Many months ago I was on a zoom with a group of women for a New Moon Eclipse, yes, advancing age has brought out the woo-woo in me much like it was when I was in my teens and early 20’s. We did an amazing guided visualization by my friend Shannah Warwick. I am not sure I had ever had such a powerful ability to drop in as I did that night. It was emotional and powerful. I am drawn to those sorts of things, but in my lifetime I am not sure that I believed that I could have that for myself, that I was good enough to feel it.
Over the last year or so, I have been part of a women’s group. This is a bit of an odd thing for me because frankly, I never really trusted most of the women in my life so being vulnerable with a group seemed very outside the box for me. Each time I attended a meet up, I learned something about myself. I learned a lot of things about women and friendships. I started opening doors in my own mind to release heavy things I had carried for decades. This was a soft place to land full of women who not only are there for me, but continually lift me up. We lift each other up. We are each others cheerleaders in every way. Shannah is part of this group and she is the reason I found the group at all.
So during this New Moon Eclipse meeting, she said something very profound, but very simple. I wrote it down and normally would put it on my mirror to see every day. But I didn’t at the time. It was left on the desk I’m using now to write this, in a room I haven’t been in since except to water plants, and now I am realizing I needed it to be seen. She said that night:
“Gratitude is a choice.”
There are many moments in the day or even whole days that I forget this idea. That I forget to CHOOSE to be grateful for everything wonderful in my life and even for the shitty things because that is where the lessons are. It goes on the bathroom mirror today. I have been struggling for the last month and in a mindset that only attracts more bat shit crazy stuff. I needed reminding.
As for the image of Ikigai, I thought it was fitting for this post because in order to have gratitude, I really think you have to understand your purpose in the world and how you perceive the world and how you are perceived in it. I am currently looking for what I am good at and believing in it. This is hard business for a person with life long self-esteem issues. But I want to grab onto that with both hands and start running.
If you want to link up with Shannah and her many talents, you can find her here. She is an artist, teacher, energy worker, and clairvoyant.
Read. Write. Make art. Teach other people things. The current state of the world depends on us staying strong in our ability to create, share, and make people feel things. Be kind to each other. Support the small press and local artists.
Aleathia Drehmer 