Alternative Notions of Life, a Different Path (6): Gratitude – What’s Your Perspective?

By Carl “J.C.” Pantejo, Copyright April 2008

“Prosperity: The eternal flow of all that’s good in life…”

(*This article is based on the ideas presented in the book “My Friend Yu – The Prosperity Mentor,” Copyright August 2007. Pantejo - Y.N. Vurce Publishing.)

Note: Throughout this article The Original Substance is the name used for: GOD, The One, Gaya, Infinite Intelligence, The Universe, etc. Please substitute this name with the name/word you feel comfortable with.

It was Monday morning and we (U.S. Navy Field Medical Service School students) were performing the mandatory, “Full Pack” forced march in the hot Southern California sun.

A fellow Corpsman hobbled up to me, obviously straining from the weight of his backpack – a U.S. Marine Corps issue Alice Pack, weighing about 65 pounds. Through clenched teeth and intermittent, uncontrollable grunts of pain, he said “Chief! Why don’t you look as miserable as everyone else? Aren’t your feet ground beef by now? Jeez! My neck, shoulders, and back are killing me too!”

- Legless in L.A. -

I looked at him and said, “Believe me, I’m in as much pain as you are, but it’s Okay.

I was in L.A. (Los Angeles) last weekend and I saw a legless man on the sidewalk. He was begging for coins. I plopped a few coins in his cup.
For some reason, I decided to say hello. When I said hello, he acted like he didn’t understand me. He looked Hispanic, so I said, ‘Hola, como esta usted?’

Finally realizing that I was speaking to him, he said, ‘Bien, gracias, y tu? By the way, I speak English.’

Obviously, he was overjoyed that someone was taking the time to converse with him. We chatted for a good 15 minutes.

I listened to his life story. It was full of tragedy and triumph. I noticed that he was actually a very intelligent man. We talked about family, economics, politics, and technology. Finally, thinking that I could now comfortably ask questions of a more personal nature, I asked him why he was in his current situation (legless and begging for coins on an L.A. sidewalk).

At first, I thought I had crossed the line of propriety because he stopped talking and closed his eyes. But after a few moments, he smiled a big brown-toothed grin and said, ‘Because I’m waiting for Halle Berry to marry me. She loves legless men, you know.’

We both laughed.

I didn’t push the issue any further. I gave him a little more money and thanked him for his stimulating conversation. And with a good-bye and handshake, he said, ‘Son, you are, indeed, a kind soul and destined for greatness.’

Maybe he was delusional. Maybe he was a drunk or a drug addict. Maybe he was running away from something very painful.

But I like to think he was a messenger.

The point is this. If a legless man begging for coins on the streets of L.A. can smile, survive, and also be kind, what the heck do we have to complain about?”

After a quiet moment, the Corpsman managed a smile/grimace and said, “Understood, Chief. This march ain’t nothin’.”

(We were both grateful to have legs that could hurt.)

And without further complaints, we both charged on.

- Attitude and Results -

Oddly enough, in spite of the sun, the whole-body pain, fatigue, and constant harassment from our Marine Corps Instructors, we finished the full-pack, forced march in record time.

Our superior performance earned us some bennies too.

We didn’t have to perform the post-exercise sanitation (that is, cleaning up the areas where we had slept, camped, and marched through in the previous 6 days). It was a lavish respite from the usual drudgery.

And we enjoyed every minute of it.

- The Law of Gratitude -

The Law of Gratitude is a Universal Law, a Life TRUTH.

Unfortunately, through ignorance or unbelief, many people discount the awesome power of simply being grateful.

Everything about gratitude is positive.

It brings you closer to the Original Substance. It puts you and the Original Substance on the same wavelength. Gratitude keeps you optimistic and looking forward to the next good, big thing that is coming your way.

It prevents you from entering into a scarcity mentality and reminds you that abundance is everywhere.

To get what you want in Life you need to follow this Universal Law.

- Reciprocity -

The Law of Gratitude is a wonderful, reciprocal process. When you are grateful; that is, sincerely thankful for everything (past, present, and in the future) to the Original Substance, you are emanating a strong, positive force.

This force affects everything in its path.

Since the Original Substance is in, through, and around everything, IT and all touched by your gratitude respond in kind. Hence, a magnified wave of positive force instantly moves toward you.

