For what are you grateful?

On this Veteran’s Day and month of Thanksgiving, I thought it was only fitting to ask the poignant question: For what are you grateful? It is so easy to take many of our gifts and blessings for granted. Thus, I tried to capture a few blessings for which I am grateful. Some are obvious, others are not. I, for one, believe that by deliberately cultivating gratitude, we can increase our well-being and happiness. In addition, grateful thinking—and especially expression of it to others—has been proven to increase levels of energy, optimism, and empathy. So, for what am I grateful?

  • I am grateful for the many men and women who have served our country over the decades, and in come cases have given their lives, to enable our freedom. Coming from a family of veterans, and my father having spent 11 months in a Korean hospital, this holiday has significant meaning to me. We are indebted to our armed services for the freedoms and safety we experience today.
  • I am grateful for the love, unconditional support and encouragement of my family – mom, dad, and sister – throughout my life.
  • I am grateful to have found Lulu, my rescue schnauzer; as she has provided a warm loving simplicity to my often hectic life.
  • I am grateful to my friends for their interest, humor, and loyal friendship.
  • I am grateful to my childhood friends, who though our lives have taken different directions in most cases, our friendship is stalwart, easy, and ‘all-knowing’…..we simply pick right up which is a blessing.
  • I am grateful to those ‘mean girls’ who have ‘voted me off the island’ as they have taught me resilience and the value of true friendship.
  • I am grateful to my clients and customers for their confidence and for helping me to continue to grow and learn in my profession.
  • I am grateful to my beloved editor of my 1st and 2nd book, who lost her battle to cancer; yet, taught me through her courageous, faith-filled attitude how to live despite terminal challenges.
  • I am grateful for the dark night of the soul which illuminated by current calling and positioned me for alignment – as least for now.
  • I am grateful for the impermanence of life and the joy of ongoing evolution and change.
  • I am grateful for rough seas as they give much autobiographical material for rich stories.
  • I am grateful for the incidental encounters in life which are not incidental at all.
  • I am grateful to Rodan+Fields for offering a vehicle for me to offer my clients and friends for amazing residual income for a rich retirement.
  • I am grateful for the beautiful music of nature in the morning – birds, squirrels, and leaves rustling in the wind.
  • I am grateful to those who criticize my books and writing, as this encourages me to continue reaching deeper, and to be true to my own authenticity regardless of their opinion.
  • I am grateful to my Rotary Club for providing me the amazing opportunity to serve in such a powerful and well-structured way.
  • I am grateful for the doubters relative to my entrepreneurship with Alignment, Inc., book-writing, and Rodan+Fields choices; as they have served as catalysts along my journey.
  • I am grateful for the stars, the moon, and the mysterious quiet of the night.
  • I am grateful for those who attempt to marginalize my work, in comparison to theirs, as this encourages me to define my own level of success and contribution to the world.
  • I am grateful to the many service professionals from mailmen to bank tellers to salon workers to bookkeepers who support our daily lives.
  • I am grateful for the many challenges of life as they teach valuable lessons of Faith, Hope, and Love.

These are just a few of the many blessings for which I am grateful. How can we instill an ‘Attitude of Gratitude’ this month and through the year? A few tips:

  • Find pleasure in the simple things and keep a gratitude journal. Nothing fancy – just write down 1-2 things a day. It will amaze you how this will transform your thinking.
  • Give at least one compliment a day or send a note to a friend who may need a ‘B12’. This will light a spark of love in you – of this I am 100% certain.
  • When icky bits happen, ask ‘what am I supposed to be learning or teaching through this experience’?
  • Find a cause or organization in which you can serve…by joining in, you will be fulfilled and minor challenges will virtually disappear.
  • Say ‘thank you’ early and often!

For what are you grateful? Please share!