29 gifts...Day 1

Please go get this book & read it!!

My sweet friend H. loaned this book to me and I am racing through it!  It is such a beautiful story, well here's the scoop:

About the Book
One month after her wedding day, thirty-three-year-old Cami Walker was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, and the life she knew changed forever. Cami was soon in and out of L.A.’s emergency rooms with alarming frequency as she battled the neurological condition that left her barely able to walk and put enormous stress on her marriage. Each day brought new negative thoughts:
I’m going to end up in a wheelchair. Mark’s probably going to leave me. 
My life is over. Why did this have to happen to me?

Then, as a remedy for her condition, Cami received an uncommon prescription from a friend, an African medicine woman named Mbali Creazzo: Give away 29 gifts in 29 days.

“By giving,” Mbali told her, “you are focusing on what you have to offer others, inviting more abundance into your life.” The gifts, she said, could be anything, but their giving had to be both authentic and mindful. At least one gift needed to be something she felt was scarce in her life.

Cami was amazed by what unfolded during her month-long journey.

29 Gifts is Cami’s poignant and unforgettable story of embracing the natural process of giving and receiving. Many of her gifts were simple—a phone call, spare change, even a Kleenex. Yet the acts of kindness were transformative. By Day 29, not only had her health and happiness turned around, but she had also embarked on creating a worldwide giving movement.

The book also includes personal essays from others whose lives changed for the better by giving, plus pages for the reader to record their own journey. More than a memoir, 29 Gifts offers inspiring lessons on how a simple daily practice of altruism can dramatically alter your outlook on the world.

Believe me that was so much better than I could have described.  

Be sure to check out Cami's website HERE

So today, I began.  I gathered fresh eggs from "the girls", painted a wooden tray, filled it with raffia grass, added a couple of paper flowers, these beautiful eggs and took it to my sweet neighbor.  She was so surprised as it was "out of the blue" as they say.  I appreciate her very much as she is such a dear sweet friend (and a little crazy) and I love her!

Much to my surprise, she sent me home with fresh dill and cilantro from her sister's garden!

I want to see what will happen in my life if I really commit and focus my energy on giving for 29 days.What space will it create in my life for new and unexpected things to occur? What shifts will I see in my thinking and behavior as a result? What impact will my gifts have on others? These are just a few of the questions I have. 

Today was different.  More joyful and lighter!  And I can't wait for tomorrow!!  Oh, and the punch line....If I miss a day, I commit to starting all over again.  Yikes!  I just typed that out loud!!

Abundant Happiness ~ Namaste

LeslieMichele

Gratitude and Abundance

You simply will not be the same person two months from now after consciously giving thanks each day for the abundance that exists in your life. And you will have set in motion an ancient spiritual law: the more you have and are grateful for, the more will be given you.” — Sarah Ban Breathnach

Our universe is amaaazing!  Over the last seven years I have made it a point to begin and end my prayers with all of the things/events/people/circumstances that I am thankful and grateful for.  I really make an effort to not ask for much of anything for myself, but I ask for God to help me make sure my eyes are open and I take notice of all the beauty and miracles I am surrounded by.  I do ask (alot) for blessings and abundance for friends and family.  

I love the quote above by Breathnach.  I have found what she said to be so true and see examples of crazy abundance each and every day.  The grass is growing greener everyday and our young peach tree is blooming(albeit out of season) inspite of the drought we've experienced.  My sweet husband is finally able to enjoy a few very deserved days off.  My parents are healthier everyday.  Projects are smoothly coming together.  I am able to share in the daily joys of my daughter's pregnancy and watch my granddaughter grow bigger in her belly each day!  Crazy free awesome things are showing up at our house.  And I am blessed with the most beautiful friendships, dear dear friends that enrich my life on a daily basis.

“We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures.” — Thornton Wilder

I believe each of us is here to experience miracles.  Just ask for your miracles.  Believe they are your miracles already.  Behave as if these miracles are in your life right now.  Be open to receive your miracles, after all they belong to you!

 “Feeling grateful or appreciative of someone or something in your life actually attracts more of the things that you appreciate and value into your life.” — Christiane Northrup

Send love to everyone and everything.  Yes, some times it is a challenge.  I love how Rhonda Byrne, the author of The Power and The Secret refers to some folks as "Personal Trainers".  Special challenging sweet people that feel like they were put on this earth to challenge us and possibly make us so crazy we want to rip out our own hair.  Love them, love them, love them.  Don't try to change them, focus on loving them.  You will be amazed what will happen as you watch more miracles unfold.  If you are unsure, pick one of those "personal trainers" and try it!  Remember Carl Jung's quote; "what you resists, persists", how true.  Instead, focus on what is good and beautiful about them and just send them your love. 

Expect your every need to be met. Expect the answer to every problem, expect abundance on every level – Eileen Caddy

This morning I am grateful for.....

I am thankful for my wonderful husband.  I am grateful he snored me awake, he's alive and so am I.  I got up earlier and remembered it was trash day.

I am grateful I rescued Hank our new Yorkie.  He challenges me to have more patience.

I am thankful for our beautiful home and the opportunity it provides me to make friends and family feel special, welcomed and loved.  I am grateful I have the opportunity to clean it.

I am thankful for my new ionic blow dryer (that I got for free with points I earned through Wells Fargo).  I don't feel like I have crap for hair anymore :)

Not all of these things sound like BIG things or serious things, but I assure you I give them the same love and gratitude as if they were.  I am just as grateful for the small things.

So go out today and LOVE!  Watch your miracles unfold.  They are yours for the asking and yours for the taking!

Namaste ~ LeslieMichele