Back to Gratitude

Gratitude is good for us – this isn’t news. I was at a training recently where we reviewed the research on how intentionally focusing on what we’re grateful for impacts our health. It got me thinking: If I’m seeking out better sleep, less stress and anxiety, and overall just wanting to feel better, why wouldn’t I start zeroing in on what’s good in my life?

A peek into my last week:

YOGA

I used to do hot yoga all the time before having kids (okay, all the time might be an exaggeration – but it was something that was part of my regular routine, at least once if not twice each week). This week, I went to my first class in a long time. A friend recently described yoga as a combination of “therapy, church, and a workout.” Being back on my mat reminded me how much that is true!

NEIGHBORHOOD

The buying/selling/packing/unpacking process was more complicated and stressful than we imagined it would be (more on that later – it’s quite a story). But one of my favorite things is driving down our street going to and from work and admiring all the holiday decorations, people out walking and waving as we drive by, and seeing my kids start to settle into our new home. It makes all the chaos worth it.

MORNING GIRL CHATS

Spending time with my 4-year old in the morning before leaving for work is one of my favorite weekday rituals. I’m typically the first one awake in our house since I leave for work pretty early. But after I’ve started getting ready, I typically hear Izzy slink into my bathroom after she has woken up. She plops down on the floor and we just chat. When I leave, she waves out the upstairs window to me as I drive away. I always want to remember these special mornings together.

SUPPORT

I mentioned in my first post that I have wanted to start writing for some time now. In taking the leap to start putting my thoughts out there, my inner circle has shown major support in me starting to make this outlet a priority for myself. Having the encouragement to take time for me, from people who mean so much to me, is priceless.

If anyone reading this finds themselves wanting to start making gratitude a routine practice, I would encourage you to notice what trends you see as you lay out what you are really appreciating right now. I think that noticing any patterns in what we are paying attention to may shed more light on what is weighing on us, where our current priorities lie, and where we want to put more of our focus.

What are you most grateful for in the last week?