Gratitude Quote: Tolle

“Acknowledging the good that you already have in your life is the foundation for all abundance.”  ~ Eckhart Tolle

Abundance is a feeling of having enough and appreciating what you already have. It is not how much you have but the ability to view your life through thankful eyes. That feeling, and the state of appreciation, opens the door to receive more good in your life. Your appreciations help to create the building blocks for magnetizing your good.

Feel the fullness of your life, appreciate it... and in doing so, a continuous flow of good things will come to you.

Gratitude Quote: Ogunlaru

“In life, one has a choice to take one of two paths: to wait for some special day - or to celebrate each special day.”    

                    ~ Rasheed Ogunlaru

Why designate certain days as special when we can view every day as special? 

We have the opportunity to create each day as we would like it to be, to insert something special into every day, to approach any day as a day to celebrate life. It is in our control to see each day as a gift and then proceed by making the most of it through our actions, expectations, and perspective on life.

Appreciate what you have right here and now, on any given day.

Gratitude Quote from "Grey's Anatomy"

Full Quote:

“Maybe we’re not supposed to be happy, maybe gratitude has nothing to do with joy. Maybe being grateful means recognizing what you have for what it is, appreciating small victories. Admiring the struggle it takes simply to be human. Maybe we’re thankful for the familiar things we know. And maybe we’re thankful for the things we’ll never know. At the end of the day, the fact that we have the courage to still be standing is reason enough to celebrate.”    ~ Meredith Grey, Grey's Anatomy

I realize that Meredith Grey is a character on the television show, Grey's Anatomy, but this is a wonderful quote that I wanted to share. Celebrate the day, your courage, and this moment in your life! Celebrate YOU!!

This quote is from Grey's Anatomy, Season 2, Episode 9, "Thanks for the Memories."

Gratitude Quote: MJ Ryan

“Whenever we are appreciative, we are filled with a sense of well-being and swept up by the feeling of joy.”  ~ M. J. Ryan

Oh, how true this is! One of the greatest gifts I experience through my personal gratitude habit is the amazing feeling that fills my entire being. It feels as if an inner light has been turned on. I feel energized yet peaceful, expanded and full, as my worries dissipate and my joy is enlivened.

Oh what a feeling!!

Gratitude Quote: Radici

“As each day comes to us refreshed and anew, so does my gratitude renew itself daily. The breaking of the sun over the horizon is my grateful heart dawning upon a blessed world.”  ~ Adabella Radici

This is such a beautiful gratitude quote by Adabella Radici. Every morning is an opportunity to renew our gratitude for life, for the beauty that surrounds us, and the consistency of the cycle of nature that acts as the framework of our world.

We can rely on the beginning of a new day every 24 hours, on the rising and the setting of the sun, on the cycle of the moon as it transitions throughout the month, and the seasons presenting themselves at approximately the same time each year. Our lives are filled with an abundance of change, so it is in these things we can depend... and in our commitment to appreciating each day when it arrives.

Gratitude Quote: Rita Mae Brown

“I still miss those I loved who are no longer with me but I find I am grateful for having loved them. The gratitude has finally conquered the loss.”  ~ Rita Mae Brown

This quote by Rita Mae Brown is so true for me. Although my heart can feel the loss of those I've loved, when I shift my thoughts to gratitude, my heart becomes full in another way.

My gratitude fills me with so much appreciation for the many wonderful gifts I've received from having had these dear ones in my life. I can focus on the moments shared, the love, the precious memories, and how each of these special loved ones have touched my heart and altered who I am. I can appreciate the effect each have had on me and the trajectory of my life.

In doing so, I have allowed my gratitude to supersede my feeling of loss and sadness. I am uplifted by love and appreciation and it feels good.

Gratitude Quote: Maslow

“(Some people) have a wonderful capacity to appreciate again and again, freshly and naively, the basic goods of life, with awe, pleasure, wonder, and even ecstasy.”
                                                      ~ A.H. Maslow

Each moment is an opportunity to renew our feelings of appreciation. Gratitude is truly an experience we have in the present. Any feelings or expressions of gratitude from our past are gone. We only have now to be appreciative.

Every morning, I give thanks for another day of life; for the opportunity to love, to learn, to be creative, and to be me for another day. It feels good to take the time to appreciate the new day ahead and all of its possibilities. Any thankfulness for the days gone by have no relationship to this day.

The way I see it, the same is true for all my appreciations. I get to continuously light up my life each time I feel thankful for one of the many gifts that bless my existence... no matter how many times I have appreciated that gift before. It is now that I delight in the good things that touch my days and I am so happy to say thank you in any new moment.

