There's real sombre mood in Melbourne at the moment.
We all know the reasons why but there's a strange feeling. Not in a bad way, it's actually in a good sense.
I'm talking about the community's ability to rally when the chips are down.
Everybody wants to help in some way, shape or form.
It's interesting how a tragedy like this can reignite the goodness that is within people.
Even the traffic around the place seems to have a good nature about it. I think people down here and around the country are just grateful.
Actually, it's a good way of dealing any type of tragedy…
Using the powerful art of gratitude. What is gratitude?
It's simply being happy for what you've got. Considering what the folks in the bushfires have lost, I guess that you've got a lot to be grateful for.
It's unfortunate sometimes that for a lot of people, only in the time of disaster do they ever practice the art of gratitude.
So what are you grateful for? I bet you can come up with 100 things. My list is at least that long.
I'm not going to share it with you, too self-indulgent right now under the circumstances.
Make up your list tonight. You'll feel better instantly.
Before I sign off, to all my fellow colleagues (marketers, promoters and business owners), now is not the time to take advantage of this tragic event in your favour.
I've seen so many bushfire-related promotions that I feel disgusted at my fellow marketers.
The ones are really bad go something like this… “Spend $200, buy my product and I'll give $100 away.”
Hey guys, that's rubbish.
Give out of your pockets, give anonymously and give generously.
…those that know what I'm talking about KNOW what I'm talking about.
Signed with Success,
Jon Giaan
Knowledge Source
P.S. The human spirit is alive, amazing, giving and selfless. I'm grateful for that.
What are you grateful for? Make it real by putting your thoughts below.
Tisch says
The english dictionary says that ‘gratitude’ is the state of feeling grateful. An example is ‘The state of being grateful; warm and friendly feeling toward a benefactor; kindness awakened by a favor received; thankfulness.’
Although most of us aren’t the benefactors (being a bushfire victim) we are the benefactors of NOT being a bushfire victim.
Let us show our ‘thankfulnes’ that we aren’t, by being generous in whatever we can to those that are in the middle of this terrible tragedy.
Matthew 6V4: So that your deeds of charity may be in secret; and your Father (in heaven) Who sees in secret will reward you openly.
jennie phillips says
Jon, it is so refreshing to hear someone from the same type of business say what you said in your letter. Jesus said of the Pharasee in the temple, who was loudly proclaiming that he thanked God the he was not as sinful as the beggar who was also praying there. “He has had all the reward he will get, but the sinner will be rewarded in heaven” I agree with you, let us give quietly, anonymously, and out of our own pockets, and not use this as a bandwagon to promote our businesses, may God Bless You, I look forward to hearing from you again. Jennie.
KatrinaMurray.com says
I am grateful for my 5 beautiful children, a safe roof over our heads, for my husband who loves me and makes us a beautiful team, for my sisters, brothers, parents, friends and other family who I am able to express my love and thanks for, for my daily opportunities to grow as a person, to learn lessons in love and thanks, hope and joy, fulfillment and choice and that I may be given the opportunity to share those gratitudes in this place and to those who have been affected I send my prayers and love to you all.
KatrinaMurray
Pamela says
I am so grateful that I did not return my friend’s teddy bear when she asked for it before Christmas. I have been ‘bear sitting’ for about 10 years. I was going to take it to her next week when I visited her in her new home.
My friend lost her home on Saturday in Marysville.
I am so grateful that I am able to give her the bear along which I am sure are many childhood memories.
Nada says
Hi there,
I am grateful to live in the Best Country in the World!
have my family,
have good health, job, have a house to live inn
food on the table
many friends .
My best wishes to all in need!
Shirley Mundt says
1 Thessalonians 5 v 18 “In everything gives thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you”
It can be very difficult for all those that have lost all of their earthly possessions or loved ones to find something to be thankful for, but we are told to give thanks in EVERYTHING. Just remember our time here on this earth is very small compared to what we will spend in heaven if we claim God’s promises.
I am very thankful for all I have, especially knowing what Jesus has done for me and knowing that we can all triumph over tradgedy.
Jenny says
My heart breaks to see so many innocent loving caring people gone and those left behind crying and totally traumatised. It has been the hardest of days after losing my husband to be to pancreatic cancer three years ago and I thought and hoped and I just wanted to bury my head, but couldn’t sleep. Knew something was in the air. Still do. Nothing can touch you like death. When we see it, it blows us away. We are all so fragile and need the Love of God so much. I totally believe in God, however much and many have been taken from me, but as with all the victims and with all their loved ones left behind, nothing touches the gravity of this whole situation, ie the reality, the logic, the loss, the devastation and the utter sorrow.
There really aren’t words that can describe this. This utter fireball that came to take so many and you can rightly ask, where was God? Why didn’t He rescue them, us?
Why?
But nobody has the answer/s except inside their own hearts – and minds. Somehow answers and peace will come.
My heart goes out to you all.
I cry for you and I pray for you and have today, despite losing the most important person in my life and many others before, but my heart is with you all and my thoughts.
Isn’t the world a crazy place?
Love and God’s blessings and total comfort and GOD’s peace to you at such a terrible time.
Love Jenny
karen d says
I’m very grateful for my healthy loving children, my own healthy fit body, a supportive extended family and friends, a house to live in, a wonderful community around me, food to eat, freedom, safety, opportunities, energy to contribute, our physically beautiful world, the positivity in people… I could go on and on……..
Joyce says
I am grateful for my loving family, for the roof over my head & theirs.
Mary K says
I too am so grateful for just being alive, along with literally hundreds of other things. I am so grateful that ‘things did not work out’ the way I planned, I wanted to buy a home in Flowerdale but due to circumstances beyond my control, I wasn’t able too. I am so grateful that the Universe, Great Spirit, call it by any name you chose, knew best.
