Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Offering Thanks and a Rant

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If you have a friend that is appreciative of efforts that you make on their behalf, chances are that you would be more inclined to perform further favors for this friend in the future right? If you had a friend who seemingly did not appreciate anything that you did for them, than you probably would be less inclined to offer further help right? Its just common sense.

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving here in the states. The universe is a friend that has done some favors for you, when you wake up tomorrow I want your first mental action to be to offer thanks for those favors. It seems sappy, but trust me my friends it is powerful sorcery. I do it every morning and again every night. If you believe in God than thank God. If you believe in fate than thank Fate. If you don't believe in anything like that just thank the universe and thank chance.

I was talking about this earlier today with someone and they basically told me that they have nothing to be thankful for, that nothing goes right for them, and that basically they feel shit on by the powers that be. This is not the first time I have encountered this attitude. My own Mother constantly says this.

Here is the deal: If you are reading this on your own computer, on a connection that you can afford to pay for, in your own place to live with heating and indoor plumbing, while maybe nibbling on some yummy snacks or sipping a glass of spirits than YOU WON THE FUCKING LOTTERY ALREADY.

Seriously. 50% of the adults on the planet make less than $800 a year. 20% has no access to potable water. Its a hard ass world out there and if you have the pleasure to read these words than you should take the first step in changing your life tomorrow by waking up and kissing the floor and offering thanks for your walls, bed, pillow, blankets, and food in the fridge. You don't have everything you want but for fucks sake people, with very little effort on your part you have eeked out some comfort for yourself just by virtue of being born in a 1st world country with an educational system. Have some goddamn humility.

On New Years day 2000 the Rokpa soup kitchen in Nepal that I worked in was over-run with people because another soup kitchen closed down for the day. After we ran out of Daal and Vegetables we only had rice. A girl with Polio crawled in on all fours too late to get anything but rice. She was genuinely thankful for the rice. I was just thankful I wasn't her.

In summary, the two points I want to make are:

First: Give thanks to the universe for what you have. It is a magical act that will benefit you in the same way that regular offerings do.

Second: If you think you have nothing to be thankful for, cut your crap. 

9 comments:

Morgan Drake Eckstein said...

Any day that you are still conscious is a good day.

Unknown said...

It's worth remembering that a good 80% of the people on earth probably wish they had your problems instead of their own. That, and "cut the crap" is pretty much always good advice.

Anonymous said...

Thank you so much for this.

C-Style said...

Well said, Jason. To be alive is a blessing in itself. As long as you have the breath of life there is hope to make it to where you want to be. I, for one, am grateful that you are here helping and enlightening us! Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.

She Who Works Her Will said...

Bravo!

Blessings to you and yours, Jason!

Lavanah said...

Bravo! And, if you are well off enough to be reading this on your own computer, with your own internet connection, etc. etc, you can damn well reach out and help someone else. And then you will most likely be very happy to thank your God, Fate, whomever, for the opportunity to have done so.

ConjureMan Ali said...

A sobering and excellent post.

Lonnie said...

Love this post! This message can't be repeated enough.

I'm also thankful for my word verification being coonters. There is some comedy gold in that random bit.

Deborah Castellano said...

For me when I got my divorce, it was a real wake up call. I started giving thanks for exactly the things you mentioned and learned to truly be grateful for them. I try to make an effort to give thanks as much as possible.