Gift of Gratitude

​I know there probably isn’t anything new I can write about gratitude. It’s a topic covered by many, and we are constantly reminded of how much we benefit from acknowledging our many blessings. But as we wrap up the Thanksgiving holiday, I wanted to pause for a minute and simply feel a deep sense of gratitude for my past, my present, and my future. I invite you to do the same.
 
Our past has brought us to the very place we are at today. Sometimes we have deep regrets for things we’ve done, or perhaps for things we’ve failed to do. The reality is we can’t change the past. We can only look for the lessons and the blessings that have come from our actions. Remember the good and let go of the bad. Cherish the special memories. Repeat the good decisions, try to stop making the poor choices. But never dwell in the past. Feel gratitude for the journey you’ve traveled thus far but keep your eyes forward.
 
 Our future is a beautiful mystery. No one can know what the future holds. We may have years and years ahead of us. Or we may be near the end of our life’s journey and not even know it. Any future at all is a blessing. Looking forward to our own future with a sense of purpose and optimism will make all the difference. How you think about your future will help shape it. Your thoughts are setting the foundation for your future. Build it strong.
 
Since the past is behind us and the future is unknown, the present is where the magic happens. What we have right now, at this very moment—all those things that make our hearts sing— deserve our gratitude.
 
I’m thankful for the laughter of my child, a conversation with a dear friend, and a photograph with a loved one. I’m grateful for the leftovers in the fridge from our family’s Thanksgiving Day meal. I’m thankful for my lengthy gift-giving list because that means my life is full of extraordinary people.

Feel gratitude but don’t be afraid to take it a step further and tell people ‘thank you’. If they’ve given you joy in your life, give a little of that joy back to them by letting them know how you feel. Tell them while you still can. You’ll never regret doing something so simple yet so powerful.
 
So please allow me to take a moment to thank you. If you are reading this post, thank you for coming along on this journey with me. Your support means so much.
 
Being thankful can be as simple as pausing for a moment to feel joy in the little things. 
 
Life can be hard. Life can be beautiful. Life can be crazy. Life is often all of these things wrapped up in a single day. The point is to focus more on the good than the bad. To focus on the gratitude we feel for having enough.
 
Today I’m keeping my message short and simple. Practicing gratitude isn’t complicated. Being thankful for all the blessings in our lives is one of the most powerful things we can ever do. Try to make it an integral part of your life, and your blessings will compound. My goal is to practice gratitude, every day. 
 
Kim