Life Lessons and Gratitude

I have come to find that life has boundless lessons for you to learn if you are willing to be open and take them in. We all learn from each other. Everyone has experiences that someone else would benefit from hearing, so we must all be willing to share. In addition, I am a firm believer that everything happens for a reason. I fall down so that I may figure out a way to stand back up...stronger than ever. Every single thing that has happened to me can teach me a lesson....if I let it. Therefore, I have decided to include those "life lessons" that I gain each day in this blog. Some will be what I have learned from my own experiences, and others will be what I have learned from the experiences of others. Of course I will not use people's names...so don't worry! :)

I am also a firm believer that gratitude can make a huge difference in one's life. People have said this all along. Oprah had multiple shows dedicated to this topic a few (or more than a few) years back. Remember the gratitude journals she suggested?! Well I did that in high school, and it made a difference in my life. Taking the time to think of three things I was grateful for each day made me realize all of the big and small things that I have been blessed with. I have to admit that I let this practice stop for many years. I got so wrapped up in the world of college and young adulthood that I stopped taking the time to sit down each day and reflect on what I was grateful for. Then I read a wonderful book this summer called "The Secret." Yes, I thought it sounded silly too. However, if you have not already....READ IT! It has been such an inspiration for me. In this book they also talk about the power of gratitude. Here is a quote from "The Secret:"

"As soon as you start to feel different about what you have, you will start to attract more of the good things. More of the things you can be grateful for. You could look around and say, 'Well, I don't have the car I want. I don't have the house I want. I don't have the spouse I want. I don't have the health I want.' Whoah! Back up, back up! Those are all the things you don't want. Focus on what you already have that you're grateful for. And it might be that you have the eyes to read this. It might be the clothes that you have. Yes, you might prefer something else and you might get something else pretty soon, if you start feeling grateful for what you have" (Byrne, 2006, p. 77).

So starting today, I am going to take the time to reflect on three things that I am thankful for each day. Perhaps you could try this exercise as well. My life is pretty great, and I should stop and say "Thank You" more often! What better time to start being thankful than a week before Thanksgiving?!?!

I am grateful for...
1.) My family.
2.) My friends.
3.) My warm bed.