My “Gratitudes”

I may have shared this before but it’s never too late to reiterate it since it was such a powerful moment in my life.

I have always been a big proponent of the power of gratitude but I don’t think I ever really applied it with a strong “need” before the spring/summer of 2004.

You see, I had just been “blessed” by getting a job offer in San Antonio – I was living in Virginia then.

Let me digress a bit and explain that part of the story. I was in the Navy and had been for almost 30 years. In 1985 I had been stationed in San Antonio and absolutely loved it. In fact, that was where I became exposed to New Thought. As I was transferred to the East Coast I declared “I’ll be back here” – my friends laughed at me because there weren’t any other Navy opportunities for me in San Antonio.

But, over the years I held on to that idea in the back of my head. In 2003-2004 I began to talk to my friends in Virginia about a non-profit organization that I want to start. They would ask where it was going to be – out of nowhere I replied “Texas” – I have no idea why I said that – usually those types of responses are the ones you must pay attention to.

Anyway, in the spring of 2004 I was at a conference and my boss forwarded me a notice of a job opening in Washington DC (where I was already working) doing the SAME job I was already doing and had been for 11 years. Of course, my interest was peaked. For once, fortunately, I scrolled down and you won’t believe what popped up right up in front of my eyes. There was the same job offer in SAN ANTONIO, Tx – right where I was stationed 20 years prior. Imagine my joy at this.

However, I never imagined I would get the job so I did a very sloppy job of filling out the application, hit send and forgot about it. Several weeks later I received a phone call and the conversation went something like this “Everyone here loves you, Terrie and the job is yours” – how’s that for an interview? The Universe was really working for me. Of course, I said ‘yes’!

So, I flew to San Antonio to try to find a house. I had two dogs and had certain things I wanted to have in my property – I’ll tell you about my “outside access” manifestation in another post. I had four days to find a house. I wasn’t being successful. My realtor was wonderful and she drove me around looking at this place and that place and on and on. Nothing was right. I can’t even remember the reasons they weren’t right but I was getting desperate because I had to return to Virginia and had to start getting ready for my retirement from the Navy and a move to San Antonio, Tx! But, things didn’t seem to be working.

Then I began to question whether or not I should do this, whether or not it was right for me, was I acting too impulsively, etc. I even went so far as to talk to my boss and tell him I wanted to withdraw my request for retirement. Fortunately he told me he didn’t think that was going to to be possible – however, that just increased my anxiety.

So, the next to last night I was to be there, I laid down on my friend’s couch and all these horrible things were going around in my mind. What to do?

Suddenly it came to me. I started to say my “gratitudes” – I remembered that gratitude was the most powerful “action” anyone could take. I told myself that I had nothing to lose so I started in my anxious state to just be grateful for simple things – things that were easy to come up with – my mother, my father, my life in the navy, my health etc. I said “I am grateful for…..” over and over until I fell asleep very calm and serene.

The next morning I woke up still calm and relaxed, I knew things were going to work out – and they did. I found the house of my desires that day. As soon as I walked in that door I knew that this house was meant for me. But more about that in another post.

The primary point here (other than the power of manifestations) is that being grateful and showing that gratitude to the universe brought me everything I needed and wanted at least 10 times over. It took away all the external anxiety and as a result, all the internal anxiety. It allowed a direct route to me from the Universe. It was like a laundry chute. The Universe poured all that good into the chute and once I had said my “gratitudes” I opened the door and put the laundry bin under that chute and all those wonderful, good things fell into my life.

So, next time you’re feeling anxious, try saying or writing your “gratitudes”. You can use the Gratitude Journal that I had made for this purpose. It really works and it means lot to be able to look back and see what it glorious things have happened to you..but the fun part is to also record the small things, the things that happen everyday – “I found a parking space up close to Target” for instance. “I didn’t hit one red light on the way to work this morning” – anything you’re grateful for – put it down.

Enjoy the power of gratitude!

Terrie