| Having raised three wonderful kids with my husband, | | | | process of manifesting your heart's desires, because |
| we are now empty nesters. After the initial glow of | | | | if you are not grateful for what you have, it is hard |
| being free and no longer responsible for the | | | | to attract more into your life. But the forerunner to |
| day-to-day care and well being of my children wore | | | | gratitude is appreciation. And before you can |
| off, I quickly realized that I really miss hearing the | | | | appreciate anything you have to notice it. The key to |
| pitter patter of tiny feet, cuddling with a little one, | | | | appreciation is noticing in the present moment, so |
| and delighting in watching a baby grow up. So my | | | | practice noticing, being in a constant state of |
| husband and I decided to take the plunge and just | | | | awareness...just like Manny. |
| do it-adopt a puppy that is. | | | | The art of appreciation is a simple two-step process. |
| After a trip to our local animal shelter to "just look," | | | | First you notice something, for instance, your |
| we came home with a five-week old, six-pound | | | | computer. Then you elevate that noticing by focusing |
| bundle of joy that we named Manny. An unlikely mix | | | | on the positive aspects of it. In the case of your |
| of beagle and lab, Manny was a roly-poly little boy | | | | computer, you may concentrate on how it is a great |
| with short black hair, floppy ears and deep, dark | | | | source of entertainment, enjoyment or employment. |
| eyes. Seven weeks and eight pounds later I'm | | | | Keep focusing on all of the good things about it and |
| thinking that I forgot about pointy little teeth that | | | | get your senses involved. Lightly run your fingertips |
| are teething, potty training accidents and the | | | | across the keyboard, hear the rhythmic hum of the |
| unrelenting allure of paper-books, magazines, toilet | | | | fan, take a deep breath and slowly exhale as you |
| tissue, etc.-that for some reason must to be | | | | feel yourself happily working on it. Then experience |
| shredded (and Manny is just the guy to do it). | | | | and enjoy a deeper and deeper sensation of |
| When I was complaining to a dear, wise friend about | | | | appreciation as it builds up in your body. Anything in |
| the new addition to our family and expressing my | | | | your life or surrounding you right now can be a |
| fear of having made a mistake, she simply said,"Why | | | | source of appreciation. A loved one, a friend, a |
| don't you think about what he is here to teach you?" | | | | stranger. Your golf clubs, your tennis racket, your |
| (One thing I have learned for sure is not to leave my | | | | running shoes. Your kitchen, your bedroom, your |
| books on the floor.) Taking her advice to heart, I | | | | bathroom. Your car, your bike, your skates. Your |
| have been watching my little guy with new eyes. | | | | favorite pen. An inspiring sunrise. A gorgeous sunset. |
| And when I saw him emerge from underneath a | | | | A beloved pet. |
| cupboard the other day with a dust bunny attached | | | | By plugging into appreciation, by noticing and focusing |
| to his nose, I finally got it. After Manny snorted the | | | | on the positive as often as you can, you will be |
| dust ball off, he jumped around it and then playfully | | | | vibrating in harmony with appreciation and attracting |
| batted it with his paw, delighted with his new find. | | | | more and more of the things that you want into |
| What I realized is that Manny really appreciates the | | | | your life. Complete the manifesting cycle by feeling |
| ordinary. He isn't waiting around for something special | | | | gratitude for all that you already have and all that |
| to come along and make him happy, he just is happy | | | | you intend to manifest. |
| because everything is a marvel to Manny. Everything | | | | As for me, I have to admit that I am not to the |
| is already special. | | | | point where I am appreciating dust bunnies yet, but |
| A lot has been written lately about gratitude, and | | | | there's a little puppy dog tail that I'm appreciating |
| rightly so. Gratitude is a very important part of the | | | | more and more every day. |