Day 39 - Be Grateful

"So much has been given to me, I have no time to ponder over that which has been denied." - Helen Keller

When we focus on the wonderful things in our lives, our perspective can change from one of misery to that of elation in an instant. As a daily practice, I used to tuck my children into bed with a simple question: What was your favourite part of today? In that moment, any bitterness or strife experienced would be overshadowed by the recollection of the beauty that the day brought. While they are not as small as they were when we started that practice, it is a routine that we carry on because of the benefit of a grateful mindset.

I remind my children every day, how blessed I feel that they are part of my world and how important it is to express gratitude for all that we have. When I go to bed at night, I thank God for all my blessings and for continuing to keep my family and friends in good health and fortune. When I wake up in the morning, and throughout the day, I give thanks for everything that comes my way. I don’t ever want to take for granted the simple gifts like clean air, safe drinking water, affordable housing, and the freedom of self-expression.

It is easy to be grateful when times are good. Think about Thanksgiving, when families are together, eating, drinking and being merry – it’s a time when expressing gratitude naturally rolls off the tongue. Learning to have an “Attitude of Gratitude” when times are tough, however, is more challenging, but it is altogether more critical. This past year, I have experienced the end of a number of significant relationships (family, friends, colleagues, and others), the switch from salary and benefits to an unpredictable revenue stream, health challenges which subsequently altered my lifestyle, and I shovelled more snow than you can shake a stick at!! It is true that the year I turned 40, I experienced more challenge than any other year; however, I’m still at a loss to name all the ‘bad’ things that happened. The grief from the loss has been healed and my rapid recovery can be attributed to the gratitude I hold in my heart for all the lessons learned.

Make a note of all the things for which you are grateful. Acknowledging the good in your life will raise your vibration. Focus on your blessings and you will attract abundance.

Embrace 40!

Lisa