Strong and constant gratitude will continually move the fulfillment of your desires to you.

NEVER, EVER UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF GRATITUDE.

- Ungrateful People -

People without gratitude are engulfed with negative dissatisfaction. This negativity attracts more negativity (and so it goes).

They dwell on what they don’t have.

They don’t realize that by being grateful they can have it all.

- Discipline of Vision -

Ignore any appearances of lack and remember that it is just an illusion, a façade supported by false, pre-conditioned, negative beliefs.

If you look at (and take) the best in life, you become the best. The reverse is also true. Giving your attention to negativity only leads to misery. Attend to the good things in life and your life will be filled with good things.

Your thoughts will always create your reality.

You can be disciplined and choose your thoughts; and hence, choose your path. Or you can haphazardly let others choose for you. You can be the architect of your life, living it by your own design. Or you can live your life by default, letting others tell you what to think and do.

Do you want to be a drone, mindlessly fulfilling other people’s wishes without reaping the rewards of your labor?

Think of this.

Fast forward about 20 years in your life. Will you be able to happily say, “This I did for me.”

Now back to the present.

What kind of life do you want to create?

- Gratitude fosters Faith -

It is much easier to have faith in Universal Laws when you are grateful. Faith can be your shield against negativity. Faith continually increases as the universe responds with its magnified positive energy return.

That is why grateful people always have Faith (in themselves and in the Universe). They expect positive things to happen – and it does.

Their faith turns life into an endless string of exciting and heartwarming adventures. It’s a wonderful, snowballing effect of reciprocal goodness – a beautiful dance with the Universe.

- For All (all the time) -

Remember that Universal Laws work perfectly, effortlessly, for everyone – all the time. The Original Substance does all this (and more) for you 24/7.

IT arranges the unfathomable complexity of the universe to deliver you whatever you desire.

Be grateful for that!

- Your Choice -

Negative dissatisfaction alienates you from the good things and positive people in life.

Remain thankful to the Original Substance (for all that IT is and does).

Being thankful will make you an active partner with the Universe, co-creating your own riches, and continually moving a stream of true prosperity toward you.

It’s all within your total control. No one can keep you from being grateful. You can be cynical, another victim in the masses of unhappy people who blame their lot in life on something or someone else.

Or you can be a happy, thankful Winner.

Miserable Victim or Happy Winner? Choose. You can’t be both!

It’s all up to you.

I can still remember what the Marine Corps Instructors used to shout into my ears: “Son, Take Charge of Your Life!”

Take charge of your life, indeed!

- Parting Thoughts -

“The surest way to get a ticket to nowhere is to NOT know
where you want to go.

And if you always want to receive the leftovers in life; the crumbs from the table, wait for everyone else to choose first.”

Carl “J.C.” Pantejo (August 2007)

Make a choice, my friend.

You will be delightfully surprised at what happens next…

“Until next time, be brave enough to take a Different Path.”

Your Friend in this Intrepid Journey called Life,

Carl “J.C.” Pantejo

Law of Gratitude, Faith, Universal Laws, free will, choice, reciprocity, prosperity.

Note: If you want to read more about Universal Laws, success, unconditional love, exorcizing past personal demons, and the Illusive Secret of Happiness, please read the following articles:

“Alternative Notions of Life, a Different Path: Guardian Angels and Universal Laws.”

“Alternative Notions of Life, a Different Path (2): Trying too hard?”

“Alternative Notions of Life, a Different Path (3): First, Be Effective.”

“Alternative Notions of Life, a Different Path (4): Intend. Be Certain.”

“Alternative Notions of Life, a Different Path (5): Why me or why not me? Your choice.”

“Experiences from ‘The Flow’ series, articles (1) – (22).” (This is a series of articles about love, romance, Asian/Western relationships, relationship analysis, and more.)

“How Dare She! Out of Desperation I Learned How to Forgive”

“Remember Who You Are!”

“Need to Heal Your Broken Heart? Read on. Overcome Heartbreak and Learn the Illusive Secret of Happiness.”
“Simple (and Priceless) Life Lessons from the Most Influential Prosperity Mentor in My Life - My Father”
And much more!

(By Carl “J.C.” Pantejo and published internet-wide, keyword: [title of article] or “Carl Pantejo”)

Pantejo@ynvurcepublishing.com