You may have seen the following paragraph on Facebook or Instagram over the past year.
You are holding a cup of coffee when someone comes along and bumps into you, making you spill your coffee everywhere. Why did you spill the coffee? You spilled the coffee because there was coffee in your cup. Had there been tea in your cup, you would have spilled tea. The point is that whatever is inside your cup, is what will spill out. Therefore, when life comes along and shakes you (which will happen), whatever is inside you will come out. It's easy to fake it, until you get rattled. So, we have to ask ourselves, "What's in my cup?" When life gets tough, what spills out? Joy, gratefulness, peace and humility? Or does anger, bitterness, harsh words and reactions come out? You choose! Today let's work on filling our cups with gratitude, forgiveness, joy, words of affirmation, kindness, gentleness and love for others.
The past 10 months have been a test of patience and attitude. I was looking back in my journal from this past year. Last year at this time, I was going to meet my best girlfriend in Hendersonville for a pre-Thanksgiving lunch. We talked about making that an annual tradition. Seems like decades ago. I can’t believe it was just a year ago. We will have to meet on Zoom this year.
This also was the year I took a big leap by starting Hey, Boomer. The acceptance and support and encouragement I have received for this initiative has been amazing. I feel so very grateful and fortunate to have all of you in my life.
And this has been a year of craziness. The politics, the pandemic, the confusion and loss of spontaneity has taken a toll on all of us. At least we are still able to get outside, into the natural world. That helps me a lot. I do love to walk the mountain trails. I feel healthy, I feel my soul relaxing, letting go of worry and stress.
I love to go a’wandering along the mountain path
And as I go, I love to sing, my knapsack on my back.
What is in my cup? A sense of Adventure. A sense of Life still to be Lived. A sense of Gratitude; for my health, for the people who love me, and for the restorative beauty of nature.
What’s in your cup?
My cup is filled with gratefulness for the friends and family I have in my life; for their love and support; for the new friend and colleagues I have made along my path; for their patience with me when I am not “performing” up to par.
My cup is filled with joy for the goodness surrounding me and the gifts I have been given.
May I never forget all that is good and beautiful in my cup.
CJ, thank you for your beautiful reply. You are a new friend and I am grateful you have come into my life. Happy Thanksgiving.
Beautiful post! Thank you for the reminder to be aware of all we should be thankful for!
Thank you Kay. We do still have a lot to be grateful for. Happy Thanksgiving!
Wendy, This post certainly calls your readers (including me) to examine and re-examine their reactions to whatever befalls them. Another thought along those lines is that it is only in the valleys that we humans learn anything – experiences on the mountaintop are glorious but rare. It’s the slogging in the valleys that teach us – not only of what we are made but what we are storing within us. It will be interesting to see what each of us learns under Covid 19. Happy Thanksgiving!
Thank you Lynn, for this perspective. You make a good point. I would say that while you are in the valley, you cup is probably not filled with gratitude, but finding the resources to refill your cup, is what helps us through.
Well said, Lynn. I like the valley and mountain analogy.
Exactly the reminder I needed this morning. It slowed me down enough to seek out a short guided meditation. The one that called to me was on self-compassion. So that’s what I’m filling my cup with today. Compassion for self. And when my cup spills, compassion for others. Thank you, friend!
Love this Sarah Joy. I see compassion in your cup.
I enjoy your blogs and your show Wendy. You find such interesting people and you ask great questions bringing out the best in your guests. Back in the day when I used to watch Oprah, I’d always want her to ask questions that she never asked. You ask them and your shows are very satisfying and enjoyable. I’m so glad you’re doing them. 🙂
Thank you Heidi. I appreciate that you try to watch, even while at work, or that you watch later. It has certainly been energizing for me to get to talk to such amazing folks. I hope you will let me know when you have a question to ask that I may not think of. 🙂