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

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