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When we yield to discouragement or despair it is usually because we give too much thought to the past and to the future.

While thinking about my Thankful Thursday theme for today and checking my emails, I came across this quote by St. Therese of Lisieux. How true it is. When I find it hard to be thankful, it is usually because I am not looking at what I have in front of me, but rather, I am dwelling in the past or worrying about an event yet-to-come. Those stupid mistakes, past hurts, and painful episodes have already taken place and I no longer “dwell” there. In regards to my future, I can prepare the best I can, but ultimately, it is not under my control.

In order to be thankful, I must live in the moment. And when I live in the moment, I can be thankful.

So when a big snowstorm hits New Jersey and there is a state of emergency so everyone has to stay home, I am forced to sit back and enjoy. I choose a bright red mug (go Rutgers!) from the cupboard, make a cup of hot chocolate, put way too many big marshmallows in it just because it would look good in a picture, pull my boots on and grab my camera (all while my husband is announcing to my kids that I am a bit quirky), and step outside . I place that steaming cup of yumminess on top of a little mountain of snow and take a few shots. I am living in the moment. I am thankful.

Jason Mraz has a great song that aptly describes “Living in the Moment”.

If this life is one act
Why do we lay all these traps?
We put them right in our path
When we just wanna be free

I will not waste my days
Making up all kinds of ways
To worry about all the things
That will not happen to me

So I just let go of what I know I don’t know
And I know I’ll only do this by
Living in the moment
Living our life
Easy and breezy
With peace in my mind
With peace in my heart
Peace in my soul
Wherever I’m going, I’m already home
Living in the moment

I’m letting myself off the hook for things I’ve done
I let my past go past
And now I’m having more fun
I’m letting go of the thoughts
That do not make me strong
And I believe this way can be the same for everyone

And if I fall asleep
I know you’ll be the one who’ll always remind me
To live in the moment
To live my life
Easy and breezy
With peace in my mind
With peace in my heart
Got peace in my soul
Wherever I’m going, I’m already home

I can’t walk through life facing backwards
I have tried
I tried more than once to just make sure
And I was denied the future I’d been searching for
But I spun around and hurt no more.

If you would like to share your version of “Thankful Thursday” (photos or text or both) today or in the future, you can link your post to my post on Thursdays in the comments section with the title “Thankful Thursday”.