Gratitude
| A day of gratitude Earlier this week, I found myself saying to a friend, “Happy day of gratitude!” instead of Happy Thanksgiving. I wasn’t sure if she celebrated or how she felt about the holiday, so I chose a phrase that felt more open. She laughed and said, “I like that. I have so much to be grateful for!” I took a breath and paused, giving her a curious look as I let her comment sink in. Without going into the details of her life, a lot of hardships have unfolded for her over the past six months. I was amazed that despite so many heartbreaks, her response was, ‘I have so much to be grateful for.’ It reinforced for me that there is always something to be grateful for. I knew I had a lot to be grateful for this year. Top of the list is that my mom is healthy! Her health journey has given me a new appreciation for my relationship with both my parents. I have wonderful friends and a warm, cozy home. I have a career that I love, which continues to evolve and grow with me. As I spent time reflecting on gratitude, I also realized that I am grateful that this is a practice I have often… |
| Gratitude every day… Taking time to express gratitude deeply and meaningfully is something I do regularly. Maybe not every day, but most days, I feel this deep appreciation for something or someone. For me, it begins with intentionally recognizing the good in others. Whether it’s a holiday meal or a quick phone call, I look for the positive. I want to celebrate the good in both our lives! After a meaningful visit with a friend, I often send them a text the next day saying how much fun I had. When I’m facing a problem and a friend talks me through it, I usually send a note later to say thank you. Moments of connection with strangers are something I reflect on with appreciation. Recently, I have started carrying small cards and giving one out a day to someone who made me smile—just a small way to spread joy and gratitude. Several times a week, at the end of the day, I sit on my meditation cushion and write down what happened that day that felt like magic. The synchronicities and coincidences that create a sense of awe in me. Taking time to say thank you for each one. |
| Golden Nuggets of the Week: 1. I am grateful for you! Thank you for reading this email. Thank you for every email you have read from me. Thank you for responding with your thoughts and reflections so often. Thank you for choosing to be part of my community and trusting me with your time and energy. Thank you for all the moments we’ve shared. 2. Create a gratitude practice. Thanksgiving can be a time to reset and reflect. It’s a day when you have more time to create something meaningful in your life. Maybe you think you have less time today because of family commitments, but to me, that just means making them part of the conversation. Create together! I’ve shared some ideas, but feel free to borrow any of them or come up with your own. 3. Say thank you to one person every day. We often say thank you as a reflexive response. We teach our kids to do the same. Once a day, say thank you with genuine meaning. Let yourself feel truly grateful in your heart before you say the words. No matter what magic or chaos is happening in your life, take a moment each day to thank someone. It builds connection, encourages others, and brings joy to your heart. |
| One step at a time I know talking about gratitude can feel silly or unnecessary, like something you don’t have time for. The truth is, it’s quite the opposite! Gratitude gives us more patience during tough times. It helps us see the good in challenges. It offers a way to stay optimistic when things seem to be going wrong. It is the lighthouse in a storm. I’m not suggesting ignoring the hard things in your life. I’m reminding you not to ignore the good things either. Practicing gratitude regularly, beyond just one day, can change your life! I’ve seen it happen again and again for others. I feel how it transforms my own life. Try it for one week and see what happens. You might be surprised how you feel after just 7 days of saying a meaningful thank you each day! Maybe today, you send a quick text to 3 people you know to say thank you. It can be as simple as, ‘thank you for being a part of my life!’, or ‘thank you for being you!’, or ‘thank you for spending yesterday with me!’. Or, spend time with your kids and tell them how great they are. Not because they did anything special today, but because it’s been a while since you reminded them how awesome they are. I call this a love waterfall 🙂 I am often amazed at how good it feels to say thank you to someone else. It feels like a win-win— they feel appreciated, and I get to enjoy sharing that happiness. Give it a try and let me know how it goes! |
