In elementary school the walls were covered in posters telling us that we could choose our attitude and encouraging us to "hang in there." (Do you remember that one? With the little kitten hanging from a tree branch?) I recall rolling my eyes at those, convinced that my teachers' cutesy attempts at creating the perfect positive, motivating environment would have zero success at eliminating our playground drama or making the worksheets the least bit enjoyable. It's not so much that I truly believed that my attitude had nothing to do with my experience... it's just that those perky messages of encouragement, those thumbs up and bubble letters, have always made me twitch. Like, primary colors and comic sans are more likely to make me want to "accidently" kick little Billy than they are to evoke positive energy within me.
That being said, it kind of amazes me that now, in this strange new territory of adulthood, we're really focusing on choosing our attitudes. We know now that mantras work; we rely on affirmations, we latch onto song lyrics that inspire or encourage us, we tattoo ourselves with words, phrases, and images that we know will bring us happiness and strength and will remind us of who we are. We realize the power of positive energy, and we are actively choosing gratitude. We have many more problems in our lives than when we were children, but now we are making promises to ourselves and each other that we'll "hang in there."
This blog is proof that the simple choice to practice gratitude has changed our outlooks and hopefully improved our existence on this earth.
This is not to say, of course, that we don't still feel anger, grief, frustration, envy, or hatred even. (Or anything else.) But I like to think that by giving love and gratitude, I'm opening myself up to receive love. And hopefully then those negative emotions will become more manageable - and surely with less negativity comes better health (physical, mental, and emotional), right?
I was using my time really super efficiently today by flipping through tv, and I stumbled across the episode of LA Ink where Jason Mraz, Bushwalla, and two of their friends all get tattoos around the theme "Be Love." (You know I love any time I get to see a little Mraz.) Anyway, he explained that the motto basically sums up the realization that there doesn't need to be terms or conditions for giving or receiving love - you can just be love. You can choose to embody all that love is and go through life with a positive, humble, gracious outlook. You can be the love you want for yourself and others. That really struck a chord with me, and not just because I'm a huge Mraz fan. I want to try this motto on for size; I want to try being love. I think it will suit me.
You all know I've wanted a tattoo for about four years now, and have just taken my time figuring out exactly what I want and where I want it. I definitely don't want to do something unless I'm absolutely sure I'll love having that piece of art on my body for the rest of my life. But I really seriously think Be Love could be it - it encompasses everything I'm trying to do with this practice of gratitude and the mentality I want to hold on to for the rest of my life, especially as things get harder with finding jobs, living on my own, finding love, etc. I never want to stop being grateful, and I think a permanent reminder to give and receive love will help with that. Now it comes down to the design of the tattoo and where to place it (the theatre business is tricky like that... I have to be able to easily cover it, when ideally I would want to show it off.) And then, most importantly, I need to find a great artist.
So much to think about. I'm excited for the possibilities. I'm looking forward to a new day and I'm ready to begin consciously being love.
