On this day of Thanksgiving, I took a moment to reflect on all that I am grateful for. More than anything, I am grateful for the journey I have taken this year and for the beautiful souls who stood by my side. They saw me when I was at my worst, and reminded me who I am at my best.
The root of joy is gratefulness… It is not joy that makes us grateful; it is gratitude that makes us joyful.
—David Steindl-Rast
Earlier this year, my mother gave me a jar along with a pack of beautifully-designed cards. These two items separately don’t have much meaning, but she told me to create a Gratitude Jar and write down a daily note of gratitude. I did not know that this little act would have much significance, yet gratitude literally changed my life. Just as those who start the day with coffee, I got my daily dose of joy and light, a way to find joy in the everyday or even in the darkest of times.
Every experience, no matter how bad it seems, holds within it a blessing of some kind. The goal is to find it.
—Buddha
Gratitude can take any situation and force you into finding the silver lining. You could say that was the theme of this year: turning my life upside down with joy through gratitude. I am choosing to share some of my gratitude notes not only as a reminder of how far I’ve come, but to show how thinking positively can pull blessings from the wreckage of any situation.
03.05.15 :: I am grateful for the life I have today, just as I am. Thank you for providing me everything I need to remain on an enlightened path.
04.15.15 :: I am thankful for today: the health I have, the love from family and friends and the incredible yoga community I have discovered.
05.07.15 :: I am grateful for this time with my family, especially my sisters. It warms my heart to spend time with them.
05.13.15 :: I am grateful for my wonderful friends. They life my spirits, make me laugh and remind me I am loved.
08.11.15 :: I am beyond grateful for my sisters and how strong our bond has become this year. They teach me strength, bravery and the true meaning of love.
08.16.15 :: I am grateful for the realization and vision of what I want, need and deserve in a partner. I am more hopeful than ever before.
08.19.15 :: I am so very grateful for al I’ve done to align with my true heart and for the person the universe delivered to me because of my open heart.
08.25.15 :: I am grateful for the journey my heartbreak has taken me on. I thank God for the chance to open my heart to the limitless potential in life.
08.31.15 :: I am grateful for a free heart and a thriving soul, for the joy to sing, dance and express my being without abandon.
09.22.15 :: I am ever so grateful for the people who came into my life to teach me lessons and to allow myself to know who I am on a deeper level. I know they were sent to me for a reason.
10.17.15 :: I turn 30 today. The amount of gratitude in my heart feels powerful enough that I must allow it to explode outside. Explode into hugs, laughter, love and absolute joy. Gratitude changes things.
11.03.15 :: Even on the craziest of days, I am thankful for my breath, awareness and angels that bring me back to the present moment.
11.21.15 :: I am grateful for the energetic space I am entering into through the gifts of courage and vulnerability. Feeling my heart and acting on it creates a wondrous effect. I will always follow my heart and listen to it.
11.26.15 :: I am grateful for this year: the lessons it encompassed, the self-love it brought into my heart and the passion it filled my soul with.
I have heard the quote, “Gratitude is the vitamin for the Soul.” If you start your day with an attitude of gratitude, your life and attitude will shift dramatically. I know mine has. This Thanksgiving, I wish you all the peace and happiness your heart can muster. I challenge you to allow gratitude to pulse through your being every single day.