Why Gratitude?

What makes you happy?  

What fills you with joy?

What makes the world a better place?

What tiny thing, often overlooked, makes you smile?

What big thing, too obvious to overlook, makes you want to burst with joy?

What events have served as lessons?

Who are the people in your life who listen to you, show you kindness, who inspire or teach you?

What would your life be like if you routinely took time to acknowledge your gratitude?

I have had a wonderful gratitude practice for the last two years.  I keep thinking that I will give it up, after all, it has lost its novelty.   In fact, I did decide to give it up.  I thought it would be good to stop for a time, so that when I took it up again it would once again feel exciting.  But people were queuing up to take a turn to be my gratitude buddy, so I was pulled back in.

You probably know all about gratitude buddies, as I have written about them many times on this blog.  Wait a minute!  I just looked at the stats on this blog and the report says that this blog has been looked at two times.  Two times.  Ever.  This can't be right; of course there is a glitch in the system somewhere.  I know it is wrong for the mere fact that I have looked the blog myself hundreds of time!  I am, after all, this blog's most loyal fan.

But, glitch or not, these stats point to the fact that this blog has not exactly taken off like wildfire, or like wildflowers either.  So, I will explain the recipe for gratitude buddies again.

HOW TO DO GRATITUDE BUDDIES

1. Find a buddy.

2. Exchange daily lists of three things for which you are grateful.

You can do this through e-mail, text message, facebook messaging, telephone, or in person.  Choose any way that works for you.  Keep it up for as long as you would like.  I switch buddies each month.    Many of those buddies find their own buddies.  And on it goes.

That's it.  It's that easy.  

But easy or not, why do it, you ask.  You are not convinced that gratitude buddies is the best thing ever?   Well, I can honestly say that most everyone I have done this with has enjoyed it immensely.  It encourages you to notice what is already good in your life.  It also provides a neat way to connect with someone else.  I have done this practice with close friends and family as well as people I didn't know very well at all.  And as each month came to a close, I felt a bit of sadness when saying goodbye to the partnership we created through our daily sharing of things that were important to us.

A gratitude practice can make you feel happier.  Really.  Give gratitude buddies a try.  And let me know how it goes, will you?

Wishing you balance,

Nan

"My mom deserves a massage because..."

As part of our Kid's Health event at One Life Chiropractic, I had the children nominate their parents for a drawing to win a free massage session.

Here is what they wrote-  (Some really young ones had a bit of help from a parent.)


"My mom deserves a massage because I love her."  -Sarah, age 8

"My mom deserves a massage because she works really hard."  -Philip, age 14

"My mom deserves a massage because she does so much for me and my brother."  -Amanda, age 13

"My mom deserves a massage because sometimes we take walks together."  -MaKayla, age 4

"My mom deserves a massage because she's a hard worker and is super stressed...and once she'll get a massage she'll be super happy."  -Victoria, age 11.

"I think my mom should have a massage because she's always cleaning up after us and if she had a massage it would be the 2nd time in her life!"  -Rachel, age 8

"My mom deserves a massage because she does so much for me and my sister.  She really is the best mom ever!!"  -Brandon

"My mom deserves a massage because she is my mommy and I love her."  -Sebastian, age 1 1/2

"My mom deserves a massage because she is a really nice lady and lets me do a lot."  -Andrew, age 17

"My grandma deserves a massage because she takes care of me while mama goes to work and goes to school."  -Otto, age 3

"My mom deserves a massage because I love her!"  -Daniel, age 9

"My mom deserves a massage because she is the best mom in the world."  -Bethany, age 10

"My mom deserves a massage because she is a great mom and is always busy.  She takes me and my sister to a lot of sports and activities and is always constantly going.  She does so much for me and my sister that she deserves to relax and have a little time to herself."  -Alexandra, age 15

"My dad deserves a massage because he is a great dad."  -Kimberly, age 11

"My mom deserves a massage because she has 12 children and one more on the way."  Rachel, age 16

"My parents deserve a massage because they do a lot for us and let us do the things we want during the summer.  They are the best."  -Jack, age 16

What gratitude!!  And it's true- they all deserve a massage.  You do too!

Wishing you balance and gratitude,

Nancy

The Gratitude Habit

They say it takes doing something seven times to establish a habit.  For me, it seems, it takes an entire year.  The particular habit that I set out to establish began with a thesis I decided to test out a little over a year ago.  My idea was that if I took time each day to reflect on the gifts and abundance in my life that it might just make a difference in my mood.

A year later.

It worked.  In fact, it started working immediately.  I have said it before, but a gratitude practice is a shortcut to happiness.  It just plain works. 

Not to trivialize the mood lifting ability of the gratitude practice, but what I didn’t bargain on is how wonderful it was to connect with each gratitude buddy throughout the year, how we doubled the gratitude as we shared in one another’s appreciation for the little things, and on occasion, the big things in life.  Sharing gratitudes offered a daily glimpse at another person’s internal life.  It was really lovely connecting in this way. 

There were some big things to celebrate, but most often my buddies and I expressed gratitude for the little things in life.  And what I came to believe is those little things are really not so little.  Those little things are what make life grand.  And acknowledging them allows you to experience them more deeply. 

I invite you to share your own expressions of gratitude with others this season at the website Express Your Gratitude.  In doing so you might even win a one hour massage session with me or another participating massage therapist.  

I invite you also to grab a gratitude buddy and try the practice on for yourself!  Now that I am firmly in the habit, I would happily exchange gratitude lists with anyone who wants to try it out. 

Wishing you balance,

Nancy

Gratituesdays

This past Thanksgiving marked the launch of my year long gratitude project.  Every month, I have invited someone to join me in exchanging a list of daily gratitudes for the entire month.  It has been a remarkable experience.  Although reluctant at first, my August gratitude buddy turned out to be a most enthusiastic participant; it didn’t take long for him to understand how profoundly enriching this practice can be.   We shared our gratitude list by e-mail, each with a subject line that reflected the day of the week:  Gratitude Sunday, Gratitude Monday, Gratitude Tuesday.... And on one one particular Tuesday, we cleverly ran the words together and the concept of Gratituesdays was born.

Each Tuesday, I would like to invite people to share their gratitudes on my Body In Balance Facebook wall.  Taking time to express gratitude is a wonderfully life affirming practice on its own, but sharing these gratitudes with others deepens the experience.   It is a beautiful way to connect and to be inspired.

Please join us!  “Like” the Body In Balance page.  Join in on the sharing!  

Wishing you balance,

Nancy