Small ways to show gratitude?
Namaste,
I have no idea why I'm inclined to make a new post about this, as I've some notion of how Hindus offer thanks and praise to God for things that come to them, but I'm feeling a little more creative of late and I really would love to hear from the members about how they say thanks when things have really worked out for them recently. God has been so good to me in the last half year. My health has returned, my life has become filled with more meaning and doors are opening, I have a new job, seeing friends again that I haven't seen in a while. I don't like to see life as a series of good and bad incidents, but I don't see these things as being accidental either and almost totally disbelieve in coincidence these days.
For that reason, I am moved to doing something back to say "I acknowledge Your help, and I will strive to improve myself and help others each day". Pujas are fine, but they seem a little staid to me sometimes. I love sitting before my shrine and offering gifts back to God, but sometimes I'd love to do more than that, something that would really put a smile on Ganesha's face rather than mine. I would offer to do a sustained fast for Lord Shiva or Maa Durga, but my working days leave me very little opportunity to do that effectively without doing damage to my health again. For instance, whenever something really good comes my way that I feel like I have literally been touched on the head by God, I have to stop in my tracks and in prayer pose say aloud "Om namah Shivaya" or "Jai Ganesha". As silly as it might sound next to traditional means of offering gifts to God, I sometimes write poems or verses (as best I can) for Ganesha and then burn it for Him along with incense.
Anyone have any ideas on what I could do, or like to share their devotional idiosyncrasies?
Om namah Shivaya
"Watch your thoughts, they become words.
Watch your words, they become actions.
Watch your actions, they become habits.
Watch your habits, they become your character.
Watch your character, it becomes your destiny."
ॐ गं गणपतये नमः
Om Gam Ganapataye namah
लोकाः समस्ताः सुखिनो भवन्तु ।
Lokaah SamastaaH Sukhino Bhavantu
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