We are told by Scholars that this amazing place we call the Universe started some 14 billion years ago with a Big Bang. What was set in motion at that moment (the beginning of time itself) is incomprehensible to us.
This thing we call the Universe is infinite in size and filled with beauty and mystery. It contains hundreds of billions of Galaxies each with hundreds of billions of stars. One of those Galaxies is called 'The Milky Way' and it is a small but beautiful spiral galaxy composed of approximately 300 - 400 billion stars.
In a distant part of one of the spiral arms of the Milky Way galaxy is an insignificant little G class star named 'The Sun'.
As we are now finding out, the majority of stars in this big and vast Universe are accompanied by planets. The Sun is no exception. Circling the Sun are eight planets (four rock class and four gas giants), multiple planetoids, asteroids and comets. One of the tiny rock class planets circling the inconsequential little G class star we call 'The Sun' is our home - Earth (terra firma).
As trivial as that little planet may be, it is also a wondrous place. For on that little planet something incredible happened - life began. Not only began but thrived. Earth now literally teams with biomass, all shapes and sizes of flora and fauna.
The life energy of that little planet (Mother Nature) organized organic molecules to be used again and again and again to create generation after generation of more and more life until one day the most remarkable thing of all happened - out of all the Earth's life energy and all those molecules being used over and over again they finally arranged themselves in such a way that YOU were born. And, in the entire infinite Universe you are completely unique!
You have been given a phenomenal gift - your body. Through your body you express your life energy and get to enjoy and experience being a part of this incredible thing we call existence.
Your body is composed of the same molecules that made up the dinosaurs and countless other generations of plants and animals. Mother Earth allows life to use her resources again and again as needed. The human body contains 75 trillion cells that work together in complete harmony and we have no idea how they do it. Your body is a form of mobile android that you get to direct through the master control system - your nervous system. Your five senses feed information up to your brain through that nervous system so that you can experience and enjoy all the extraordinary things that this physical realm has to offer.
But there's more! You are one of an estimated 7 billion people who now inhabit this beautiful little rock. And you were chosen to live in a section of this tiny planet that we call Canada. Canada is one of the largest countries in the world and it is full of riches and resources. You are lucky enough to be a part of the less than one half of 1% (00.47%) of the world's population that gets to live there. You get to use more of the Earth's energy resources in one week than most of the world's people get to use in one year. You have food in abundance, pleasures and indulgences galore. You have been given riches beyond belief when compared to the vast majority of Earth's inhabitants. We are truly blessed in Canada and so fortunate to be living in this part of the world.
In exchange for being allowed to partake in this remarkable journey that we are on; in exchange for all that you have been given on this planet; do you think it would be appropriate to feel some gratitude? I do. Each morning I pull out my Gratitude Journal and remind myself of all the wonderful gifts that I have received in my life. I feel Gratitude and Joy in my heart. Gratitude is part of Healthy Thinking and it is extremely healing to the soul. What a wonderful way to start the day. It definitely changes ones perspective. I would suggest you give it a try.
So, as the Holidays approach and we get swept up in a whirlwind of activities like shopping, office parties, entertaining friends and family gatherings, let us stop; take a deep breath and set aside a moment to reflect on what Life has given us and what this Season is about. Stop and take the time to feel some:
Gratitude and Reverence for the perfect and amazing Universe which we are so lucky to be a part of;
Gratitude for the connections that we have with those who are near and dear to our hearts, both present and past;
Gratitude and Joy for each and every day that we have been given;
Gratitude in the form of Caring and Sharing for those less fortunate;
And Gratitude as we remember that LIFE IS TRULY BEAUTIFUL!
