It is the second week in the aftermath of hurricane Katrina. I have donated money, but I did not feel the connection that I desired. It seemed like not enough. The Universe heard my asking and gave me the connection I desired.

I awoke this morning in an automatic rampage of appreciation. It started with the awareness of how good my sheets felt. I wondered who had grown the cotton to produce the material to make my sheets. It is quite possibly someone in that part of the country who has nothing at this moment. Who had worked the cotton fields, harvested the cotton, drove it to the mill, and finally turned it into my delicious sheets? Who packaged them, drove them across country to the store where I purchased them? Who unloaded them, stocked the shelves, worked at the check-out counter? How many people worked very hard so that at that moment in time and space I would awaken and feel how good it felt to have a peaceful nights sleep on those delicious sheets? At that moment I was humbled by the fact that hundreds of people somewhere had done all that so I could experience that comfort. I sent out waves of gratitude for their gift to me.

And that was just the beginning. With every material thing that I saw, used, touched, experienced, I imagined the multitudes of people, quite literally around the world who had contributed to my abundance. As I sit here, writing on my laptop, thinking of the person in India who had helped me in the past with technical help, I am moved to tears and absolutely humbled by the richness I have.

I am mentally gathering all these unknown to let them know how grateful I am to them. I am sending out my deepest gratitude. There are steel mill workers, lumberjacks, seamstresses, chemists, truck drivers, plant workers, factory workers, the list is endless. All of these incredible people who have enriched my life. It is beyond words.

Are we all connected? Walk through your life for 15 minutes and become aware of how many individuals have contributed to making your life more comfortable. You cannot deny the connection with people from around the world. Put faces on the blessings you have. Imagine them as they worked to bring you what you are enjoying at this moment.

Now I see my money going to the place where it is needed most. To buy supplies that were created by someone that will be transported by another to rebuild a life that at this moment I am infinitely more connected with. I can, at this moment, feel connected to the energy and power that is the act of giving and the ripples it creates.

I invite you to spend time in the awareness of the blessings you have. Your life will be enriched in the process.