Pro tip: Take a few deep breaths before going over a virtual letter, article, story, podcast or video. It releases all the tension and enables you to receive. If you'd like to engage in deep breaths, tick-tock!
Heyyyyyyy,
I'll refer to you as Royalty. Why? It takes one to identify one.
I still wonder why Wednesdays are not specifically dedicated to weddings, wine tasting or even the start of the weekend. Do you ever wonder too or it's just me?
*smiling sheepishly*
5 magic words. It's rare to find anyone, whether friends, neighbours, or strangers who haven't heard or know of the recitation: Please, Excuse me, Sorry, Thank you and the last one, Pardon me.
Even those who couldn't afford elementary schools knew of it. I hope you can attest to this. Please interrupt me if I'm wrong.
All five words are popular, but thank you has been expressed in a variety of ways that ranges from annoying and perplexing to amazing.
Back story:
I recall a time when my mom beat me over something I expected to be admonished for. And my African mother requested that I "say thank you."
Her reason: She was doing me a favour by not sparing the rod.
My mind: Hello!!! You beat me. No! You tattooed my body with a cane. It's not a gift or a surprise date that I find cute.
Merriam-Webster explains Appreciation as a feeling or expression of admiration, approval or gratitude.
Was my mom wrong? Was she right? Or was she daydreaming?
You know the expression, "In all things, give thanks?"
Perhaps my mom and everyone who believes this catchphrase inhales similar oxygen.
Full disclosure: I recently began to inhale the same brand of oxygen. Leemao!
Appreciation, gratitude, and Thanksgiving are relational words that sound cool, active, and alive but have deep meanings.
Consider the following examples of appreciation that you might find odd:
I don't know why there's a delay in receiving my salary but God, thank you.
I don't know why I have to deal with another heartbreak but God, thank you.
I don't know why traffic is occurring on my lane but God, thank you.
I don't know why my mom had to die. She's not a sacrificial lamb but God, thank you.
I don't know, I can't understand, I feel it's bad timing… but God, thank you.
These are not easy lines to think of, let alone express. They are too heavy, yet one of the many things in this world I find mindblowing is that there is peace in expressing appreciation.
I mean confident peace, unexplainable peace, perfect peace.
This peace is a treasure that needs time to reveal itself. You may be perplexed when you discover it and fear telling others, yet it is true.
P.S: It's possible to give thanks in all things, all seasons and at all times. If you want to, it's possible.
Shalom Shalom!
You can join me.
Affirmation:
“The seed of thankfulness in me finds expression.”
“I choose appreciation over complaining in all seasons.”
Currently:
“I'm reading Perspective. It's a Youversion app plan that's similar to a short book from CCV Music. It is a ten-day read. It reveals the insight you have as a human and how limited it is in comparison to God's.”
“On Coursera, I'm learning Emotional Intelligence: Cultivating Immensely Human Interactions. It's a four-week course that will teach you more about yourself and help you enhance your self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and social management.”
Cultivating gratitude,
Tobiloba Wonders.