Appreciation as food for others and our Soul: the Monday post for Special Needs Parents, and more

In Anat Baniel's new book,
Kid's Beyond Limits,
ENTHUSIASM is the seventh essential.

Here in Austin, it's a beautiful day, and a well of appreciation for the
weather surged up in me. ( Having 3 months straight of over 100 degrees
last summer pumps up the appreciation glands, to be sure).

This feeling of appreciation reminded me of an exercise in a "get a better/ wonderful
relationship" book,
to the point of spending 10 seconds
(just TEN SECONDS)
an hour in deep appreciation for something about our lives.

And with the children,
the parallel is obvious:
if they can "do" a little bit,
APPRECIATE THE HECK OUT OF IT.

If they can do a little bit more than a little bit,
APPRECIATE THE HECK OUT OF IT.

If they are just there,
not into the action mode,
just being alive,
and looking at you,
(or even not looking at you)
and you remember this glorious fact:

you and your child are alive
NOW
in this moment,
go ahead, you guessed it:
APPRECIATE THE HECK OUT OF IT.


This seems like simple-minded advice,
but it could be the key to changing many
many things in our lives,
just pausing,
slowing down,
going into the appreciation and gratitude
and enthusiasm mode..

Enjoy your enjoyment.

Enthusiasm, of course,
has a root like theo, like theology,
like God.

The joy of the Gods,
or something like that.

The big wonder juice of being alive.

We all have it.

Sometimes we forget.

Around our children, of course,
it is like sunshine to their being and to their improvement
and to their satisfaction with themselves.

And don't try too hard.
Try just the easy and honest and totally present way
for just about anything to
....
APPRECIATE THE HECK OUT OF IT.