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!!