Lessons in Gratitude, Day Three

I am blessed to be surrounded by good people–friends and family–who love and support me no matter what’s going on. This weekend I am spending time with old friends who have opened their home and their lives up to me, providing me with a space to breathe, refresh, renew.

I woke this morning with an important awareness that I needed to make a firm commitment to something in my life about which I’d been waffling for many weeks. I made the decision that I am going to stay put in California (where I’ve lived for nearly six years) even though some of the main reasons that brought me here no longer exist. I realized that as long as I waffle about where I’m going to live, then I would also be waffly about what I am supposed to be doing here. Something had to be settled. I am committed to staying put and with that commitment I have the faith, the positive expectation that circumstances will arrange themselves so that I’ll be able to fulfill that commitment.

I like the quotation about commitment that has been attributed to both Goethe and to William H. Murray (if you google “Until one is committed” you’ll find it attributed to both.)

Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative and creation, there is one elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one’s favor all manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings and material assistance which no man could have dreamed would have come his way. Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Begin it now.

I had breakfast with my friend Mary this morning, telling her about my decision and benefiting from her wise perspective on the matter. Later I told my son Jared and he too added his wisdom to the mix.  And I ended the day with my friends Nancy and Jacquie who did the same. One important thing I know for myself is that when I commit to something this important I need to invite others on this journey with me, both to hold me accountable and to hold my hand through the process. I am grateful to have the love, support and the witness.