The theme for November is Gratefulness.

Since ten days I am back again in Germany and like every year it takes me a while to adjust. Living on a beautiful island in paradise is different. Here many people live together closely on the fast lane, little quietness, more pollution, less light. I used to feel unhappy but this year it is different: I discover my life here with fresh eyes and November does not feel so dark and gloomy. I feel gifted by all the rich experiences from a glorious summer in Greece, where I was able to meet many beautiful friends. Working at our beutiful Alexis Zorbas Center is a privilige and is rewarding on so many levels, that i must be carrying it with me. I see many people here being stressed and down, at least many don’t look very happy, maybe because they simply are not well or they are grieving or don’t feel loved or overwhelmed by the challenges of their daily lives or they are refugees. Not being in touch with gartitude can have many reasons.

However, I know that it usually does not come flying. We have to care for and practise and cultivate gratitude versus misery. During our Communion Retreat in September 2015 we had ample life changing opportunity to get in touch with new ways of being in gratitude and to this days participants keep reflecting and sending messages with their insights and transformational experiences…

We can take part in change for the positive, if we are willing to be honest and take a look at old habits, that don’t serve us any more. Once that desision has been made, opportunities come by themselves, or better: they have always been there, but now I am able to see them and to welcome them. It is an exciting journey. For a moment all my buttons got pushed and I felt ready to pay him back, but I was still aware enough to not react and leave the scene. Just a scene. Just a test. I feel very grateful that I ded not let myself  “pull my gun”, which I know is there, that I was even able (after a while) to find compassion.

To remember and strengthen my heart I found a simple yet powerful practise:

When I wake up and before I slip into sleep for a while I put both my hands on the area of my physical heart and give thanks to the ONE for a peaceful night and a peaceful day.

And:
I am looking with gratefulness
I eat and drink with gratefulness
I breathe in and out with gratefulness
I let myself be guided by the impulses and insights of my heart
I ….
I ….