AN ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE

This past weekend I was fortunate enough to enjoy one of South Carolina’s many beautiful beaches. Since I am in retail, my long weekend was shortened by two days, so I wanted to make the most of my time there. I found myself not wanting to sleep on Sunday night. I had been called to a gathering; a special party…the theme ‘Creation”.

My husband and son lay sleeping inside of the condo. It was close to midnight and my heart felt a yearning to be outside socializing with the waves, the moon, and the heavens. I sat out on the 7th floor balcony of the condo, surprised that the beach was barren of any movement. I had been a special guest on this night…I was to experience ‘Oneness’ in a way I had never known before.

The waves crashed gently against the shore, as if an ensemble of tiny drums and cymbals, ever so softly, performed. Broken shells subtly glimmered as diamonds upon the stage of life as the moon created a spotlight upon the water, heralding what the night was to hold. Clouds drifted gracefully past as the change of curtains upon a stage, sometimes hiding the beautiful light. Time ticked by, the sky changed colors, the moon moved its position and the wind whispered the secrets of the world to those open enough to understand. I sat silently observing the magnificence of all that surrounded me.

As time passed by, I was not concerned of the hour or the need for sleep. It was the first time in a long time that there was space for me. It was an opportunity to converse with myself…to know myself. I reflected upon my childhood, remembering significant and insignificant moments. Some moments caused a smile, others provoked a tear. I thought of my family, their lives, and my place within it all. I reflected upon my dreams, ones that had been accomplished, others still being strived for, and those that had been abandoned. I thought of how long I had lived and how much more living I had yet to do…

“What is my purpose here? What exactly are we supposed to accomplish as human beings on the planet? What is the meaning of it all…heaven, hell, karma, past lives, future lives, this life?”

The light of a new day was beginning to dawn. The sun, with its warm loving glow peeked just enough to outline the edge of the clouds. Then, it happened. The sun rose against the sky in a brilliant hue of orange. It radiantly smiled as if to say, ‘You are here and I am here for another day…Let us shine as brightly as we can and light the way so that others may also discover their own brilliance.’

It was in that moment, purpose became defined. We are here to shine…to show our brilliance. We are here to do nothing other than experience ourselves to the fullest of our potential. It is a gift to be able to awaken every single day and experience it anew. What greater way can we express gratitude than through the use of our minds, bodies, and spirits for the purpose of creating magic in our work and play. Every experience, whether we term it good or bad, is an opportunity to see ourselves. It is a chance to experience how we can maneuver, handle, create, and live through or beyond what we think is possible.

Every day starts with a new sun..a new chance. The night comes to wash away the residue of the past as the waves clean the shore…but there is always light. That light is our oneness…our opportunity to know that there is a greater meaning to each and every encounter.

So…Purpose?…Destiny?…Worth? It is all in your own hands.

How do you want to live? What do you want to do? Start with reflecting on who you are. Allow yourself moments of rest where you can revisit your childhood, your blessings, your hurts, your needs, and desires. Know yourself. Take time for you…time for your soul. Listen…just listen. Then be thankful for all you have been. Be grateful to yourself for all you have accomplished, endured, learned, lost, and felt.

Have an attitude of gratitude for who you have been, who you are, and who you are becoming.

What is the next step? START LIVING! Pull out all of those dreams, fantasies, desires, and wants. Create yourself. Create the life you wish to live. LIFE IS ABOUT LIVING! It is not about getting by, making it through, or accepting what comes your way. Our gift is being able to live consciously and have the ability to choose. We live in the greatest country in the world with the most opportunity available to us. Stand up and be counted…Stand up and make a difference in your own life and the lives of others. TAKE A STAND FOR YOUR LIFE! AN ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE IS THE FIRST STEP!!!

Until the next…Fashion Emergency!!!

Warmest Regards,

Simran Singh