Gratitude & Acceptance

The best-laid plans...

Last weekend, I finally visited Newport, R.I. I had wanted to go for years, but it had just never happened. So, I was really excited to finally arrive and eager to explore this charming town. 

However, as Robert Burns said in a poem, To A Mouse, "The best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry.”Or as another saying goes, “If you want to make God laugh, tell It your plans.” It was not only raining but also accompanied by lightning and thunder. As a result, the night we arrived, we saw and experienced very little.

Fortunately, the next morning got off to a better start. There was an AA meeting right across the street from our hotel. The rain held off in the morning, and we were able to walk down to the wharf and explore the surrounding area. After grabbing lunch, we finally reached the Cliffs, which had been on my must-do list.

Accepting things as they are...

The weather was foggy, but there was no rain; instead, a fine mist was present. Walking along the cliffs is a wonderful experience with the ocean on one side and stunning mansions on the other. The mist made it seem even more magical. Then it began to rain, but we were determined to finish. As the rain fell, the fog thickened, and the water nearly disappeared into the fog. It was a spectacular sight. What could have been a moment to complain, give up, and feel miserable became an opportunity to accept things as they are, find the good in them, laugh, and be grateful for what is.

When we combine acceptance with gratitude for things as they are, we not only experience new discoveries but also grow spiritually.  

In One Spirit,

Arlene

Quote of the Week:

“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity.  It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend.”   ~ Melody Beattie

What opportunities have you had lately to practice both gratitude and acceptance?