Gratitude Quote: Rabbi Kushner

“Can you see the holiness in those things you take for granted – a paved road or a washing machine? If you concentrate on finding what is good in every situation, you will discover that your life will suddenly be filled with gratitude, a feeling that nurtures the soul.”
                                          ~ Rabbi Harold Kushner

It is a matter of seeing the world through new eyes with a new vision. By shifting our view of the world around us we can fine tune our perspective and learn to appreciate even the most overlooked of aspects and items in our lives. The greater our appreciation for all the building blocks of our existence, the greater the expansion of our inner world. When we are able to fill our lives with gratitude, we are positively adjusting our life course and feeding our souls.

Gratitude Quote: Brene Brown

"...practice gratitude to honor what's ordinary about our lives, because that is what's truly extraordinary."  ~ Brene Brown

If we look at the simple things in life with an eye towards gratitude, those things of everyday life become everyday miracles. And the more and more we see the true nature of the world around us, the more extraordinary our world and our lives become.

Gratitude Quote: Krech

“To live a life of gratitude is to open our eyes to the countless ways in which we are supported by the world around us. Such a life provides less space for our suffering because our attention is more balanced. We are more often occupied with noticing what we are given, thanking those who have helped us, and repaying the world in some concrete way for what we are receiving.”
                                                                                     ~ Gregg Krech

 We are bombarded by negativity in the news, in advertising, with friends and coworkers who focus on their troubles, and in our often unconscious complaints. Gratitude is the ideal antidote to this negativity.

When we adopt gratitude as a platform on which to view our world, we cannot help but experience life from a more positive vantage point. Our perspective becomes brighter and lighter and we have the ability to see the good things in life with clearer vision. As gratitude becomes a more natural part of our days, we find it easier to see the good, even in difficult times. This bright focus and positive outlook generates greater appreciation for the gifts in our lives and we want to share our thankfulness with others.

Gratitude Quote: Steindl-Rast

“The root of joy is gratefulness... It is not joy that makes us grateful; it is gratitude that makes us joyful.”  ~ Brother David Steindl-Rast

Gratitude allows us to feel more positive in any moment. When we develop a relationship with gratitude and make thankfulness a part of our daily experience, it is easy to find ourselves experiencing greater happiness and greater joy. Gratitude establishes a foundation on which to grow our joy from within.

Finding a WOW Every Day

A Wow A Day

Happy March everyone!! It's a new month and I have a new month-long commitment starting today... acknowledging something that WOWs me each and every day. It shouldn't be too hard for me to do this since I am so easily wowed. Once again, I am sharing the visual page I created for myself, for recording a daily WOW. It's a way for me to be more aware of the big and small things that zing me, such as, the magnificence of a tree, a beautiful smile from a stranger, someone's kindness, a sunset, and so much more. To me, a moment of WOW is the experience of gratitude with a wonderful sparkle thrown in.
 
Who's in? Want to join me?
 

Click Here for some thoughts on WOW.

Today, I can truly say that the gorgeous weather is my WOW for the day. I am able to be working outside on our deck, surrounded by trees, a soft breeze, fresh air, and sunlight. I am WOWed.

My 2016 Monthly Commitments (so far)

• January: 30 Days of Creativity
• February: Doing Something I Love Each Day
• March: A WOW A Day

Enjoy the month!!

Gratitude Shirts

From Splash of Aloha

Gratitude Shirts... and more!!

I recently came across some great shirts from my new friends at Splash of Aloha. The shirts are made of a multi fabric blend and looked so very cozy and comfortable when I saw them in person. I love the slight A-line design. They offer a choice of various sleeve lengths in different colors and you can choose Gratitude, Blessed, Love, or a list of 8 words.

From Splash of Aloha

You will find them at: https://www.etsy.com/shop/SplashOfAloha. I can't decide which one to choose for myself but I think it may have to say "Gratitude."

From Splash of Aloha

(A Note from the Etsy page: The shirts are Pre Shrunk and are JUNIOR CUT so if you like a little looser fit choose ONE SIZE UP)

From Splash of Aloha

Doing Something I Love Everyday

Doing Something I Love Everyday

I began this year with a commitment to 30 Days of Creativity in January.  Now that it's February, I've made a new 29 day commitment. I plan to do something I love each day throughout the month. Above, is the chart I created for recording at least one thing each day. To get me started, I generated a list of 20 things I enjoy doing. The list serves as a visual reminder of some of the things that make me feel happy. On the right side I've left space to jot down the happy things I do for me, day by day.

