Gratitude is the sign of noble souls ~ Aesop


Wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving ~ Kahlil Gabran


Joy delights in joy ~ William Shakespeare


Thursday, December 30, 2010

The Nontoothache

I read about a wonderful gratitude practice that Tich Nhat Hanh calles "the nontoothache." It's basically the idea that it's easy to focus on negative things, to complain about a toothache when it hurts -- but it can be a gratitude enhancing experience to take time to focus on things we normally take for granted and forget to be thankful for. So I am thankful for the fact that my teeth don't hurt today. I'm thankful that my brain remembers to breathe for me. I'm thankful my elbows bend exactly as I need them to. I'm thankful that my dogs didn't eat anything special to me and that my house didn't flood. I'm thankful for the non-earthquake today too. I'm thankful that there's so much more to be thankful for than I could ever truly realize, but I hope I never stop trying...

7 comments:

  1. I read the title as THE NON-TOO-THA-CHEE. Is that like The Chatahoochee? (Mental forehead slap). I'm thankful I can find humor in my errors (sometimes). I'm also thankful my house didn't flood or get demolished by a tornado. I'm also thankful a bird did not poop on my head and that I did not hit my head on a cabinet door. I'm glad the kids didn't stuff a pack of 24 double rolls down the toilet. This is kind of fun, actually.

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  2. I'm thankful the world waited another year to end... Happy New Years!

    (keep on eye on your pups tonight)) :)

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  3. Haha!! Me too!
    Poor Andrea actually HAD a bird poop on her head today! I told her it was good luck:)
    Happy New Year, indeed!!!

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  4. I've had so much fun with all my non-toothaches today. I don't think that was the point, but the sillier I got the better I felt. I guess it doesn't really matter then.

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  5. I love it! Keep going! I think it definitely counts if it makes you feel happy:) I have a backache today and kept thinking I should've been thankful for the nonbackache yesterday!

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  6. Some toothaches are more serious than others...

    Be thankful ya don't have to deal with this sort. And say a little prayer for those who do.

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  7. Andrea has mondo mojo... "Hell hath no fury as a woman pooped upon." click

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