Back in 2009, I believe, I started to write and share a gratitude list daily. I am absolutely convinced it changed my life for the better. Then I relapsed in 2012 and stopped for awhile….the shame kept me in hiding for bit. Less than a year after my relapse, I picked up a white chip and started over and continued writing my gratitude here and there but not consistently. Things started to get serious with my now husband nine months later, and my gratitude writing decreased significantly until it all together stopped. I have since started a “Women of Gratitude” group on Facebook but left it shortly after. Do you know why? Unforgiveness and fear. There were women in the group I did not want in my life due to hurt feelings and fear of judgement. I did not feel safe to be me. I don’t even know the stories around these resentments anymore. I don’t harbor current resentments but prefer to love from a distance. That is necessary sometimes. Of course, this is a public blog, but I am just not that important, in my mind or anyone else’s! I will focus on the love here and let all else go.
Anyhow…my point to the above is that I have no doubt, not one iota, that writing gratitude consistently on a daily basis, living and feeling that deep soul joy, brought me this amazing life I am living today. I am married to my best friend, we truly have so much fun. We may scoff from time to time but it is rare. I work from home, I am constantly learning and growing (Thank You, God! Everything IS–THANK YOU, GOD!!!), taking courses, etc., to be become better and better! I am surrounded by our sweet bulldogs, and I am a MINISTER of GOD!!! I am a minister of Love and hopefully inspiration! That is how I yearn to be, and I will keep on keeping on!
I’m so grateful for this day; for arising this 4th day in a row at 4 AM— for Hal Elrod’s “Miracle Morning”, which has inspired me over the years, and that it’s always there for when I forget or desire to be more, do more. To be and do more than I have been I have to show up. I am often, “too tired” to show up for myself. My birthday gift to myself this year is, “no excuses”. That is my mantra this 53rd year on this earth. I have made some necessary changes in my life to help me save some time as I can definitely spread myself pretty thin. This time is my gift to myself. I will utilize it to make myself smarter, stronger, faster, and get my coaching and ministry business off the ground. NO EXCUSES!!!
I am grateful for bulldogs snoring, a beautiful early morning sky, the funky music Coach Betsy played in our 5 AM run this morning (1920’s electric?!), the Charge Running App., over 4 miles run and done, the sounds of birds singing, my new “No Excuses” bracelet, so I don’t forget!, Whole Food Plant Based diet, for asking my husband for what I need (support arising early, and no more buying Sun Chips – I cannot resist them!), this amazing and abundant life—so very much to be grateful for! We are rich, absolutely rich in all of the ways that count…so much LOVE! I was thinking about when I was younger, kids growing, most of my life was spent living paycheck to paycheck, on the struggle bus. I made good money but kids, you know! Divorce never helps, either…it helps me to remember that so I can be so grateful to have gotten through it…and you know what? Everything always worked out! Always! Everything always WILL work out! God’s got us!!! Sooooooooooooooooooo much gratitude!!! xoxox