This is not the first time I have done this for myself and it happens to be one of the exercises I included in Parenting the Gratitude Habit. In March of 2013, I made the commitment to post 30 Days of Gratitude Photos. Knowing I was going to be posting a photo each day, meant I needed to carry my camera with me wherever I went. I loved that month. It seemed that as the month progressed, I became happier and happier. I was doing something I loved, each and every day.

So, I am planning to fully enjoy the month of February... a month of increasing happiness.

So, what about you? Want to join me in this?
Wishing you a Happy February!!

Pollyanna Wisdom

One of my favorite movies when I was a kid, and for years afterwards, is Pollyanna with Hayley Mills. This story seems to stress an appreciation for the basics...

• a home
• a room of one's own and a bed
• good food
• being able to love and be loved
• family or finding family
• friendships
• helping others
• an experience of community
• personal growth
• inquisitiveness
• positive thinking
• and gratitude for what you have

I cannot imagine this movie ever growing old and becoming out of date. These are the basics of any good life and what we all strive for. And... this list is a perfect reference for gratitude journal prompts.

Pollyanna is also a great teaching tool for introducing children to the concept of gratitude and positive thinking. Viewing the film or reading the book as a family, provides a wonderful springboard for conversation.

Links:
Pollyanna, the movie with Hayley Mills
Pollyanna, the book by Eleanor H. Porter

Gratitude Quote: Goodrich

"Gratitude doesn't change the scenery. It merely washes clean the glass you look through so you can clearly see the colors."                                             ~ by Richelle E. Goodrich

Our experience of the world around us changes when we become accustomed to viewing life through the eyes of gratitude. It alters our perception and our internal lens has a greater ability to focus on the good in our lives. Life itself and our environment appears so much more beautiful from that perspective.

The Wisdom of Wizard of Oz

Image from the 1939 M-G-M Studios movie classic, Wizard of Oz

The story of The Wizard of OZ is a timeless tale packed with life lessons: appreciating home and family, facing your fears, seeking your heart's desire, self discovery, the power of friendships, and the ability to find the answers within.

Here are 7 gratitude journal prompts based on the words and dialog of The Wizard of Oz.

1. "There's no place like home."
   What is it that you love and appreciate most about "home?"
2. "Toto, I've a feeling we're not in Kansas any more. We must be over the rainbow!"
   What life changes have added more "color" to your life? What has helped you shift your world from greys to more vibrant hues?
3. "Somewhere over the rainbow Way up high, There's a land that I heard of Once in a lullaby. Somewhere over the rainbow Skies are blue, And the dreams that you dare to dream Really do come true."
   What dreams, wishes, or hopes have become a reality in your life?
4. "I'd be tender, I'd be gentle, And awful sentimental, regarding love and art. I'd be friends with the sparrows and the boy that shoots the arrows, if I only had a heart..."
   Think of something that you or someone else has done out of the kindness of your/their heart.
5. "I could wile away the hours, Conferrin' with the flowers
   Consultin' with the rain, And my head I'd be scratchin',
   While my thoughts were busy hatchin', If I only had a brain..."
   Think of a "smart" decision you made, a solution found, or a new way of looking at something in your life.
6. "Follow the Yellow Brick Road"
   Think of an example of a time you followed the path in life which was truly your own. A time in which you did what felt right for you, moved in the direction of your dreams and desires, and were true to yourself.
7. "Lions, and Tigers, and Bears! Oh My!"
   What have you done in spite of your fears? Think of an incident where you were able to summon up the courage.

Week 10 - YOU: Weekly Gratitude Journal Prompts

Week 10: YOU
 
You spend all day and every day with yourself. There's no one who knows you better than you do. The focus of this week's gratitude journal prompts is on the many aspects of you to be grateful for. Spend time this week in appreciating who you are, your special qualities and abilities, and what makes you Uniquely YOU.

This is the tenth and last of the Weekly Gratitude Journal Prompts, at least for now.

Gratitude Journal Links
The Gratitude Habit Journal: http://tinyurl.com/TheGratitudeHabit
Parenting the Gratitude Habit: http://amzn.to/1SyRjpJ

Gratitude Quote: Ericksen

“I truly believe we can either see the connections, celebrate them, and express gratitude for our blessings, OR we can see life as a string of coincidences that have no meaning or connection. For me, I'm going to believe in miracles, celebrate life, rejoice in the views of eternity, and hope my choices will create a positive ripple effect in the lives of others. This is my choice.” ~ Mike Ericksen

What a beautiful quote by Mike Ericksen! We have the choice, every day, of how we will view the world and the presence of all we have in our lives. How do you choose to look at life?