Thank You! With Deepest Gratitude

Mother Nature

“If the only prayer you say in life is ‘thank you’ that will suffice.” —Meister Eckhart

Mother Nature, you embody love and beauty in your vastness. As with a mother, there is comfort wrapped up in the warm, nurturing, and life-giving properties of your earth. A place of peace, a beginning and an end, a center where all things spawn—you offer a calm that can only be felt, should we dare to be open.

You are the lens which starts the day. We give thanks to you, Mother Nature, for a new day, a chance to see the sun rise, a bird dance on a tree limb, a feather wave in the wind, and hope to see the sun set. Though your temperament fluctuates, it is not without purpose and direction; there are no accidents.

You give so much and ask so little in return. You give the birds, trees, seas, rivers, mountains, hills, and valleys, and also the beauty of flowers, which cannot be denied. You are the life force from which all beauty originates, and yet you are so humble that you allow us to walk upon you, on sacred ground.

Seek out Mother Nature, spend time in her presence, and treasure her with every breath. Learn from her, preserve her existence; she carries the wisdom of your ancestors. Listen to her, observe her, embrace all things in nature.

Seek to love the sun for the energy it brings—a source of both physical and emotional healing. Appreciate the rain as it nourishes the ground and the beautiful flowers it helps to sprout. Learn to love the rivers, as the running water can serve as a source of meditation. Come to love the ocean, the vastness it is, for it is through time spent by the ocean that we can search the horizon and remember anything is possible. Grow to love the trees for their beauty; observe the leaves, for it is while looking up at the canopy we get a glance at an umbrella of togetherness, a union working side by side, casting a sea of sunshade. Remember, the tree started as a seed, and be reassured, for as we started small, we too can grow and branch out and offer a canopy of togetherness and comfort to others.

Love Mother Nature as she is a gift and challenge yourself to feel most at peace in her presence.

My Story

As a young kid growing up on the Caribbean island of Dominica, I was very lucky to spend most of my days with Mother Nature. Dominica is known as the nature island of the Caribbean; comprised of 365 rivers, rain forest, and a vast array of tropical flowers, it is a playground for nature lovers.

As a child, my day would begin at the rising of the sun. Like most kids growing up on the island, I would run and play with friends, ride bicycles, experience family weekends at the beach, and just explore every opportunity I had to be out in nature. I currently live outside of Washington, D.C., and it is easy to see how lucky I was to have had that early childhood experience in Mother Nature.

My favorite, almost daily adventure would be leaving the safety and comfort of my home and venturing deep into the rain forest, in search of the magnificent views at the base of the Trafalgar Falls.

While today there is a clear path with man-made steps, reaching the waterfalls was quite a different journey in my day. The journey was full of discovery, and took me through deep brush and over rugged terrain, where I might encounter fallen trees, tropical birds and spiders, and maybe even the occasional snake from time to time. The reward was a breathtaking view. And apart from the beauty that the natural topography presented, there was the reward of taking a plunge into the most refreshing water you could stumble upon.

Being around water has always been one of my favorite activities in nature, and some of my fondest memories involve rainy days. Growing up, a rainy day was like music to my ears. It was always a time of play, where we would run outside and just jump around in the rain. Feeling the raindrops was like receiving a blessing from the universe.

To this day, a rainy day is my favorite day. I no longer run and dance in the rain, but some parts of me wish I did. Instead, I may go for a walk or just sit outside and observe the rain as it falls to the ground, appreciating the gifts of Mother Nature.

Another childhood experience in Mother Nature was sharing in the company of many animals: dogs, cows, sheep, chickens, rabbits, pigs, and iguanas, to name a few. I grew up among all these animals, and my earliest memory stems from my encounters with each of these animals and feeling the gratitude and kindness they showed.

When they would greet you, they would offer a gentle greeting, sometimes trying to lick your face. The thought of a cow, sheep, or goat licking your face may not sound exciting to you, but it was the way they greeted me. And while they were always eager to receive any food I had to offer, through each encounter I felt I was the recipient of a gift.

One standout recollection from when I was growing up was encountering the random stray dog that was always eager to jump on my lap, wag its tail, and give and receive a hug. I was struck by the passion of dogs; while we may speak a different language, we also share a universal language of love and gratitude.

