Tenets Of Life – a cooking pot and twisted tales

The awareness that in actual practice these words are easier said than done doesn’t escape me at all, especially due to the fact that human beings are sensory and emotionally guided.

Nevertheless, we can’t allow our lives to be like flotsams and jetsams, drifting down the bay and tossed about by each wave that casts its ripples our way.

We have to grow some sense of emotional intelligence and let the rational part of us along with grounded tenets built over time help us ride through the rough seasons of life.

If we toss in the towel, fall apart and melt into a puddle with every hard stone that’s catapulted our way, not only will it be such a hectic life but an unruly one as well.

Naturally, we are not hewn from stone and will react to issue’s that concerns us, but we should bear in mind that life continues whether we are in a pool of misery or deliriously happy.

Choosing to be happy or okay is a conscious and consistent effort.

Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha

Is it possible to wake up and express a heartfelt gratitude for everything, without a ‘but?’

Some gentleman openly made a scornful statement, asking why we should have to express our thankfulness and gratitude for all to see? Why couldn’t we just be thankful in our minds?

I thought it through and my wonder is, maybe he feels it’s not manly enough to be seen doing something as sissy as being grateful or thankful? Who knows.

Anyway, to this retort I say, why not? We talk about virtually anything and everything under the Sun. So why not gratitude and thankfulness? Must we save it only for the day of Thanksgiving, on 24 November?

Is it because the word carries the connotations of Religion or Christian tenets?

Well you are wrong! I think it would be wise to remember that the state of gratitude is a life tenet, which does not respect any doctrine, dogma, race, religion, age or sex.

Thankfulness is a state of being that is the mother of all virtues. When we are thankful, we have less to grumble about. When we are thankful, it makes the little that we have enough. When we are thankful, we are not going to be envious and envy breeds wickedness.

We don’t have to look far to find things to be grateful for: family, food, shelter, friends, clothing, seasons, life, nature, beauty, truth, salvation. The list could go on for decades.

A heart of gratitude opens doors of love, peace and plenty.

Today, I am grateful for life and good health. It’s really a privilege and nothing can truly compare to the promises that I have in God.

A grateful heart will always find satisfaction. May your heart find a grace for gratitude. Like the Bible tells us, ‘God inhabits the praise of His People.

You can join Colline’s or Maria Jansson gratitude challenge platforms.