According to Albert Einstein, "There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle." As for me, I choose the latter. Everything is a miracle: being alive; the sun coming up; grass growing; birds singing; our hearts beating. Life here on Earth is a wonderful thing. Life is a wonderful thing.
Sure, we have challenges. Everyone does. Challenges push us to expand, and grow, and overcome. They make us stronger. And, in looking back, after the challenge has passed, we are able to find the good in a new direction, an understanding, or a new way of being.
In the simplest of terms for me, it's all about enjoying the journey. I choose to live life this way because it's clearly more fun. If ever I am feeling down (the more I take this approach, the rarer these moments are), I go outside and look up in wonder at the vastness of the sky. The beauty of a tree, the complexity of a flower in bloom, or a deep breath of fresh air is thrilling, and all of it reminds me of the miracle of life.
Gratitude and appreciation come next. I make a deliberate effort to focus on the wonder and the good. I look around my surroundings and see what I love that I already have. In conversation, I make it a point to talk about what's working in my life. I'm practicing this even in my thoughts when I appreciate other people, regardless of sameness or differences. I strive to see all people as Source (God) sees them, and intend to align my thinking and speaking in accordance with that view.
I believe it is beneficial to acknowledge situations that serve us: a good job; a healthy body; a creative mind; a trusted friend. All miracles. Practicing these things and this way of being develops new pathways in our brains, new habits in our actions, and soon our beliefs are new as well. Life then continues to unfold as though everything is a miracle.
What is a miracle? A dictionary (or Google) may describe a miracle as "A surprising and welcome event that is not explicable by natural or scientific laws and is therefore considered to be the work of a divine agency," or "a highly improbable or extraordinary event, development, or accomplishment that brings very welcome consequences," or perhaps "an amazing product or achievement, or an outstanding example of something." Whatever miracles are defined to be, I embrace and celebrate them. I choose to live life as an eternal optimist.
-Raphaella Vaisseau, 2015
