“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.” Melody Beattie
The next forty days are about turning the switch on. What switch, you might ask? The one you have been yearning to activate for a while. The one that is hidden behind the cob webs. The one that appears to be really hard to turn on but is screaming at you (when you are willing to listen) to feel more energized, joyful and fulfilled than you ever have before.
My purpose is to help you activate that switch today. We are going to practice for 40 days but we are going to take it one day, one moment, at a time.
3 simple rules:
1. Take a few minutes per day to contemplate and post what/who you are grateful for
2. Be patient and extra gentle with yourself. So, if you miss a day, don’t do what you might normally do and judge yourself, beat yourself up or give up. Take a deep breath and come back to the practice.
3. Get out of your own way (and do this for others). If you think that you might look silly or foolish you have just turned off the switch. Focusing on yourself does that.
So here we go: my first contemplation on gratitude in the comment section below. Practice rule #3 and join me. Turn the switch on right now.
The Gratitude Graffiti Project 
My youngest Coco (7) wrote “I am grateful for Coco” on a gratitude wall yesterday. (check out the picture by Joy Yagid). She was practicing rule #3! 🙂 The first 10 days of my practice will mainly focus on her. I find it helpful to zone in on a person or situation. So here I go: I am grateful for Coco’s confidence. Lucila
I am grateful that this is my weekend off of work. I am excited to spend peaceful time with family and to get some needed errands and tasks done. I am grateful that I am going our to dinner and to watch a band with good friends tonight. I am so grateful to have a quiet few minutes to drink my morning coffee in peace today. 🙂 I feel better already!!!!
We could learn a few thing from her!!!!
Here is to you!!!!
Today is the first day of my vacation, just a few days off but I’m excited! I’ve noticed I have trouble stepping away from work and taking vacation, so I’m grateful for this moment of clarity away from work and for the time and space to reflect and recharge. I am so grateful for this space. Ryan
Ahhhh…the space. Yes Ryan. Space can provide clarity. Without it, it’s like wearing foggy glasses all day. You can only partially see and that makes for a tiring day! Way to go for noticing…a very wise thing to do.
I am grateful to live in a community of wonderful people all helping each other.
It makes such a difference day to day, doesn’t it?
I am grateful that you introduced me to this website.
Happy you are here Frank!
I am grateful for my family and my community.
I am with you Rita!
I am so grateful my boys still reach to hold my hand as we walk through town.
How precious! I LOVE this!
This is my precious human life, so rare and meaningful, greeting the day with gratitude is a spiritual practice that keeps me in-touch with each precious moment, because it could be my last!
I am grateful for all that you teach me Dechok.
I’m grateful for my wife, the love of my life.
And me for you, the love of my life.
I am grateful for my husband who is watching our 3 children so I can visit with family out of town!
Thank you “husband”. It takes a village and we all need to do our part!
I am grateful for family dinner – even if everyone isn’t in the best mood!
Now that’s a positive, beautiful mind.
Through this challenging time of finding employment, I am grateful for my friends and family. I am extremely grateful for all of the people in my life that are going above and beyond in helping me to find a job. They are angels!
Thanks Dawn. I think that it’s so easy to get disheartened when we are going through challenging times so I congratulate you for being open to seeing the “angles” who are supporting you and accepting their help. Part of the challenge is that pride gets in the way of us being able to accept support and help and then we are left feeling alone and hurt. Practicing humility and acceptance as it seems you are doing is so wise! Look forward to hearing from you again. Lucila