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ten things practice

From another thread:

Twenty-two years ago while kicking drugs, a mentor told me to list ten things I'm grateful for before I get out of bed in the morning. If I couldn't keep track, then to keep a pen and paper by my bedside to jot them down.

I exclaimed, "TEN things?! You've got to be kidding me!" To which she replied, "You're right. Make it twenty."

Twenty two years later I'm still doing it. It's gotten much easier. :)

Today:
Life
My wife
My daughter
My dad
My brain still works
I slept in a bed last night
I didn't go to bed hungry
Plumbing (my last place I used an outhouse)
We made rent this month
My book got picked up by a publisher
The internet
I'm happy
I woke with no pain today
An unexpected check in the mail yesterday
...the rest are people you wouldn't know or fall into the category of tmi ;)

Ah the unexpected . . . 'always expect the unexpected' . . . as if we can . . . how wonderful . . .

Here is my current top ten . . .

Life
The rain and its absence . . . oh it is back again . . .
Ipad
The night
New Buddhist and Dharma
People
Places
Breathing and relaxation
Body and mind
Earth and sky

What are your ten?

Bunks

Comments

  • JeffreyJeffrey Veteran

    1my girlfriend
    2coffee
    3my mom
    4my sanghas here and elsewhere
    5bodhisattvas for helping me
    6computer
    7nature
    8chemistry
    9movies
    10music

    anataman
  • ChazChaz The Remarkable Chaz Anywhere, Everywhere & Nowhere Veteran
    edited June 2014

    Michael Schumacher
    Prawn
    Rule 5
    Randall Cowl Induction
    Fog
    Pine Duff
    GoPro
    David Lynch
    Tulips
    Leona's

  • karastikarasti Breathing Minnesota Moderator

    Summer warmth
    The lovely smell of lilacs
    My garden
    My husband and children
    The antics of our ferrets
    My foam roller
    Our comfortable bed
    A new book
    Our sometimes divided but gritty and "we take care of our own" community
    Yoga

    I do this quite often, actually, on a private blog I keep. It's a wonderful practice! It sneaks up on me in times I am cranky or feeling down about something. Today on our way to watch a baseball game, our 5 year old said "I don't like itchy bugbites much, but I'm thankful it's warm and I don't have to wear winter clothes and the sun is out." Being grateful can carry us through so much. especially itchy bug bites.

    JeffreyVastmind
  • ShoshinShoshin No one in particular Nowhere Special Veteran

    Kia Ora @lobster,

    Umm what am I grateful for ? ? ?

    I'm grateful for :
    the warm bed to get into and out of each day
    the roof over my head
    the clean water to drink
    the choice of food available to eat
    the warm clothing
    the bird song that greets my ears each morning
    the warmth I feel when thinking about my family and friends
    that I have work to go to that I enjoy
    that I don't live in a war zone
    that I'm able to practice the Dharma

    That's just some of the things I'm grateful for...I guess this will do for now....

    Metta Shoshin :)

    EarthninjaVastmind
  • BuddhadragonBuddhadragon Ehipassiko & Carpe Diem Samsara Veteran

    I am grateful for:
    My son's warm hug (he deserves his own heading)
    My family in general (hubby, mom, brother, beloved ones beyond)
    Dharma
    The sun after the rain
    The smile after the tears
    Resilience to pull back when we think we can't take it anymore
    The epiphany of serendipity
    Health
    Peace
    Puccini, Puccini, and more Puccini
    And not necessarily in that order...

    Vastmind
  • federicafederica Seeker of the clear blue sky... Its better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to speak out and remove all doubt Moderator

    I am grateful for (also not necessarily in order):

    Fear of the unknown
    my family; (Husband, mother daughters....)
    my cooking abilities
    my humour
    my current mental faculties
    My current physical faculties
    The Triple Gem
    The sun when it shines
    The rain when it falls
    This Sangha.

  • mmommo Veteran
    edited June 2014

    Being Buddhist
    My parents and brother
    My health
    My small flat which is comfortable enough for me
    My job which pays the bills and keep me free of financial worries
    My knowledge which I need for a living
    My weekend breaks from work
    Good night sleeps
    Good eye opening books I had read
    And of course reading wise posts on here :)

    Nice to meet you all by the way

    Earthninja
  • EarthninjaEarthninja Wanderer West Australia Veteran

    Thanks for this @lobster‌ !

    My family and fiancée
    Realising the beauty of nature
    Realising Buddhism
    My dog Oakley, he is a wise teacher
    Being able to help people as a job
    Training the body
    Living in Australia
    My health :)
    Living in a house with food.
    The adventure that is life.

  • KundoKundo Sydney, Australia Veteran

    @lobster said:
    What are your ten?

