𝑻𝒘𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒚-𝑭𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝑩𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑵𝒆𝒘 𝑯𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒔 🩵

Each day that we are alive is a gift, no matter what our burdens may be. This is easy to forget when we become caught up in the daily stressors that plague us, particularly as we grow up and are forced to shoulder greater responsibility. Throughout this day, I have been thinking about some lines I read in Chapter 14 (titled “Right Diligence”) of the book, The Heart of the Buddha’s Teaching: Transforming Suffering into Peace, Joy, and Liberation, by the Vietnamese monk and peace activist Thích Nhất Hạnh (see below). These lines were originally published in another book by Nhất Hạnh, titled Present Moment Wonderful Moment. As expressed by Nhất Hạnh, we are obliged to demonstrate gratitude for every minute that we are granted, and we are to experience the present moment fully, without having our minds and hearts stuck in the past or enmeshed in the future. Today is a new day, a set of twenty-four brand new hours. Make it count. 🦋

“Waking up this morning, I smile.
Twenty-four brand new hours are before me.
I vow to live fully in each moment
and to look at all beings with eyes of compassion.”

#beauty #beautiful #innerbeauty #love #inspiration #thoughts #journal #diary #philosophy #psychology #psychiatry #literature #quotes #poetry #writing #art #wisdom #religion #spirituality #theology #encouragement

[JeremyLeigh]

When I walked my dog today I was thinking about someone at a Thanksgiving dinner with a plate full of good food in front of him. But instead of eating what is in front of him, and instead of visiting with all the family gathered round his table, he daydreams about how nice things must be elsewhere. Clearly this is insane behavior. And certainly somewhere in this country of 300 million people, some families are eating juicier turkey, richer stuffing, sweeter cranberry sauce, with better chemistry and conversations. But the person in my daydream has a plate piled high with a beautiful meal in front of him! And the family that loves him is gathered all around him!
Today is all we have. Today is all there is to enjoy. The people we have at any given moment are all the people we have at that moment. The conversation we are in is the only conversation that matters. We have to live in the present to find meaning or happiness. The past is gone, the future is a fantasy, the more beautiful spouse is a daydream, the nicer house is a phantom. Be here, today, in the moment. Love what you have and even if you want a change, love what you have as much as you can until the change comes.

[rainflowers]

I remember feeling like that as a child, waking up maybe on a weekend, and feeling excited for the day ahead, for the fun I may have that day. I think its easy to forget that there are certain things that ignite a similar feeling of excitement, wether its a subject of learning that excites you, or a certain hobby or activity. I think the world gets in the way, and obscures those things sometimes. You have to recognize them when you see them, and compile a list in your mind, and try to reconnect, and build your life around those things. Your passions, whatever they may be. Thanks again Lubna, hope you're having a great day :)