Gratitude
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Three’s a charm
“Three grand essentials to happiness in this life are: Something to do, something to love, and something to hope.” ~Joseph Addison, English poet and essayist There’s something magical about “The Rule of Three” — a time-honored literary device. Just for starters, there are three blind mice, three musketeers, three little pigs, three spirits of Christmas, three wise men, and the three fates. In countless myths and fairy tales, the hero on the journey is typically granted three wishes or given three tasks. I’m also a fan of Dr. Andrew Weil’s “Three Good Things” journaling exercise. At the end of each day, you make a list of three good things that…
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The light of gratitude
“At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us.” ~Albert Schweitzer The gratitude list is a tool I’ve promoted often in the workshops I coach, whether I use it as a writing prompt or a personal growth exercise. And I try to practice what I preach. One of my favorite exercises is to recall the names of people who’ve made a difference in my life. The medical doctors who’ve taken care of my family and me are at the top of my list. That list…
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Happy Thanksgiving
“We must find the time to stop and thank the people who make a difference in our lives.” ~John F. Kennedy Unlike our highly commercialized Christmas season, Thanksgiving doesn’t demand as much from us. It doesn’t require spending loads of cash or credit on gifts and decorations, nor does it push us to party through January 1st. Regardless of our religious beliefs or church affiliation, Thanksgiving only asks that we sit down together at a table — one day out of the year — and express our appreciation. Too often, we’re so focused on our worries that we take our advantages and opportunities for granted. Or we forget to acknowledge…
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Your harvest, your life
“The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate.” ~Oprah Winfrey Late autumn inspires us to take stock of what we’ve planted or accomplished. The season of Thanksgiving — not just the holiday itself — underscores a simple choice we always have: We can celebrate all the good things we’ve reaped and experienced, or dwell on the difficulties we’ve encountered. A positive mindset is the natural outgrowth of appreciation. It’s part of the harvest we reap when we count everything that enriches our lives, large and small. Many Americans will spend this weekend shopping for food to share at their Thanksgiving tables. Some…
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All-inclusive gratitude
“Cultivate the habit of being grateful for every good thing that comes to you, and give thanks continuously. And because all things have contributed to your advancement, you should include all things in your gratitude.” ~Ralph Waldo Emerson Every year, the season of Thanksgiving reminds us to count our blessings while we take inventory of our good fortune. But as Ralph Waldo Emerson suggested in today’s quote, “all things” have made us who we are today. These include health crises, personal losses, financial problems, career challenges, and other difficulties. The pilgrims who left England to start new lives in America faced a perilous journey across the Atlantic. Arriving in Massachusetts…
