A Few Places I found Gratitude this Month
Grateful living can mentor us if we allow it.
Sometimes it can be so hard to touch gratitude, especially if we are feeling big feelings, having a bad day, or experiencing grief. I think the beauty of gratitude is the ability to remember. It's the remembering that offers us possibility.
Remembering:
The possibility for better days.
The possibility of joy's return.
The possibility of things getting more easeful.
Grateful living has shown me that even on my worse day, I can find peace in my life—it doesn't have to be major for it to matter. As you've grown to know by reading this newsletter, being alive is celebration enough. It's worthy of our thanks and acknowledgment, even during stormy seasons.
We can start there. We can start with our breath.
Grateful living will mentor us if we allow it. There are so many little lessons that we can open our eyes to. Over the past week, I've struggled to be present enough to find my mini gratitude moments—and I caught myself getting really frustrated by that. Then I remembered that I don't have to force myself to be grateful. I can just simply bring my attention to things that filled me up, even if they're tiny, and lean into those moments.
Note to Self: Grateful living isn't complicated.
Here's where I found gratitude this month:
Watercolor painting
I found myself feeling really grateful and proud for setting aside some time to paint. I hadn't painted in months, and it was such a joy to have fun and be creative in that way. I let go of how I wanted things to look and let myself play. My inner child was so happy!
Walks on tree lined path
As my year anniversary of walking approaches, I've been having mixed feelings about my walking practice. I found myself wanting to quit recently. I'm not, but I wanted to. I found a new path to help switch things up in my mind and on my walks. When my oldest daughter was in her therapy session, I took a stroll down a beautiful path. Tree lined on both sides and filled with lush foliage. During this walk, gratitude washed over me. It felt good to feel grounded again and happy to be walking.
Iced americanos with half and half
I love coffee a lot! Lately, I've been drinking iced americanos with a splash of half and half, sprinkled with cinnamon. So good! Gratitude finds me in each sip.
Sending love boxes to friends
One of my favorite things to do is put together boxes of things for my friends. I sent out a few last weeks, and my heart beamed. It makes me so happy and grateful that my friends welcome my little (sometimes large) love boxes. They can be packed with anything from little trinkets to journals to homemade tea blends or shirts that make me think of them. My friends are my chosen family, and I am grateful for my small circle of amazing women.
Community, chime in! Where did gratitude find you this month?
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