Gratitude is something we all need to experience daily, such a small thing, yet so often totally overlooked.
My heart goes out to all those who have lost everything. As I looked around my home I realize that whilst t.v.s etc. can be replaced, it is the ‘little’ things like photos and precious mentenos, worthless in a monetary sense but priceless in their meaning to me, which can never be replaced. How fortunate we all are who have all our ‘little things’ our loved ones, our homes and our animals.
May those who have lost everything, someday recover and realize that whilst life can and does deal out some terrible blows, this is still a beautiful world.
Lydia says
I am grateful for being alive; for my children; for my little piece of heaven on earth; for those who are my friends; for being given a mind that can think rationally; for having the gift of discernment; for being abundant; for having the ability to always get through difficulties; to be greater than any problems that come my way; for a positive and joyful outlook on life; to know that what gets me through life is how i respond to that which comes my way; to always have the Universe provide me with what I need and want in order to flourish on this planet…..
Jules Dowker says
God bless Australia and all that live in it – except the arsonists. Things happen for a reason (I have always said that when you are born you are given a ‘birth date’ and a ‘death date’ you jut don’t know your ‘death date’) but nobody wants to die the way that hundreds of ‘young’ and old Australians have in the last few days. My heart goes out to all those families that have lost their loved ones and their homes because some idiot/s need an ‘adrenalin rush’. Let’s find these bastards and tie them to a stake and set them on fire – ‘an eye for an eye’ – bring back capital punishment.
We all live in a beautiful country and I can’t stop crying for all those that have lost their lives and livelyhoods – mothers, fathers, children, family members, animals because of these cowards. What a horrible way to die.
Australians have all rallied together like all good Australians do – with donations of money, food, clothing etc.
Geert van Schijndel says
I am very grateful for wat i have , a wonderful wife and 2 wonderful kids en a beautiful house. and we are all healthy.
Shaun Perry says
I am grateful for everything that I have accomplished and for erverything that I have yet to achieve in life, I am grateful to have a wonderful famiy whom I love Immensely.
I am grateful to be a part of this wonderful world!!
Love life!!
Boogie Man says
I am grateful for God’s word in which he gives those seeking understanding a clear and cogent written account of history written in advance, so that we are not left wondering why or what is happening in our world today. It is clear we are living in the end times when 1/3 of all green plants and trees on the earth are to be burned.
It is a wake up call to those who think they are to intellectual to believe in a power greater then themselves. I thank God for my intelligence IQ 3 points below genius, and for the trials and tribulations in my life that taught me the humility to realize I didn’t know anything until I built my knowledge base upon the true foundation of knowledge “His Word”. Without this knowledge base I would be just another of the Billions in the world walking in confusion (Babylon). This is just a sign of the perilous times my friends, “when many will grow faint not knowing the way out”
Geoff Barton says
I am sooooo greatfull for four healthy and well adjusted children,Parents in their 80s who are very healthy,my brother and sister ,and their families,a beautilfull partner and work to go to every day.God its great to be a Kiwi in Australia.
June Reeder says
This will seem strange to some people, but I have to admit I am grateful for the experience of loosing my home and everything in the bushfires of 1962.
It was a hard long way back, particulary when told a fortnight after the event that I was pregnant, but it proved to be a turning point in my life.
One door slammed shut but gradually new doors opened, and my life took a completly new understanding and study. I found I could survive as a single parent and I eventually bought a home.
But the outpouring of help from the whole of the community shows that we are maturing as a nation… possibly returning to what real Aussies stood for about 50 years ago..
thomas says
whats sup jon !!
i am grateful for the following –
1. i am still live
2. i am well
3. i am still sane – as far as i know
4. i have got a small amount of money saved up for future investments
5. i still have a full time job
6. i am grateful for still being young at 25
7. i am grateful for meeting you in person many years ago at a hotel in parramatta sydney nsw
8. i am grateful for living with my dad and not requiring to pay any rent / board / bills
9. i am grateful to be living in my current home
10. i am grateful to have listen to band u2s beautiful day song – its a great feel good song
11. i am grateful to have met and spend some time with a great young girl named tasha
12. i am grateful for the nsw government to have appproved and built several libraries for its community members to use at any time – free of charge
thanks for listening jon
may wealth be with you
thomas
Jennifer Tiedemann says
When my darling 20 yr old son was about 10, we both used to write in our Gratitude Books every night. Was wonderful. And your right Jon, gratitude is a very powerful thing. At the moment, I have quite a lot of cancer in my body, but I don’t stress over it at all; it is my journey, and I am extremely grateful for all the knowledge that I have, and especially grateful for the knowledge that we can heal ourselves, and the whole planet. That is why,amidst all of this huge grief, that so many are going through, the sharing and love and kindness is so wonderful, and healing. Much love, strength, and beauty to everyone. Love and Happiness Jennifer
Joe says
I’m grateful for:
* I have clothes to wear.
* I have shelter over my head (in the centre of the best city in the best country in the world)
* I’m not in a Nazi concentration camp
* I’m not an army recruit in training at Kapooka, Wagga Wagga.
* I’m above water
* I can see, touch, hear, taste, smell
* I have the correct number limbs attached to my body
* I have several fine specimens of the opposite sex wanting my intimacy (trust me, it hadn’t always been that way)
* I can afford to pay my rent this month ($3500)
* I am not bankrupt
* I was able to make my last mortgage repayment this month avoiding foreclosure of my mortgage by 1 day
* I have credit cards non-cancelled
Godspeed to all
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