Gratitude

A few years ago I began to practice gratitude daily. I seek out 3  good things to appreciate every day. I pay  attention to the good things and express it by writing them down in my journal.  Its small everyday things I look for like nature, music, community, my warm bed, a good meal anything really. It’s surprising what makes me feel happy and fulfilled when I focus on feeling grateful. I just stop and look around  for a moment. It’s a simple habit that perks me up and helps me appreciate what I have rather than fret about the troubles I can’t do anything about. The blessing of food on the table, people in my life and a home is all it takes.

Sometimes I feel so full of gratitude that even tiny details suddenly have a big WOW factor

I soak up the  moment, when that happens. If it involves a person I tell them and share my appreciation.  Thanking  someone for their kindness, for listening  or perhaps for just being there and how it made a difference is one way to express appreciation.

I sometimes express my gratitude by sending a letter or message to them If someone does something lovely for me and they often do I am inspired to act with kindness or thoughtfulness myself. To just hold a door open for someone behind me, help someone with a pushchair up steps or give someone rummaging for change for a parking meter can be helpful. I’m not known to be slushy person but I always tell those close to me how much they mean to me, simply because they do.