Practice Senseless Moments of Appreciation

Florida is a special place with water on all sides except the north border. It’s home to many species, including delicate water birds that look like the cranes in the brushwork painting by Ou Mie Shu that we recognize as a symbol of T’ai Chi Chih. The Gulf of Mexico is on Florida’s west coast. I want to share a prayer of gratitude I am saying to protect the delicate ecosystems from leaking oil and to focus my thoughts on sending appreciation.

“I send the energy of love and gratitude to the water and all the living creatures in the Gulf of Mexico and its surroundings. To the whales, dolphins, pelicans, fish, shellfish, plankton’s, corals, algae and all living creatures. I am sorry. Please forgive me. Thank you. I love you.” I repeat this prayer because it puts my focus on sending love to the Gulf, its people and ecosystems. It has a regenerative focus rather than dismal or blaming one. Likewise TCC is a restorative, generative practice that shines light on my joy and appreciation of the gifts I have in my life.

One of the ways I practice appreciation while doing TCC is to set myself up in the midst of nine tall trees or nine flowering shrubs. Rather than count the nine repetitions, I shift my glance from one tree to the next, to the next until I have shared appreciation with each one and reached my nine repetitions. Then I shift to the other side and repeat the joyful glances to each of the nine trees again. This brings me an extra dose of joy because I have experienced the beauty of the natural setting, creating a smile in my heart. Thus TCC connects me to nature and offers me a chance to lovingly appreciate all the good in my life. TCC helps me practice senseless moments of appreciation.