    1 - Life
    2 - My family
    3 - My partner
    4 - Discovering Buddhism
    5 - My health. I am a lot better off than others.
    6 - My job. It allows me to pay my bills, including my medical ones :P ...
    7 - My house and amenities. Again, I have more than a lot of people and need to be more grateful more often.
    8 - NB and everyone here
    9 - Music
    10 - Choices.

    Metta,
    Raven _/_

    EarthninjaShoshinVastmind
  • lobsterlobster Veteran

    Today's list:

    Numbers
    Not having to count blessings
    electricity
    sunlight
    mornings
    sound
    ears and having a pair
    people
    ipad and techno gadgets
    voluntary simplicity

    bonus pic which I took yesterday with a techno gadget (Greenwich peninsula ecocentre)

    Earthninja
  • EarthninjaEarthninja Wanderer West Australia Veteran

    Now that's a cool looking place!

    Wow you guys really like iPads. They should sponsor this site!!

    Kundo
  • ToshTosh Veteran

    @Chaz said:
    Rule 5

    C'mon then, what's Rule 5?

    Rule 62 is my favourite and it's deeper than what most folk seem to think.

    My list:

    Sunday mornings
    Coffee
    My gorgeous and loving dog
    The sunshine
    The view from where I sit
    A.A.
    Being sober and happy about it.
    Coffee - I know I've already got it on my list, but I'm very grateful for it.
    Some peace of mind
    My shower

    Vastmind
  • ChazChaz The Remarkable Chaz Anywhere, Everywhere & Nowhere Veteran

    @Tosh said:
    C'mon then, what's Rule 5?

    Harden the F!@k up.

    That's rule 5.

    It a rule used in road cycling but is applicable anywhere.

    And I try to practice it all time.

    Don't like the news? Apply rule 5.

    Taffic bothering you? Apply rule 5.

    People giving you a hard time because you haven't taken refuge? Apply rule 5.

    And so on.

    Tosh
  • federicafederica Seeker of the clear blue sky... Its better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to speak out and remove all doubt Moderator

    the actual use of a profanity would suggest that the recommendation is unnecessarily strongly worded.

    profanities are not essential, or even necessary, if one is in a calm state to begin with.

  • ToshTosh Veteran

    @Chaz said:
    Harden the F!@k up.
    That's rule 5.
    It a rule used in road cycling but is applicable anywhere.

    Ah, I run marathons and rell races; I don't sit on my bottom to get my exercise.

    We don't have to tell ourselves to harden up; we're already tough I suppose. :D

  • ChazChaz The Remarkable Chaz Anywhere, Everywhere & Nowhere Veteran

    @federica said:
    the actual use of a profanity would suggest that the recommendation is unnecessarily strongly worded.

    profanities are not essential, or even necessary, if one is in a calm state to begin with.

    Perhaps..

    But Rule 5 is just the way it reads.

    When you're 10 miles into a 20 mile ride with an average grade of 6% with switchbacks double that, you're far from calm. Lots of adrenelin. Lots of pain. Every fiber of your being wants to quit.

    Time to mediate on Rule 5.

  • federicafederica Seeker of the clear blue sky... Its better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to speak out and remove all doubt Moderator

    I mediate without any rules at all. I think I do pretty damn good, though I say so myself.... :p .

    lobster
  • lobsterlobster Veteran
    edited June 2014

    ten things for today:

    I will have coffee too and tea, herbal tea with 50% fruit juice (that counts as one)
    Dub Reggae (preferably in Church) . . . oh OK all music (also counts as one)
    Walking, cycling, planes, transport
    Taking pictures
    Trees and plants (That is only one too)
    Wind and water (how many elements? - all one choice)
    Sport (how many meanings for that sport?)
    Meditation and fun in general
    Breakfast and all food
    Today, yesterday and if lucky tomorrow . . .
    Hard enough to be soft . . . oh that is eleven . . . I cheated . . .

    :clap: .

    Vastmind
  • VastmindVastmind Memphis, TN Veteran

    garbage truck pick up
    Clothes washer and dryer
    lawnmower
    being able to let go of my rose garden
    eyeglasses
    citrus vinaigrette
    post its
    hormone therapy
    flip flops/sandals
    AC

    mmo
  • JeffreyJeffrey Veteran

    Today's word of thanks:

    1 Music
    2 Coffee
    3 Pizza
    4 Sunshine
    5 Friendship
    6 Meditation
    7 Trungpa Rinpoche
    8 My teacher Lama Shenpen
    9 Facebook
    10 Advocating end to all stigma

