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Macgyvering with Gratitude
I hope you have a lovely Thanksgiving & Receiving! We Don't Always Have What We Need, or Do We? I never really thought of Macgyver as being grateful. Actually I haven't thought about Macgyver since I was about 12 years old. But all that changed today when I heard a podcast by the creator…
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Gratitude with Eyes Wide Open
Kid President has some beautiful words to inspire us this week. Practicing Gratitude Is Not about Ignoring the Bad Don’t be afraid of the bad. The sad. The hurt. I’m sorry. I don’t want to tell you how to feel. Be afraid if you must. But don’t close your eyes. Look at the bad.…
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Every Aspect of Our Lives Is a Vote
How many times today did you vote for the kind of life you want to live in? That Negativity All Around Us Right Now Do you ever find yourself having the same conversation with different people? That happens a lot for me. Most recently it is about the negativity in this election. It’s just…
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Hello, Nice to Meet You, I Am Grateful
It’s so easy to talk about what’s got me down but there it is, in abundance, so much to be grateful for. Introduce Yourself With Your Gratitude Today, go over to Our Gratitude and introduce yourself to the group. Instead of a standard introduction introduce yourself through gratitude. Who are you in the world and what…
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A Nest, An Altar, An Amulet, Your Favorite Stone
I can hold it in my hand and know that I am home, that everything is OK, that I am safe. Creating Your Grateful Place No matter where you are or what circumstances surround you, gratitude remains a choice. But that choice may not present itself when you are immersed in whatever comes at…
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Three Slow Exhales with the Ocean
Each breath was slower than the one before until finally I sank into my true relaxed state. My jaw relaxed, my mind cleared, I felt fully immersed in the moment. What a gift. Three Long and Slow Exhales Sink deep into relaxation starting with three breaths. Exhaling long and slow is the key…
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I’m Just So Tired
Well Not Just Tired Here goes the list of complaints: I am tired, very tired. My gums are throbbing with my bad tooth screaming to get out. I am stressed with a lingering obligation anchoring my every thought. I am hungry and I don’t even want to be writing right now. One thing I…
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Fear
In the Bathroom, On a Ballot, In My Head, Everywhere Earlier I saw yet another story about fear of transgender people in bathrooms and it got me thinking about fear. This fear is so illogical and not based in reality at all. But is fear ever about reality? Fear as a way to control and…
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Giving Yourself Permission – Try it this week!
Mind Over Thoughts A miraculous thing happened this weekend. A simple thing that really did feel like a blessing, a gift, magic. And it was all in my head. I have been more stressed than ever dealing with a terrible financial crisis, one that puts many people at risk. I have had trouble sleeping almost…
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100 Thank Yous from Judaism to Einstein
If You Said Thank You 100 Times It is Passover and as my friends shared photos of their Seder it reminded me of a Jewish teaching I heard. It calls for all Jewish people to recite 100 blessings every day. The story behind the tradition is: During the reign of Kind David, there was…
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The Worst Things about Yourself
Leaning In I was listening to an interview of advice columnist, Ask Polly, aka Heather Havrilesky. The interviewer asked her for advice on how to Be a Person in the World (the title of her upcoming book) and this was her answer. You’ve gotta lean way into what you already are. Lean way the…
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Writing Love Letters: Dear Morning …
A Month of Love Letters Today I received a lovely message with an invitation to write a month of love letters. But these aren’t your average love letters. These are love letters to ourselves, our bodies, our feelings and the world around us. In short they are a lovely gratitude practice. Today is April…
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Shout It From the Sidewalk
When 1 gratitude becomes 1000gratitudes Obviously all of you are committed to gratitude. You know the importance of practicing gratitude. You are aware of all the good you are surrounded by and all the good you are. But not all of you have a written gratitude practice. Some of you practice gratitude through your…
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Seeing the World with Curious Eyes
A Deep Open-Minded Noticing Right now I am sitting in a hospital room with my girlfriend. She has an undiagnosed terribly painful condition which is a cycle of nausea and extreme pain that comes in waves of abdominal spasms. She yells out in pain her face pale and red, her eyes pleading for…
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Racism and Gratitude
Thank You, Martin Luther King Today as we appreciate Martin Luther King Jr. let's take an opportunity to acknowledge our privilege. Our gratitude practice is one way we can look at the privilege we have with humility and appreciation. Instead of defending ourselves saying we don't have privilege and instead of being so…
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The Power of What You Are Not Grateful For
Don’t Ignore That Big Void of Gratitude Did you reflect on 2015? If so, there were probably a few regrettable things that stood out. If you were reflecting with gratitude you may have just skipped right over those negative parts. Or maybe you still were able to find something you are grateful for.…
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Are You Saying Sorry Instead of Thank You?
Say It Like You Mean It I’m so inspired by this cartoon and concept. It resonates with me but I’ve had trouble incorporating it into my life. Mostly I realized I said sorry instead of thank you after the fact when I reflect back on my day. So here is my reflection of when…
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How To Express Gratitude for Loved Ones
What a Beautiful Way to Connect Writing gratitude is one thing but expressing it is quite another. Take your gratitude practice to another level by using it to connect with those who matter most. This doesn’t mean a simple, “thank you” when your loved one does something for you. This is about expressing detailed…
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Change Your Mind in Five – a Gratitude Meditation
Unplug. Breathe. Take a Few Minutes Just For You. This time of year can get hectic. We are pulled in many directions with work and family and friends and events. Preserving traditions and making our own traditions. Adapting to celebrating the holidays without those who have left us. Sometimes we are an after-thought. Let’s…
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The Most Beautiful Nudge
Finding Gratitude for Inertia I love the concept of a nudge. The idea is simple: Inertia is real. If we accept and embrace that then we can use it to our advantage. An effective nudge makes the “best” choice the easiest choice. A classic health example: If you often overeat, buy smaller plates. Another…