Season of Gratitude

’Tis the holiday season, and my inbox is flooded with thankful messages. Now, I know this might sound like just another one of those, but I genuinely want to express my gratitude. As I cultivate my awareness of my own thoughts and feelings, it’’s surprising how much easier it becomes to notice the little things, especially when I’m feeling down about people and the state of the world. Shifting my focus to find something positive never fails to lift my spirits.

For the past 10 years or so, I’ve had a daily practice of making a gratitude list and sharing these lists with some friends through email. Some days, it’s a breeze to come up with a dozen things to be thankful for, while on tougher days, finding anything positive can be a challenge. It has become a ritual and often took the place of writing in my diary. As I thumb through the lists I made so far, it gives me a glimpse of my life in a very heartwarming way. No matter the hardships, I’ve managed to keep my focus on the brighter side.

In a world where many of us feel a bit helpless about what’s going on, being able to see the positive side of things helps a lot. Shifting our perspective, even a little, can make navigating life’s ups and downs a bit easier.