Be receptive to September's Serendipity; embrace love, embrace life.
Whenever that glorious harvest moon welcomes September, I am reminded of an old movie called Moonstruck. It was about love. However, today September took on a new meaning as I looked at the happy faces of nieces and nephews on their first day of school. And in neighborhoods around Boston, students are unpacking and settling into new apartments.
As I prepare for my own class of incoming freshman, I decided that their journal writing exercise should be on love and gratitude.
“But you might end up with students pouring their hearts out on the love they left behind,” said one colleague. “Maybe a less emotional topic,” she suggested.
In thinking of love and gratitude, I realize that for many people there is a special affinity to art, music, a hobby, a place. My world has many loves—from children and family to my special writing place at the Boston Athenaeum. I walk through the floors of books, paintings, and sculptures and say to myself, "I just love it here." How grateful I am to Serendipity for bringing me into a creative enclave brimming with history and energy.
Nonetheless, I reminded myself of the author of Love, Dr. Leo Buscaglia. Two of his quotes still resonate:
"What love we've given, we'll have forever. What love we fail to give, will be lost for all eternity."
"Love is life. If you miss love, you miss life."
As such, I may ask students to focus on a special person in their lives.
17 tips to embrace love, embrace life with gratitude
1. Begin your day with a thank you. If you are with someone special when you awake in the morning, simply say, “Thank you for being here. I love you.” And if you are alone, look out your window and say, “Thank you, world. I love you.”
2. Remind yourself that gratitude is an attitude, not a feeling. Keep expressing gratitude and you will eventually become more grateful.
3. Write a love note to someone special – the love of your life, parents, children, friends -- to tell them what they mean to you. Then buy a stamp and send it via the US Mail. Here's a simple start: "I am so grateful to you for being in my life. I can think of a million reasons, but here are the top three."
4. Set aside time to give the gift of listening to share with someone special. Make a date if you must, in your own home or at a quiet little place in the neighborhood for coffee or a drink and just listen to one another “think out loud.”
5. Take walks without listening to music. Revel in the neighborhood and express gratitude for wherever it is you happen to be.
6. Breathe in September breezes and take a long walk with someone you love.
7. Go to an outdoor concert and when the music lifts you, thank whomever it is you are with. And if you are with your love, pack on that public display of affection.
8. Send flowers to someone for no reason at all – it is an act that will awaken your spirit of gratitude.
9. Find a picture of yourself smiling happily, frame it or put it up on the refrigerator with a note that says, "I embrace joy.” If you do have a special love, put a picture up of the two of you with a note that says, “I love the joy we share.”
10. Take a jar or basket and fill it with love quotes and gratitude quotes. And if you can’t think of any, Italian Baci come wrapped in silver and each kiss has a love note inside the wrapping.
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11. Collect laugh out loud cards to send to friends. When you are feeling blue, these will be a pick me up – especially to friends away at school.
12. Tell someone who has hurt you that you are sorry, even if he or she is at fault. It makes you the bigger and more loving person.
13. Make a decision to bring romance into your life. You will feel healthier because you will sleep better, smile more often, and your joy will be contagious.
14. Appreciate the value of laughter; it is one of the best-kept secrets to lasting love.
15. Memorize the ways that gratitude can bring back your smile on days when love and joy seem to elude you.
16. Learn to train your brain for gratitude. Dr. Loretta Graziano Breuning says that you can create a neural pathway in your brain if you work at it consistently for at least 45 days.
17. Keep your mind free of clutter and anger so when September's Synchronicity greets you, you will be receptive to its gift.
Be grateful for September with it's glorious sunsets, gentle breezes, and the vibrant colors of changing leaves.