I wanted to send all of you a special note, short and sweet, for the holiday week! I hope you were able to enjoy a wonderful Thanksgiving with your friends, family and loved ones.
Thanksgiving allows us the gift for some reflection and perspective. I grew up being grateful for pretty much everything I had, from my family and friends, to our home and all the comforts we had. A I got older and have gone through a spiritual awakening, so to speak, I have always prayed for the people in my life and said thanks for all the good that has come my way. This has become a daily practice and routine.
A few years ago I read a book that changed how I thought of gratitude: The Magic by Rhonda Byrne. It is one of many wonderful books on gratitude, but it offers a practice for you to focus on each day, which is what I love! It taught me to wake up every day saying how grateful I am . . . for life in general. Interestingly enough, over the past few years I realize that what I am grateful for has evolved. Of course I could not do anything in life without the wonderful support of my family and friends, but the “things” don’t matter anymore. I have detached from stuff. For me, at the end of the day, that’s not what makes me happy — well for the most part:) We can all enjoy some splurges here and there.
Now, I realize I get more joy from life through my relationships with all the amazing and fabulous people who are in my life. That’s what keeps me going and what I am so grateful for. It’s really all about the life journey, the people, and the experiences we live through each day. I know everyone may not be in the perfect situation all the time, but we can still find happiness and positives that get us through tough times. And we need to be grateful for those moments! They are what push us to grow into who we are supposed to be.
When you wake up each morning saying thank you and being grateful, I’m sure you’ll start to realize what’s really good in your life. But here’s the trick: Don’t just say the words with no feeling behind them. You TRULY need to FEEL grateful and appreciative. We often don’t realize how lucky we are, but remember there is always someone in a tougher situation than ours. Knowing that, you can start to return your gratitude through acts of kindness to others, and helping those who really need it. That’s a surefire way to feel fulfilled.
I guess what I’m really saying is to go out and live life, be thankful and grateful every day, and practice that gratitude with others. I promise it will enrich your life and radiate on to everyone around you!