Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Ever thankful - an exercise in gratitude



"Thanksgiving should serve as a reminder, not an exception.  What if gratitude could become our default?  There is nothing as potent as gratitude when it comes to quelling a longing, calming restlessness, quieting anxious thoughts, filling emptiness, overcoming doubt, or celebrating abundance.  It is a force we can tap into at will, once with the ability to change our perspective and fuel our potential." - Kristin Armstrong

I've been thinking a lot lately about gratitude, happiness, and how I can more fully appreciate my life and the people around me.  I've always had a tendency to be anxious and a bit neurotic, but I've found that in the last couple years these feelings have ruled my life more than they should.  And that is ridiculous.  Gratitude is a choice, and rather than always focusing on what I don't have or what I can't control, there is no reason I can't take a step back, breathe deeply, and embrace life - the good and the not-so-good.  Because, who am I kidding?  My life is wonderful, full of love and potential and awareness and excitement.  I just need to choose to look at it that way, and I can't help but be filled to the brim with thankfulness.

That's why I'm challenging myself, for the 30 days of November, to list one thing every day that I'm grateful for.  I'll be doing this daily on my Facebook account, but will occasionally (at least once a week) compile my responses here also.  By the end of the month, I will have a catalog of all the things, large and small, that infuse this life of mine with so much joy every day.

Exercise in gratitude, Day 1
Today I'm grateful for my life. I could have been anyone, born anywhere, at any time, but I wasn't. I am me, here, today, and it is my personal belief that this life is the only one I will experience - so I'd better be thankful, and not waste a second of it.
So tell me.... what are YOU thankful for?

1 comment :

  1. I'm thankful for having a friend of over ten years like you.

    ReplyDelete