The Gratitude Thread

[AlexBaranosky]

I wanted to say thank you to all the instructors who have helped me over the years.

[AlexBaranosky]

Gratitude

Just wanted to revived this thread. (I am shocked I am the last person to post on here... weeks ago!)

I am immensely grateful for Sifu Wong and our Shaolin Arts. Everyday in my practice I bask in joy and my heart smiles because of what I have learned from him. When I feel joy and my heart smiles it literally explodes from within me. I take this with me throughout everyday, everywhere.

Sometimes throughout the day I look around me, and suddenly it hits me: everyone else does not feel what I feel. Feeling joyful and at ease and caring and upright has become so normal to me that every once in a while I have to look around and realize how far I have come. I have so much appreciation for EVERYTHING. It is just so easy for me to appreciate the beautiful world around me (is it the world that got more beautiful or was it me? hehe.)

I am officially grateful to Sifu, and to all my Shaolin family. I look forward to my next opportunity to say thank you in person and to train to take my practice deeper.

[Omar]

I know what you mean.

Thank you for sharing

[AColarusso]

Hey Alex thank you very much.

I will also like to thank Sigung, Sifu Piti and Sifu Rama and all of the instructors in the Shaolin Wahnam Institute

[martialartsmarj]

I am grateful for being given three wonderful children to care for. I am so happy that they are all making their way in the world as healthy successful people.

Maria

[psychvet]

I am SO grateful, too. I am currently at my friend's beach condominium with my dear brother. Just this past New Year's eve I was here with my friends, and I was so much in pain, and so feeling afraid that I would forever feel so tired and so unwell, despite all my best efforts, including a regional course with Sifu, and being trained as an instructor in another form of qigong. Then I started attending Sihing Anthony's classes and finally understood that I had to go to Malaysia where I met so many wonderful people and benefited again, and more powerfully, from Sifu's teaching. So now I am back at the same place where I was in despair, and instead, I feel so well and so happy with my life.
I couldn't be more grateful to Sifu and Sihing and everyone in this family (not to mention my other friends and family). And I am so fortunate that Sifu is coming to my own town in a couple of months.

[Racheli]

This thread has been in my mind for a while, I read most of the posts here and appreciate everyone for being so openhearted.
I think one of the best things about this forum, and what encourages this openness is the fact that people here are genuinely happy for each other. I thank you all for that.

Enjoy,

Racheli

[Erica]

Greetings, everyone.

I am glad to see this thread spring back to life!

Today, I am grateful for:

1) The beautiful and awe-inspiring thunderstorm today. One bolt of lightning was so close that when the thunder sounded I jumped about a foot in the air and landed on my bed!

2) The cool wind that the storm brought in.

3) Having an air conditioner for when there are no storms to bring cool wind in!

4) A wonderful trip yesterday to a beautiful beach...snorkeling, cliff diving, and playing with my friend's kids in the water.

5) What will no doubt be a wonderful trip to singing-sand beaches at Kyotango and the Tottori sand dunes this weekend.


I'm so grateful to have had the chance to live in this most beautiful area!! I will move away soon, but I will enjoy it as much as I can in the few weeks I have left.

Happy smiles,
Erica

[Bernardo]

This thread has been in my mind for a while, I read most of the posts here and appreciate everyone for being so openhearted.
I think one of the best things about this forum, and what encourages this openness is the fact that people here are genuinely happy for each other. I thank you all for that.

Enjoy,

Racheli

Yes: Rejoicing (in other people's happiness) rocks!!!

I'm grateful to be able to rejoice.

[martialartsmarj]

Riding the waves

Dear Shaolin Wahnam Family I am so grateful for the joy that has come into my life since I started practicing Chi Kung and Tai Chi Chuan. In the last few days I have been shown very clearly how life before was very mechanical and enduring. Now even when things don’t go to plan I can still go with the flow and not get caught up as much. Even though I feel shaken, I can find my footing, and go with it.

I attended the graduation meal of Sigung’s course here in Killarney in June. I thanked Sigung for the blessing of his teaching and said that I wanted to bring my Tai Chi Chuan practice into my daily life. I am seeing this more and more in the fabric of my life.

Thank you Sigung, Sifu Joan and all my other life teachers.

Maria

[Martin Do]

Dear Maria Sije,

Now even when things don’t go to plan I can still go with the flow and not get caught up as much. Even though I feel shaken, I can find my footing, and go with it.

Thats wonderful . I am very happy for you.

Kindest regards

Martin-Sidai

[Joan]

Dear Maria,

That is wonderful and I can see how far you have progressed since practising Shaolin Chi Kung and Wahnam Tai Chi Chuan.

Smiling from the Heart is 'easy' when everything is going well and life is going smoothly.

The skill is being able to 'Smile from the Heart' at any time and not get caught up in the perceived 'bad situations' as bad.

It was clear yesterday morning when I met you, that we were not dwelling on the 'sadness' 'disappointment' and 'feeling sorry for ourselves' at not being able to get to Malaysia despite our best efforts. We were instead seeing the 'opportunities', that this situation has afforded us now and going with the flow of it.

Our meeting was constructive and joyful and we were in our deepest hearts able to be wonderfully happy for all those who are able to attend, knowing the benefits each will receive.

We have already been very blessed to have had Sifu's presence here twice this year and while it would have been really wonderful to be in his beautiful presence again and meet our Shaolin Wahnam Family, it was not meant to be this time for us.

But we still have many many blessings in our life

Smile from the Heart,
Joan

[Erica]

Dear Shaolin Wahnam Family I am so grateful for the joy that has come into my life since I started practicing Chi Kung and Tai Chi Chuan. In the last few days I have been shown very clearly how life before was very mechanical and enduring. Now even when things don’t go to plan I can still go with the flow and not get caught up as much. Even though I feel shaken, I can find my footing, and go with it.

I attended the graduation meal of Sigung’s course here in Killarney in June. I thanked Sigung for the blessing of his teaching and said that I wanted to bring my Tai Chi Chuan practice into my daily life. I am seeing this more and more in the fabric of my life.

Thank you Sigung, Sifu Joan and all my other life teachers.

Maria

I'm grateful for the smile that this post brought me.

Thank you, Maria.

Erica

[martialartsmarj]

How powerful the smile is

Dear Erica

Yesterday whilst walking back to my car along the beach I thought of your post, and what I remembered most was the picture of you smiling.



A huge great grin came to my face very much like this smiley . It was so powerful I could not hold it back, even if I had wanted.



Then as each person walked towards me they were met with this big Cheshire Cat expression and couldn’t help but smile back.



This made me smile even more . By the time I got to the end of the beach the whole place was lit up. Ha ha.

Thank you also to Sifu Joan and Martin

Maria
ps I had so many smilies in the original message I was told to go back and edit the post ha ha

[Erica]

Dear Maria,

A huge great grin came to my face very much like this smiley . It was so powerful I could not hold it back, even if I had wanted.

I'm glad you didn't.

Thank you so much for this post, Maria. I have experienced the power of smiling from the heart in many ways, but I am surprised to see how far this smile has travelled!! Thank you for passing it on for me. I wonder where it's off to now...

With gratitude,
Erica