Day 1

Today I’m going to dive back into Deepak’s 21 Day Meditation series. This time the subject was Manifesting Grace through Gratitude. Deepak explains that gratitude makes a connection to grace. It’s actually physical change.

It’s hard to be unhappy when you are focused on gratitude. Instead of spending time wanting more and more (more clothes, more furniture, better cars, more trips), learn how to be TRULY grateful for what we have. After going through the horror of my pain experiences, I was and still am so grateful for all the small things. Because when all the small things are taken from you they become the big things. As I was doing more, the more grateful I became for being able to drive again, to could use my computer and the ability to read for 10 minutes a day. I was incredibly grateful when I could start taking pain free walks and being out in nature… the list goes on and on. These are things I didn’t think twice about before the pain. Even when I was still not fully functional I would do my nightly gratitude practice. It’s not easy when you feel awful, but here is an example of a couple of my gratitude notebook entries in 2018.

January 27th

A complement from an old friend
Sitting in the sun reading
Finished a wonderful book
A nice dinner out
A really good night’s sleep

February 13th

Good visit with Dr. B
Fun exercise classes. Everyone was happy today.
Tippy is feeling better
Enjoying the Olympics
A laugh with a stranger on an elevator

See, these are not big things. But I was GRATEFUL for each and every one of them. So grateful.

This week I was to make a list of the people I was most grateful for and why. (Only using first initials for their privacy) Here we go:

M for loving me.
M for her point of view and support.
M for always being there for me.
N for being real.
D for his guidance.
My physical therapists for helping me feel better.
N for his heart.
O for her kindness.
C for seeing my strength when I couldn’t.
A for being an example of what I want to be.
S for understanding me.

There are personal stories behind each and every one of these people, but the point is when I list them I can see how each one has had such a huge impact in my life and I’m certainly grateful for them all.

Do you have a gratitude practice? All it takes is a dollar store notebook and pen! Start today!