Imagine being born into a human body.

Imagine that this body is independent; it walks, it talks.

Imagine that this body can observe the universe and its place in it.

Imagine that this body can love.

Imagine how old the universe is.

Imagine how young the body is.

Imagine the enormous brevity of a life.

Imagine the enormous waste that is going on.

The waste is: not knowing who you are.

The waste is: not bringing love with every single breath.

The waste is: not enjoying the miracle of having been born into a human consciousness.

The waste is: fighting others in any way.

Imagine what life would be like if no one had time for anger.

Imagine what life would be like if all we ever cared for was love.

We have been allotted a tiny place in the history of the universe.

Let’s spend it wisely.

Happy birthday to each and every one.

Let’s celebrate our birthday every day, with love.

Let’s celebrate that love is infinite and everywhere, if we just care to look. 

If we just try to be aware.

It's really easy.

In every single moment there is a choice.

I was recently asked to do one of those gratitude challenges people do on Facebook. (Although it wasn’t really a challenge, more pure joy!)  Every day for a week I posted some things I’m grateful for. Thought I’d share it in my blog as well. (Slightly edited to make better sense here). It was fun! Try it at home.

Day 1: Things I’m grateful for: To be alive, to have an Earth experience, the sun, the clouds, my phone, images, the present moment, that the present moment is always present, that it’s peach season now, to not know how to live, to live anyway and not care about not knowing, laughter, silence, LOVE

Day 2: I am grateful for being alive in a human body. I am grateful for the human capacity to heal, love and forgive. I am grateful for the human capacity of letting go despite our clinging minds. I am tremendously grateful for my garden. I love every inch of it. I am grateful that my husband does all the work in it and allows me to just enjoy. I love listening to my dog breathing and I’m grateful that it’s a grey day today. I feel so fortunate to see more love than hate in the world.

Day 3: Today I am just grateful for everything. I’m grateful for the joy and peace that is flowing in my heart. I am grateful for air and the act of breathing. I am grateful for the food I eat, the water that comes out of my tap and the sewage system.

Day 4: Today I’m grateful for not feeling particularly grateful. It still feels good to be here, now, with all that is, as it is. I’m grateful for feeling grounded in what is, to see things as they are. To see myself as I am. To see exactly how far I’ve come and how much remains! I’m grateful that gratitude is not separate from sorrow and that sorrow is not separate from gratitude. I’m grateful for EVERYTHING in life.

Day 5: Today I’m grateful for everyone I have around me, near and far, close or not so close. You are all my greatest gurus. You teach me different things in different ways, some are soft, some are harsh. You have made me open my eyes to the beauty of a life on Earth. You have all, in your own unique way, shown me where to go, how to act or not act. You teach me just by being who you are. Thank you!

Day 6: I am grateful for my bed. I am grateful for sleep. Sleep is so amazing! I go to bed like I’m going to a party. I am grateful for my children. What a privilege to be able to follow someone so closely on their life journey. What a privilege to get to know someone from their first moment and watch them grow and change. I am grateful for trees. Trees are incredible. Also, it’s really nice to have a fridge and a freezer. This time of year I am immensely grateful for central AC.

Day 7: Most of all I am grateful for the act of surrender. To give away my life to all that is. To live moment by moment in awareness of my humanity and divinity. To give it up again and again. To dissolve into love, dissolve into peace, dissolve into joy, dissolve into freedom. Not because of myself but despite myself. So grateful that love is possible in each individual and in the world. It starts with one (you) and ends as one (all).

In the deepest silence the heart is beating.
In that silence there are no thoughts or judgments.
In that silence there is no pain or suffering.
The heart goes on beating no matter what.
You never have to think about it.
Even when you are asleep it’s beating.
You can’t control it.
It beats until it stops.
It’s completely out of your control.
The heart is a miracle.
The body is a miracle.
You are a miracle.
Your life is a miracle.
You exist.
What are the odds?
You exist!
Every breath is a wordless prayer.
Every breath is a celebration.
Breathe.
Celebrate.
Breathe.
Celebrate.