  • BunksBunks Australia Veteran
    1. The dharma and all my dharma teachers
    2. My wife for showing me a better way to live
    3. My kids for teaching me so much
    4. My parents
    5. The internet
    6. Television
    7. My work colleagues
    8. My neighbours
    9. My friends
    10. The freedom of living where I do
  • karastikarasti Breathing Minnesota Moderator
    1. Rishi Masala Chai
    2. My husband who is a saint for coaching a team of 16 pre-teen boys.
    3. The hugs of my youngest who still thinks his mom is a princess
    4. The sun!
    5. Regular rain. Despite the fact I don't always like when it rains too much, I'd rather have the problem of a bit too much, than not enough
    6. My grandma
    7. My parents are both still alive and in good health
    8. My son didn't seriously injure himself the other day when he banged his mouth and lost 2 (baby) teeth
    9. Our amazing vet. Who takes phone call at all hours despite posted business hours. He's also a saint for taking "Our dog just ate a whole ham steak, with the bone..." calls with not a note of exasperation.
    10. Our dog. Who ate an entire ham steak and has been gassing us out of our house all day. But she's cute ;)
  • @Earthninja said:
    Now that's a cool looking place!

    Wow you guys really like iPads. They should sponsor this site!!

    Does this raise some questions regarding desire?

    Apple are world renowned for amazing marketing, and that of course is all about building desire.

  • DavidDavid A human residing in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Ancestral territory of the Erie, Haudenosaunee, Huron-Wendat, Mississauga and Neutral First Nations Veteran
    edited November 2014
    My fiance
    Our daughter
    Supportive siblings
    Shelter
    Food
    Water
    Sun/light
    Information sharing
    A job to feel good about
    The dharma and you

    Hum... That wasn't so hard after all.
  • silversilver In the beginning there was nothing, and then it exploded. USA, Left coast. Veteran

    Ah! Wonderful thread. :)

    coffee

    internet forums

    a roof over my head

    Chinese take-out

    shrimp

    free Hulu

    The Simpsons

    Bones (TV series)

    comfy bed

    people who care

    when it finally rains in Southern California!
    ~0~

  • BuddhadragonBuddhadragon Ehipassiko & Carpe Diem Samsara Veteran

    I soooo love "Bones," @silver!! :)

  • silversilver In the beginning there was nothing, and then it exploded. USA, Left coast. Veteran

    @DhammaDragon said:
    I soooo love "Bones," silver!! :)

    Ah yes ... they are an amazing ensemble! <3

  • silversilver In the beginning there was nothing, and then it exploded. USA, Left coast. Veteran

    I love making lists, so I'm gonna try again to come up with 10 more:

    chili - med to hot spicy-ness
    bubble gum
    dogs
    cats
    horses
    beautiful skies
    (I took the picture in my avatar a few years ago-amazing)
    restaurants
    (I love listening to the hum of conversations going on around me.)
    Christmas trees
    snow
    walking in my bare feet in the grass

    ~0~0~0~

  • coffee
    music
    being accepted
    puja
    winter fires in the fireplace
    snow outlining tree branches
    the winter ending eventually
    football if team wins
    hearing from people on computer
    being with my girlfriend

  • @karasti said:
    4. The sun!

    I want the sun but that would take me up to 11 :o

    1. kimchi (Yeah . . . new Korean supermarket opened in the neighbourhood)
    2. taro (some sort of healthy root - did I mention the new supermarket)
    3. Iplayer
    4. mostly abandoned cemetry as city running track
    5. ello.co new ad free social media in beta
    6. pears, a good fruit
    7. learning Chinese (no hope) but I occasionally try
    8. museums (pic is of my visit to Science museum - steam powered plane)
    9. sculpture
    10. taking cuttings (for next Spring)

    Vastmind
  • silversilver In the beginning there was nothing, and then it exploded. USA, Left coast. Veteran

    (1) coffee - always #1

    (2) experimenting in the kitchen with slap-dash meals
    (yesterday, I made gluten-free macaroni, stirred in some coconut milk, added it to canned chili, to which I'd added some jalapeno slices and juice -- I have leftovers too)

    (3) leftovers!

    (4) cooler weather

    (5) fake plants that look real

    (6) reminiscing through old posts

    (7) reminiscing about holidays gone by

    (8) listening and singing along with favorites like Tom Petty.

    (9) listening to Al Stewart's Year of the Cat (Spanish guitar is awesome)

    (10) people-watching at the beach

    <3

    Vastmind
  • Some of these may be negative but I try hard to appreciate everything.

    1. My family
    2. My dog
    3. Hardships - they motivate me
    4. My short comings - they keep me humble when I let them
    5. My friends
    6. My enemies
    7. Coffee
    8. Internet
    9. life
    10. The way I have learned to view the world
    Vastmind
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