You are likely to spot the theme in this months post - holiday.
Along with the long Easter weekend, my partner and I took a trip to stunning Turkey. It would be impossible for me not to capture the many gratitudes I had while away.
Gratitude is often easier to feel when we step away from our day-to-day. We feel blessed for the break, exploring new places or the time to step back, slow down and see the beauty around us.
Yet feeling grateful is even more powerful when we are 'trapped' in our everyday routines.
The more we can see our blessings in our ordinary days the less ordinary they become. They calm our minds bringing clarity. They not only reduce the negative emotions but increase our positive ones. They bring compassion and connection bonding us to others.
So use the posh wine glasses for water and feel the sunshine on your face while hanging out the washing. Take time and join me in reflecting on April, taking in the ordinary and making it extraordinary.
“If you want to turn your life around, try thankfulness. It will change your life mightily."
Gerald Good
Contents
My Gratitudes (Read my other posts? Then jump to here!)
What is this post all about?
Each month, I want to spend a moment reflecting and sharing with you the things I am grateful for.
This serves two purposes.
Selfishly it provides me with accountability. Gratitude practices have played a huge part in my journey and I want to keep developing that in 2022.
This monthly post allows me to do just that by creating a positive routine that allows me a deeper connection with all that is wonderful in my life.
Secondly, I want it to inspire you to count your blessings so you too can harness the power of gratitude.
Melody Beattie said it best: “Gratitude turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion into clarity...it makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow."
Try It Yourself!
There are many ways to capture gratitude.
For my practice, I have chosen 4 headings and I invite you to use them too. They are:
Achievements
Easily forgotten
Others
Myself
These help me to focus my reflections and ensure I don't miss the little things.
I have also decided that I would focus on three things under each heading. Starting each with “I am grateful …” for ease of reading. For you, however, capture as many gratitudes as you can!
Also, I love lists. You may not.
So I want you find a creative way to record your blessings that feels good to you at this moment.
Here are some ideas:
A4 page split into quarters
A long list
Mind Maps
Images/doodles
In a journal
Voice Note
Silently in your mind
My Gratitudes
“Gratitude and attitude are not challenges; they are choices."
Robert Braathe
I am grateful for my holiday. Let's start with the obvious one, I am grateful to have taken time away from work, for time to read, swim, connect with Alastair and feel the sun on my skin.
I am grateful for the sea. It is never a surprise to me how many stories and poems mention the sea, it has such depth, movement, mystery and beauty.
I am grateful for a tech detox. This holiday proved to be a mini tech retreat, with phones locked away and no laptops in sight, my addictive Instagram habit and need to constantly look at my phone when alone was reset. Fingers crossed I can keep this up now I'm back.
“Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things."
Robert Brault
I am grateful for lemons. Their colour, their freshness and their ability to liven up any food or drink.
I am grateful for magazines. The range of articles, the easy to flick pages and the ability to not break if you splash them while in the pool.
I am grateful for my calendar. Being away and not looking at my calendar has made me appreciate it so much more. It holds my tasks, my meetings and my all-important client session so that my mind doesn't have to. A true tool of my success.
"Silent gratitude isn't very much to anyone."
Gertrude Stein
I am grateful for new friends. Trips bring new cultures and new friends even if fleetingly. Thank you to everyone I met and for the connection and fun you brought into my life.
I am grateful for my family. My partner pointed out that as a family we have a social calendar, moments each year where we will gather, drink, eat and chat away helping us all to stay connected as our worlds expand.
I am grateful for Becky. Always there no matter what! No matter where our lives drift or the time spent apart we will always be such good friends and a source of support for each other.
“Gratitude is more of a compliment to yourself than someone else."
Raheel Farooq
I am grateful for my passion. My passion to leave my part of the world a little better off. I love the energy, focus, drive and love it brings to me every day.
I am grateful for my purpose, the feeling of being peaceful and alive. It's a guide and a place to call home.
I am grateful for my peace of mind. This has taken years of work (and I'm still not perfect) and therefore I wanted to give it the recognition it deserves. From always overthinking everything, constantly anxious and worried what others might say, I noted on holiday that my mind was peaceful and happy watching the world go by, whether people or the waves.
My Final Gratitude
I am grateful to you.
Thank you for your curiosity, your passion for growth and your desire to find what is good in this beautiful world.
Now its your turn, why not share your own gratitudes:
with me in the comments
with friends over a drink
with your kids at bedtime
silently with yourself as a form of self-care.
With Love & Gratitude
