOY AND WONDER

 

How blessed would we all be if at least one time every day

we would stop…and with a dash of innocent flair

remember a time when we were children…

and found joy and wonder everywhere.

DISCOVERING JOY

 

If you want to discover pure joy and innocence…

far removed from fortune and fame

sit in the stands and pay attention at a child’s baseball game.

You’ll watch little ones strike out on three pitches…

but leave the batter’s box without a pout…

smiling and waving to their family…finding joy in striking out.

 

You’ll watch those same little ones get a hit 

and with an identical smiles on their faces

enthusiastically wave to their families 

as they run around the bases.

They play the field the same way…

without a second thought

smiling as the ball is hit in their direction…

whether they catch that ball…or not!

You’ll see children playing with the same joy when they do well…

or when it’s an error that they make.

They play with the same joy when they are perfect…

as they do when they make a mistake.

It makes one wonder if that innocent joy they feel 

is imbedded in their young chromosomes…

allowing them to smile whey they strike out…

or when they’re rounding third and heading home.

Yes…sit in the stands at a child’s baseball game

and you will suddenly become aware…

their joy is not in how they do…their joy is in being there.

And you’ll realize joy doesn’t need to be tied 

to fortune or to fame…

and it will you make you want to treat your life…

like a child’s baseball game.

DAILY GRATITUDE MY HEART

 

I am grateful for all those times I have listened to my heart.

Grateful for all the times my heart has awakened me…

and grateful for all the wonderful places in this life

my heart has taken me.