It has been said that gratitude is the mother of joy, so Mother’s Day month seems like the perfect time to practice building the gratitude habits that will allow us to commit to regularly taking time to focus on all that we are grateful for, even (and especially) when it would be much easier to focus on the inconveniences and distractions of our everyday lives.
So, how about it: What are you grateful for?
Well, I made a list… not a To-Do list, which we moms are all so adept at, but a Gratitude list, and here’s what I came up with:
- I am grateful that my daughters still think Mommy-snuggles are so special.
- I am grateful that my husband is my best friend who believes in me and my dreams.
- I am grateful for family and friends who “get me” and truly want the best for me.
- I am grateful that I can be genuinely happy for others and truly want the best for them.
- I am grateful for all of the opportunities I have created and been blessed with in my life.
- I am grateful that I always know I am loved and know that I am deserving of that love.
- I am grateful that my Dad passed along his wisdom and sense of humor.
- I am grateful for all of the new relationships that continue to bless my life, and the endless possibilities to grow, learn, and share that they bring with them.
- I am grateful for the biggest challenges that Life’s presented me, as I’ve been blessed with the ability to trustingly know each one has a meaningful purpose, even if they may come with initial pain.
- I am grateful to be able to enjoy my world with all of my senses.
- I am grateful that my children teach me more about Life every day.
- I am grateful for being able to recognize and savor those “Life is perfectly as it should be” moments of pure contentment (and that I am remembering to enjoy those moments much more often).
Of course, this is not a complete list, but it is what I feel in my heart at this moment, and tuning into these grateful feelings provides an instant boost of energy and joy. Although gratitude is a very simple gift, it is not always easy to practice. We all have times where we experience negative emotions, fear, anger, doubt, and the like. However, the value of gratitude is absolutely precious – since it is impossible to focus on both a thankful thought and negative thought at the same time, choosing to focus on gratitude is the fast-track to happiness, fulfillment, contentment, and hopefulness.
And, it is a gift that is topped off with all of the smiles and heartfelt warmth that it brings when it is shared freely with others! A gift that allows us personal happiness as well as a joyful connection to others – and it is available to each of us, in limitless supply, at any time!
Happy Mother’s Month, and I am truly grateful that you are sharing this moment with me!