I also love and am fascinated with birds. Somewhat of a novice birdwatcher, I appreciate the beautiful colors and the different mannerisms they exhibit, whether it is searching for food or just being playful in a pool of water.

My love of birds was enhanced one day, I distinctly recall, as I was walking up to the ninth hole at my local golf course and the most beautiful expression of gratitude happened. I received a hug from three hummingbirds. Picture this: me walking up to the green, carrying my golf bag, and out of nowhere, three hummingbirds appear. The birds circled me all the way from the tee box to the green. Even when I stopped to make my last approach shot, the birds circled me as I walked. I was struck almost to tears at the experience and simply said “thank you”; then they were gone.

As a measure of my thanks for my past experience with animals, I always make a point to greet any animal I encounter. I often say “Good morning, have a good day” to the random dog or squirrel I may encounter.

My gratitude for Mother Nature truly flourished when I developed a deeper connection to her, allowing my experience with her to flow, not from the outside in, as I experienced her in the past, but from the inside out. I now take the time to listen, to feel, and to be present in her healing presence.

Every day in nature is a gift, and she comforts me on troubled days. A simple act of taking a walk outside offers me a chance to clear my head—a healing experience for my mental well-being. Taking long strolls on the beach has been an opportunity to connect to my inner self, and it is on these walks that I attempt to listen to bring my breathing in time with the crashing of the waves, and in turn experience a connection that is so pure, and an expression of love for self—all through being one with nature.

With my wife’s permission, I share the story of her “healing rock.” One day, after arriving in the Washington, D.C., area for work, she came upon a large rock alongside a creek near the National Zoo. She sat on the rock, and in that moment, any troubles or challenges were lifted off her shoulders. By taking that moment and being present with her environment, she was granted the opportunity to put whatever ailment she was dealing with into perspective, and obtain the peace and assurance that whatever it was, it would pass, as life goes on.

Your Story?

What are some of your earliest adventures in Mother Nature?

Do you have a favorite rock? A quiet place in Mother Nature where you can be by yourself?

Ask yourself, what is your relationship to the rain? Do you feel the rain or is it that thing that just gets your clothes wet?

Action Item: Challenge yourself to spend 5 minutes a day in nature. If possible, spend these five minutes barefoot, with your shoes off; feel the experience as if you are taking deep breaths on the heartbeat of Mother Nature.

Random Acts of Kindness

“Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react.” —Charles R. Swindoll

Random acts of kindness, you are the things that happen when least expected. The little moments that often have huge impacts well beyond the instant. You are the things that change lives and lift spirits. You allow us to be present, to remain in the moment. You are the moments that keep the world turning, reminding us that in simple deeds we often reflect the best of our humanness.

You give the opportunity to act or not to act or a chance sometimes to go out on a limb, as it is not always evident how the act will be received.

You are the things that when presented to us, offer us the gift of opportunity to show compassion, and often compassion is then in turn rewarded to us.

Always look for the opportunity to show kindness. Be kind while you still can, and remember kindness comes in many shapes and forms, and may often manifest itself in the simplest of gestures.

Remember, kindness starts at home, so please be kind to yourself as well as those around you. Practice the exercise of kindness so when a situation presents itself to you, you are ready to offer a genuine compassion.

My Story

Like most people, my life has been subject to many random acts of kindness for which I am most appreciative. Day to day, I am amazed by the kindness of animals and strangers, and it has been my experience that while it may appear more often than not, when performing a random act of kindness, that it is the recipient that benefits, it is in fact the performer who benefits the most.

Oftentimes an occasion may present itself when least expected. The important thing is to realize that this is an opportunity to act, and to show kindness to others. One such opportunity presented itself to me on a cold day as I pulled up to a stoplight in my car. While stopped, I noticed there was a guy begging for money. My first thought was that he was not wearing a winter jacket and I remembered I had a few. I asked if he would like one, and he assured me he would, but only if it was a designer label. This response seemed both surprising and odd. Nevertheless, it did not deter me from trying to help him. While I did not have many designer-label jackets, I recalled having one (Nautica), so I went home and then returned with the jacket for him. I was very thankful for the opportunity to provide something that might be of some use to another and got great joy in seeing him wearing it a few days later, while asking for money at his usual traffic light.

