10 Minutes of Gratitude

It has been well documented that expressing gratitude is essential to happiness. In several recent books published about happiness, such as Sonja Lyubomirsky’s The How of Happiness and countless Oprah shows, we have been shown time and time again that giving thanks not only moves people from thinking about what they are lacking to a state of appreciation for what they have. It also just feels good. Mainstream movies like The Secret drive the point home further by explaining that our thoughts actually generate energy waves which travel outward to initiate the process of manifesting what we think into reality; positive into positive, negative into negative. We really do create our own worlds, whether we want to believe it or not.

So I’ve been thinking. Earth Day 2008 is April 22. Wouldn’t it be great if we could use gratitude to help create a better Earth? To help heal the catastrophic environmental destruction we’ve inflicted in merely a century? We know by now we humans have poisoned, pillaged, and harmed much of the planet. There can be little argument that damage has been done. But we’ve also been told it’s not too late. Let’s help undo the damage. Here is what I propose:

While there are thousands if not tens of thousands of Earth Day events planned worldwide), the one I am launching will not only be the easiest to participate in, but perhaps the most universal. It’s called “10 Minutes of Gratitude for Planet Earth”. This is what you do:

• On Earth Day April 22, 2008, at 12:00 noon in any time zone, sit quietly and for ten minutes and think of all the places, experiences, and moments of Earthly nature you have ever enjoyed, and be grateful for them. 
• This event is not intended to be a central gathering in one place, but will happen everywhere virtually at twelve noon in respective time zones. People may certainly gather together in groups if they wish.
• To register your commitment to participate, click here to sign up.

Yep, that’s it. You don’t have to go anywhere, give any money, or receive any solicitations.