The first time I was introduced to the concept of having gratitude was in 2010 when my mom gave me a small book of quotes on Gratitude written by one of my favorite authors named Melody Beattie.
It has taken me years to truly understand the meaning and power of gratitude. The more I practice gratitude, the more I realize its gift of helping to transform my perception and the way things flow in my life.
Gratitude has become a very significant tool that I encourage clients struggling with depression to practice daily. By practice, I mean to identify, feel, show, and express what you are grateful for.
Here is my list of what I am thankful for this year after the top four being good health, family, friends, and a job. I feel grateful for:
peace of mind
eyes that can see and focus on all creatures great and small
ears to listen to people tell me about how they are feeling at their core
having a body, mind, and spirit that are one in the same working together to keep me alive
the perfect moments that come my way when least expected
having the ability to surrender to the unknown and accept uncertainty because I can trust
the connections i've made in this last year with people, places, and things
feeling more compassion for myself and for others
growing more wise each day through awareness and curiosity
learning that it's all the little things that contribute in my choice to be happy
believing
being able to love and be loved
“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow.” ~Melody Beattie