May you have strength
I am selling aluminum bracelets, that I hand-stamp with inspirational words, at my mom’s store, La Parada. Words such as grateful, hope, happy, love, and believe are pounded into the smooth shiny aluminum. When I was deciding on the inspirational words I would choose I had a long list of about 16 words that I had to narrow down to 10 so I asked my girlfriend for input. She chose her favorites and then told me that I was missing her true favorite, STRENGTH. It helped her through a particularly hard time in her life. Once she said it I completely understood, it spoke to me as well.
STRENGTH is what I wish for myself and for all of my friends when they are going through trying times. A few years back when a friend tragically lost both of her parents in a car crash I was at a loss of what to say beyond “I’m so sorry”. I sent her a message wishing her strength and it resonated with her. During the hardest times in our lives we can’t even imagine being happy our strength helps us survive.
What is strength? I looked through my photos to see which images showed me strength and I couldn’t choose just one. So here they are a definition in photos and captions.
When I wish you strength I wish you survival. I wish you resilience. I wish you bravery and confidence to face the challenge that is in front of you. But most of all I wish that your natural strengths emerge to carry you through. I believe in strength, in the strength that each of us have within ourselves. I am grateful that strength has carried me through difficult times. I’m grateful that strength has carried you through difficult times.
After a few weeks of selling these bracelets, STRENGTH and GRATEFUL have been the top sellers. Just yesterday a gentleman was going to buy a BELIEVE bracelet for his mom and then he spotted STRENGTH. He immediately put down his initial choice and picked up STRENGTH asserting, “This is the one”.
[su_quote cite=”Anne Morrow Lindbergh, Gift from the Sea”]Don’t wish me happiness I don’t expect to be happy all the time… It’s gotten beyond that somehow. Wish me courage and strength and a sense of humor. I will need them all.[/su_quote]
This Week’s Gratitude Question
[su_button url=”http://www.ourgratitudecollective.com/activity/” background=”#178fb3″]What are you grateful you had the strength to overcome?[/su_button]
My Gratitude Experience Last Week
I was so grateful on Saturday at every turn in my day. Many times throughout the day I thought that I should write my gratitude then, just in case I didn’t feel so grateful later. It was just a thought and I didn’t follow through with it but it didn’t matter. I rode that grateful wave all day long and when I came to write my gratitude after midnight that night it was just as fresh as it was earlier in the day.
Forgotten Gratitude
Last week I was also grateful for snow covering everything in sight and that it didn’t melt away during the day … A ridiculous number of birds flying all around, kind of scary but very intriguing … Eva very clearly saying “hi” and her being particularly happy today.
A New eCard
Image by Antonia Montoya
The Gratitude I Shared Last Week
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| Sun | 3/1/2015 | Here’s to a really snacky Sunday … Going for a guilty pleasure and being rewarded with two for one … Helping out my mom … A quick drive with the dogs and watching them proudly and happily stretch their heads out the window.I appreciate it : ) |
| Sat | 2/28/2015 | What a great day! So much snow stacked up on every surface and even more falling … My first attempt at homemade Masala chai, the delightful aroma filling the house with spicy coziness as it simmered … and then sledding with friends!! playful giddy silly fun on makeshift sleds … Then to come home to a warm house with dry clothes, knitting and watching bad movies. Yes I am grateful : ) |
| Fri | 2/27/2015 | I’m grateful for 4wd to keep us safe as we ventured out into the icy snow to feed my craving … I’m grateful for homemade dairy free ranch, so much yumminess … I’m grateful for a very productive work day … I’m grateful for running into an old friend and his wife … I’m grateful for kisses arriving on my lips. |
| Thu | 2/26/2015 | I’m grateful for reclaiming the scarlet A for acceptance, big laughs, straight As, storytelling in action and the three metaphors per day challenge … I’m grateful for remembering vivid lessons from Elena Avila … I’m grateful for being a natural healer and the opportunity to learn and practice and develop skills … I’m grateful for a big hearty dinner for my ravenous belly. |
| Wed | 2/25/2015 | I’m grateful for being able to rest up and giving myself permission to skip out on my reading … I’m grateful for being nimble and adjusting to make the unplanned reality productive anyway … I’m grateful for the reminder to love myself and have compassion for myself in all the ways that I am me. |
| Tue | 2/24/2015 | I’m grateful for the chance to work with clients that have a strong vision and great business smarts … I’m grateful for a sneak peek at an innovation that I am excited about; I think it’s just what I’ve been needing to ignite a spark … I’m grateful for new bangs … and for leftover baked potatoes and bacon grease coming together for the most delicious dairy free mashed potatoes … oh and I’m grateful for having excellent cholesterol levels. |
| Mon | 2/23/2015 | I’m grateful for a loungey work day, the freedom to work with my natural energy levels instead of fighting them … I’m grateful for giant words of love and fun … I’m grateful for stacks of clean clothes … And for the commitment to stop retelling tired old stories that no longer serve me. |
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My gratitude journey started in May 2011 and continues to this day. Thank you for being a part of it!
A daily gratitude practice is simple. Write down three things you are grateful for each day. Download your free GratitudeGuide.
My clients focus on gratitude and learn from their successes to make the positive changes they want in their lives. You can to. Call me to set up our first meeting 505.333.9336.
Created by Antonia Montoya[/su_note]