How Reflecting On Gratitude Changed My Life
By Simone
By Simone
By Simone
“It is not joy that makes us grateful; it is gratitude that makes us joyful.”
Gratitude.
It’s a funny thing. I am grateful for so much in my life… my husband, my kids, my health.
But really, I don’t know that I was consciously grateful. I know I was internally, but I was not actively saying aloud, “I am so grateful for this.”
That is… until I tapped into Gratitude.
It all started with mindful appreciation.
I know what you are thinking, “this sounds like a lot of hooey,” but hear me out. When I started actively looking for the good happening in my day, I became aware of an abundance of things to be grateful for.
“It is not joy that makes us grateful; it is gratitude that makes us joyful.”
Gratitude.
It’s a funny thing. I am grateful for so much in my life… my husband, my kids, my health.
But really, I don’t know that I was consciously grateful. I know I was internally, but I was not actively saying aloud, “I am so grateful for this.”
That is… until I tapped into Gratitude.
It all started with mindful appreciation.
I know what you are thinking, “this sounds like a lot of hooey,” but hear me out. When I started actively looking for the good happening in my day, I became aware of an abundance of things to be grateful for.
“It is not joy that makes us grateful; it is gratitude that makes us joyful.”
Gratitude.
It’s a funny thing. I am grateful for so much in my life… my husband, my kids, my health.
But really, I don’t know that I was consciously grateful. I know I was internally, but I was not actively saying aloud, “I am so grateful for this.”
That is… until I tapped into Gratitude.
It all started with mindful appreciation.
I know what you are thinking, “this sounds like a lot of hooey,” but hear me out.
When I started actively looking for the good happening in my day, I became aware of an abundance of things to be grateful for.
So, I began to appreciate everything: my kind neighbors, the person smiling at me when I walked into the grocery store, the beautiful weather, the storm watering the plants… all those small things we usually overlook.
And it started a revolution in my soul.
Because… it could be equally possible for the neighbor to avoid eye contact or the greeter at the store to keep talking to his co-worker.
But they didn’t. And once I started to be grateful for that, I found gratitude in other places.
So, I began to appreciate everything: my kind neighbors, the person smiling at me when I walked into the grocery store, the beautiful weather, the storm watering the plants… all those small things we usually overlook.
And it started a revolution in my soul.
So, I began to appreciate everything: my kind neighbors, the person smiling at me when I walked into the grocery store, the beautiful weather, the storm watering the plants… all those small things we usually overlook.
And it started a revolution in my soul.
Because… it could be equally possible for the neighbor to avoid eye contact or the greeter at the store to keep talking to his co-worker.
But they didn’t. And once I started to be grateful for that, I found gratitude in other places.
Volunteering in our community allowed me to witness a whole army of others wanting to help and serve their fellow man.
Honestly, it increased my gratitude for my own position in life to be in a place to be able to serve.
Because… it could be equally possible for the neighbor to avoid eye contact or the greeter at the store to keep talking to his co-worker.
But they didn’t. And once I started to be grateful for that, I found gratitude in other places.
Volunteering in our community allowed me to witness a whole army of others wanting to help and serve their fellow man.
Honestly, it increased my gratitude for my own position in life to be in a place to be able to serve.
Volunteering in our community allowed me to witness a whole army of others wanting to help and serve their fellow man.
Honestly, it increased my gratitude for my own position in life to be in a place to be able to serve.
Then, visiting with my kids and family hit differently.
I saw them for the remarkable individuals they are and was grateful for their outlook and ability to drop humor at the most needed times.
And the strangest of all… I saw gratitude in the struggle.
Yes, the awful moments that really force us to change.
I recognized without these experiences, I may not be the person I am today.
Which means I couldn’t relate to or help another in a similar situation or even know I was strong enough to weather the next storm.
And this gratitude fueled me. I started to become mindfully grateful – writing daily in a Gratitude Journal
Then, visiting with my kids and family hit differently.
I saw them for the remarkable individuals they are and was grateful for their outlook and ability to drop humor at the most needed times.
Then, visiting with my kids and family hit differently.
I saw them for the remarkable individuals they are and was grateful for their outlook and ability to drop humor at the most needed times.
And the strangest of all… I saw gratitude in the struggle.
Yes, the awful moments that really force us to change.
I recognized without these experiences, I may not be the person I am today.
Which means I couldn’t relate to or help another in a similar situation or even know I was strong enough to weather the next storm.
And this gratitude fueled me. I started to become mindfully grateful – writing daily in a Gratitude Journal
And the strangest of all… I saw gratitude in the struggle. Yes, the awful moments that really force us to change.
I recognized without these experiences, I may not be the person I am today.
Which means I couldn’t relate to or help another in a similar situation or even know I was strong enough to weather the next storm.
And this gratitude fueled me. I started to become mindfully grateful – writing daily in a Gratitude Journal
And similar to when I started, the more I wrote, the more I noticed. There was a rewiring of my brain, so to speak.
Just writing down three things a day – that is all it takes.
Suddenly, I gave value to other people’s intentions.
When they called me just to say hi or check-in, I valued they thought to bring a smile into my life.
They stopped and took time to care.
And what I uncovered was a world of well-intended souls that I was deeply grateful to experience.
And similar to when I started, the more I wrote, the more I noticed. There was a rewiring of my brain, so to speak.
Just writing down three things a day – that is all it takes.
Suddenly, I gave value to other people’s intentions.
When they called me just to say hi or check-in, I valued they thought to bring a smile into my life.
They stopped and took time to care.
And what I uncovered was a world of well-intended souls that I was deeply grateful to experience.
Am I perfect? Of course not!
But the thing is – when I fall off the horse, I can hurt and then get back on.
You can, too! Start a Gratitude Journal and practice Mindful Gratefulness. See how your life changes once you realize the beauty in it!
Cheers to Positive Aging and Mindful Gratitude!
And similar to when I started, the more I wrote, the more I noticed. There was a rewiring of my brain, so to speak.
Just writing down three things a day – that is all it takes.
Suddenly, I gave value to other people’s intentions.
When they called me just to say hi or check-in, I valued they thought to bring a smile into my life.
They stopped and took time to care. And what I uncovered was a world of well-intended souls that I was deeply grateful to experience.
Am I perfect? Of course not!
But the thing is – when I fall off the horse, I can hurt and then get back on.
You can, too! Start a Gratitude Journal and practice Mindful Gratefulness. See how your life changes once you realize the beauty in it!
Cheers to Positive Aging and Mindful Gratitude!
Am I perfect? Of course not!
But the thing is – when I fall off the horse, I can hurt and then get back on.
You can, too!
Start a Gratitude Journal and practice Mindful Gratefulness.
See how your life changes once you realize the beauty in it!
Cheers to Positive Aging and Mindful Gratitude!
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