Creating Gratitude

Everyone talks about having gratitude.  

WHAT IS GRATITUDE?

Gratitude: the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness.

I am sure you have seen all of the different movies and videos.  In fact, I recently watched The Secret.  All of their favorite gurus and life coaches all talk about how essential Gratitude is.  You need gratitude.  

synonyms: thankfulness, thanks, appreciation, indebtedness

HOW DO YOU GET GRATEFUL?

Yet, not one of them tells you how to go about actually getting gratitude.  How do you begin to create the feeling of gratitude so that you can radiate it from within.  I realized something early on.  

THE FIRST RULE OF THUMB:

You have to start now with what you have.  Its not some far off thing where you make a wager with God that you will have Gratitude if you get what you want.  Trust me, I did a lot of bargaining early on with the Universe!

THE SECOND RULE OF THUMB:

You have to start today by writing down all of the things you are grateful for in your life today.  It helps when you can see what you have written down.  

THE THIRD RULE OF THUMB: 

The list does NOT need to be long.

Now one of my friends David commented that when I told him about a gratitude list, he scoffed.  He wasn't doubting what I said, he literally felt daunted by the task.  He has questions like: did he need to write twenty things down?  Could it be 5?  What if it is was five things 1 day and 25 things the next day.  There is no right way to make this list.  It’s about creating gratitude as a way of life.  

Each day looks totally different.  So should your list!

Here is my list today (March 25, 2018): 

1.  My Dog Oliver (because he came to me when I least expected it)

2.  My Sister Tippy who makes me laugh every time I speak with her. 

3.  Food and that I took the time to cut up all my fruit.  

4.  A full nights sleep because that is hard to come by. 

5.  A great dinner with friends last night 

6.  The best tasting Strawberry Shake from Sunlyfe in Malibu. 

Remember, the list can be as long or as short as you want.  It's your list.  My first list --back in September of 2015--was pretty light.  Today's list (Sunday, March 25, 2018) is short but sweet.