While there may be a distinction between a random act and regular acts of kindness, I got an idea one day to make good use of my annual spring cleaning. I noticed I had a tendency to go shopping and buy lots of clothes that I would never wear, and oftentimes I would not even get to the simple step of removing the tags prior to hanging them in my closet. At the time, I was living in a high-rise apartment that was supported by a very nice custodian/cleaning crew. I put the word out that I was conducting my spring cleaning, and then neatly arranged all of my unwanted or unused clothes into groups. Within minutes, about seven to eight individuals were at my door, going through and deciding what they would like. As always, I was very appreciative that someone might find something they could use.

As an individual, I have always believed in taking every opportunity that presents itself to me, not knowing where or what doors might open in the future. I am also one of those persons who believes nothing happens by chance. Things are meant to happen, and whether I receive the blessing or not depends on how I act in the moment.

One day, I was driving along the streets of San Diego, California, when out of the corner of my eye I noticed an old friend, Stacy, who appeared to be standing at the bus stop.

I was very excited to see an old friend, and since I was not traveling with any sense of urgency, I decided to stop and offer Stacy a ride to her destination. Upon entering the car, I noticed she was pregnant and congratulated her. It looked to me like she was about eight or nine months pregnant. I had not seen Stacy in a couple years, so I was eager to find out if she was married and if this was her first kid or if she had others. She mentioned that it was her first and that she was going to be a single mom. She then proceeded to ask me if I would be willing to move in with her so someone would be readily available at night if she went into labor. This may seem an unusual ask from someone you have not seen in a long time and happened upon by chance, but I knew I was being offered a gift. I have learned that blessings appear in many forms and at times when least expected, therefore I simply said “sure.”

This was my first encounter living with anyone outside of my immediate family, as I had never had a roommate, so I was not sure what to expect. But I had told her yes, and moved in. For the most part, I had my regular life of going to work in the morning and then making sure I was back at her place by 5:00 or 6:00 P.M., to ensure I was available for the evening if anything was to happen.

This was my first experience with a pregnant person, and I learned about the food cravings which I had only heard about. She requested fettucine alfredo usually around 4:00 or 5:00 A.M., so I would make it for her. This was relatively easy for me, as I have always been an early riser and light sleeper, so I would probably have been awake anyway.

Stacy went on to have a healthy baby girl, and I was back in my apartment in no time. We parted with a joke. Stacy said, “If you are not married in five years and I am not married either, then we should get married.” We did have a chat five years later and Stacy was happily married with two additional kids.

I am most grateful for this experience, for in some small way, I was able to be a part of a new person coming into the world, if only by providing some comfort to her mom in a time of need.

In what was to be one of my favorite random experiences, one evening, on my way to dinner, I was walking through Georgetown and noticed a homeless lady sitting on the side of the road, calling out to me. As I approached, she uttered, “Can I have a hug?”

Well, you can imagine all the thoughts that went through my mind and, not just giving a stranger a hug, but a homeless stranger at that, and all the assumptions around cleanliness. The funny thing is, though, that while I may have had some thoughts, they came and went in less than a second, for all I could think to say was, “Yes, sure.” Afterward, I had a sudden spring in my step, a big smile on my face, and a zoom of confidence. This homeless lady showed me a random act of kindness, and I knew how lucky I was to receive it on that day.

As life would have it, to this day, hugs seem a big part of my life—both my wife and my kids love hugs. My daughter at her current stage is one of the most sensitive people I know. She has a unique sense for consoling others and oftentimes, while out in public, she may notice a kid who is sad (or it could be a kid who is just crying because a parent did not give them a desired want) and she will pull away and head straight for that kid, a perfect stranger, to give a hug, and inquire if they are okay. She is such a great steward of gratitude and kindness to others that I often wonder if I see a little of me in her or a little of her in me.

Who could imagine that a homeless lady, giving me a hug many years ago, started a relationship with hugs that is the gift that I continue to receive. How lucky I am!

Your Story?

Were you the recipient of a Random Act of Kindness?

Do you recall when you performed a recent Random Act of Kindness?

Do you shy away from these acts? If yes, why?

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