Attaining Enlightenment (For Normal People)

It takes noticing the little things. It also takes: Gratitude. How often do you say thank you each day to other people? The bank teller, the waiter, the grocery store clerk, the mocha stand girl … How often do you say “you are welcome?” Not “thank you,” but “you are welcome?” I’m willing to bet, if you’re normal or typical, you say thank you twice as often (at least) as you say you’re welcome. Most everybody says thank you without thinking twice. Think about it. You send your deposit through the drive-through vacuum, the teller completes the transaction. She sends it back and says, “thank you” over the microphone, and you respond, “thank you” as you retrieve your slip of paper and drive off down the road. It’s a nicety, but it’s overused, underappreciated, and feels superficial most of the time. Not all of the time, but a lot of the time. If you say it slowly, it makes a big difference but it’s still overused and underappreciated. Now think about the acknowledgment of “you’re welcome.” It implies a sense of gratitude, takes a bigger space of time to enunciate, and recognize the full circle of give and take not just one half. Both sides of the transaction around, “you’re welcome” get time to think about fulfillment and receive benefit from the feeling of mutual recognition. If you pay attention to human interaction involving displays of gratitude you’ll notice there are more smiles surrounding a complete transaction of “thank you” and “you’re welcome”. Partaking in complete transactions, you will notice a prolonged sense of good feelings; that is, the positive energy flows over and has a greater tendency to influence more of your day. It’s the simple things like this in life that provide enlightenment in a sometimes dark and unnavigable world. Reading, saying, and experiencing simple everyday things of this nature can change your life and the lives of the people around you. Do you say “thank you” and “you’re welcome” and “I love you” with true intention, meaning, and acknowledgment to the people you care most about as often as you say them to the bank teller?(Well, okay not “I love you,” maybe). It takes a lot of energy to live within each others’ space. Even within our own space. Showing yourself and the people around you respect and gratitude for what you receive from them is a simple pleasure in life when done with the true feeling and time to absorb the acknowledgment of “you are welcome.” A perfect example of this is when I receive phone calls from telemarketers. I realize they wouldn’t have the job and be calling if the mass majority didn’t buy into whatever it is they’re selling. When I hear, “Hello, Mrs. Halstead, how are you today?” I specifically take the time to respond, “I’m terrific, thank you for asking. And how are you?” This usually interrupts their sales pitch and makes them stop and think about being a living person not an autobot. Too often I get the answer similar to, “Oh. Why I’m just fine. Thank you. That’s so nice of you to ask.” To which I always say, “You are welcome.” More often than not, the call then shifts from the hurried, rude, and non-feeling world of human brainwash to the world of feeling and caring and gratitude for recognition. When I say, “No, I’m not interested, but thank you for asking,” I don’t get the pushy, “But wait!” I get, “Okay, well, thank you for your time, and have a nice day.” “You’re welcome, and thank you, [so and so]. You have a nice day, too.” “Well, I will. Thank you.” “You are welcome.” Copyright © 2009 Rebecca HalsteadnAll rights reservednwww.ThinkItOut.net