I love this time of year! I turn the calendar to November, a month dedicated to gratitude, and with my favorite Halloween candies in my pocket, I venture out into Mother Nature’s creations. And I breathe deeply, filling my soul with her goodness!
I am fortunate to live in beautiful Sedona, with stunning vistas all around me. I wander on my own Peace Pathway (can you see the mini-trampoline art?) and embrace the goodness in my life! I love the life I have created in this blissful place, but the truth is, we all can experience peace in our own surroundings.
Gratitude has become a bit of a buzzword, but the physical and mental benefits of a gratitude practice are well-documented. Did you know that a gratitude-filled life can lead to less depression, a longer lifespan, higher income, quicker recovery from illness or setback and help you feel more charitable, more content and more creative?
Maybe you don’t have a “Peace Pathway” (yet!) but simple steps to a more gracious life are within our reach. And November is a great month to start!
Need some ideas?
• I saw an online challenge that really resonates. Take just a few moments everyday to text, email or send a card to someone who has made a difference in your life. Imagine sharing that kind of joy with others. It will only multiply in your own life!
•Consider keeping a gratitude journal during the month of November, jotting down three things each day for which you are grateful
•Use your senses! Enjoy every opportunity to watch the sunset, to smell the juniper dampened by fall rain, to feel the warmth of the sun on your face or listen to the calls of the birds from the treetops. Savor a good meal with friends or neighbors.
"I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought; and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder." - G.K. Chesterton
Have a joyful day wherever you are!