So I am currently doing a 108 Ultimate Yogi rotation. As the name implies, I am doing yoga and meditation for 108 days. As a person who is constantly fidgeting, meditation is really hard for me. But, I keep plugging along. One of the meditations we do is called the gratitude meditation and as the name implies, we focus on being grateful for the many good things in our lives. I’ll admit it, I can focus on being grateful for the 5 minute meditation and then I’m on to something else.
It wasn’t until I was kayaking this year that I really could feel grateful. It’s all too easy to focus on what we don’t have, rather than what we do have. My worries:
**my career
**my hip (which doesn’t seem to be healing)
**uncertainty about the future.
As I was gliding along the water in my kayak, I gazed up at the beautiful blue sky and could feel nothing but gratitude. I am grateful for the gorgeous summer day, I am grateful for my nice kayak, I am grateful for my strong arms that can paddle me along. I am grateful for my dear husband who introduced me to kayaking. I felt such a sense of peace and for a moment, I forgot all about the sad things in my life.
We all come to gratitude in different ways. How can you feel gratitude?
Nancy Loderick's Blog 
Ken Loderick
July 13, 2012
I’m always happy to have you along as my kayaking partner (and Dairy Queen Blizzard partner also!). I also find it very relaxing to be out on the water and bonding with nature. I look forward to many more years of paddling with my dear wife!
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Nancy Loderick
July 13, 2012
Hi Ken,
Thanks for your comment. I don’t know about the Dairy Queen Blizzard partner bit, since I think you would prefer to have the entire Blizzard for yourself. I’m getting better at rationing my Blizzard consumption though since Blizzards are not
exactly part of my fitness and healthy eating regimen 🙂
Nancy
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Linda Lecomte
July 25, 2012
Nancy, Nice post on gratitude. For me, I never lose my awe for the ocean & am always grateful for the chance to be near it. Sorry to hear your hip is slow to heal, but glad to hear your strong arms continue to let you enjoy kayaking.
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Nancy Loderick
July 25, 2012
Hi Linda,
Thanks for stopping by my blog and for your comment. I agree that there is something so calming about the water.
Nancy
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rickbraveheart
July 28, 2012
I’ve kayaked several times a week for the better part of 20 years now Nancy (and meditated each day for many more than that) and after the first month or so of getting use to it, I don’t think I’ve ever had a time when I didn’t feel it helped me quiet myself, get centered and feel connected to the Nature and the water. I’m so pleased you discovered the joy of being one with the water and what’s even better is that it gives you yet another way of bringing your meditation practice into more of your life. I wish you beautiful light and calm waters always. Namaste. Rick
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Nancy Loderick
July 29, 2012
Hi Rick,
Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts about gratitude, meditation and nature. There is something so healing about nature. Several years ago I lived in New York City and while I loved the energy of the city, I always felt unsettled. I just recently figured out this was because I wasn’t spending any time in nature. (Hard to find nature in New York City!)
I make it a point now to get outside everyday now. Even if it’s just a walk around the block.
Nancy
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