Monday, November 16, 2015

Gratitude


Gratitude, my friends, is the open door to abundance. I read that once, and have never forgotten it. I have a gratitude practice that has been ongoing for many years. At first it was a journal I wrote in each night before I went to bed, and then my friend Renee asked if I would be her gratitude buddy. I am sure many of you now this story, I have shared it a few times. Every night Renee and I email each other with our list of gratitude for the day. It is a special practice we share, and out of it, a wonderful, deep friendship has formed, a friendship that has seen me through the last six weeks.

Over the last six weeks, with the exception of one night, I was able to dig through the darkness and find the light. Some nights were harder than others, but I managed to find the simple things in my day to be grateful for, and I can honestly say it has been a big part of helping move through this transition.

I can't think of a time when I didn't look back on each day and offer gratitude, and I am so very grateful each day for this practice I share with Renee.


Now, a list to share with you. Today I offer gratitude:

~ for sunrises that fill me wonder and awe

~ for waking each morning to a brand new day full of possibility


~ for that little being right up there, he fills me with such joy, and I love him so very much

~ for the tremendous support, love and understanding received through comments and emails after my post on Friday...thank you!!!!


~ for my parents, their love and support through this has been amazing

~ for letting go and acceptance


~ for the little bits of light peeking through the darkness

~ for knowing I always have a choice


~ for spring-like days in November

~ for cups of tea, and chocolate

How about you, my friends, what are you most grateful for today?

44 comments:

  1. I'm grateful for the company of my loving dog, my understanding and supportive boss, for the number of stars I am able to see at night now I have moved to the country, for yarn and needles and for my most wonderful young people whom I love with everything I am.

    Thinking of you Kim. Thank you for the blessing you are to me. xx

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    1. A beautiful list my friend. Aw, stars, they have been amazing here this week too. The night sky always amazes me.

      Thank you Leisa, you haven't been far from my thoughts either my friend. Hugs. xo

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  2. I love your thankfulness list. You are a strong soul. (((hugs)))

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  3. I am grateful for a safe place to call home, my beautiful children, and my wonderful friends both locally and those I have made online.

    I hope you have a good week Kim.

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    1. Just lovely. I am so very grateful for my home right now too, the safety of it, the peace and calm I feel when I am here, and the deep connection I feel to this land. Home is such a special place.

      Thank you, wishing the same for you. xo

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  4. So far today I'm thankful for the moment this morning when the children all piled into our bed, for a beautiful sunrise, a productive morning, that my friends in Paris are safe despite being much closer to the scene than I'd originally thought and right now, for my lunch. A hotchpotch list but a happy one!

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    1. That is one beautiful list Carie, thank you for sharing. xo

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  5. I am gratefull forthe little beeing that is growing inside me, of course, and I am gratefull for the lesson that you teach me every time I read your blog. So I am gratefull for you.

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    1. I am so excited for you my friend, and I can't wait to your little one arrives. So exciting!!!!

      Thank you, I think we all teach each other, we all have so much to learn from each other. xo

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  6. I'm grateful for the beautiful music Vince Guaraldi created for the Charlie Brown Christmas soundtrack!

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    1. Ah, so you have Christmas music playing in your home too :) Enjoy!

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  7. I am grateful for my family, both near and far. And for the comforting rhythms of home. I took part in a 4-week course for mothers, the Abundant Mama Project this past month. You are so right about gratitude being the open door to abundance. One of the pillars of this course was developing a solid gratitude practice. It can make such a difference in our days!
    xx have a good week!!

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    1. The comforting rhythms of home...a big yes to this. You know our daily rhythm has played a big role in helping both Reece and I through this transition.

      I totally agree. My gratitude practice has meant so much to me, and I find it really truly does make a difference in my days.

      Thank you, you too!

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  8. I'm grateful for a safe, peaceful home, my children and husband, my friends, my hobbies and the time to pursue them, the chance to educate my children in a way that allows me to be more involved, good food, warmth and light. Take care, Kim, and have a good week.

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    1. A beautiful list Jennifer, thank you for sharing. Wishing you a lovely week too. xo

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  9. Today I came grateful for the health that I have, something I never take for granted and work hard to keep.
    For finally taking the step to start an etsy shop, my daughter has been after me for years to do this.

    For learning to believe in myself, a struggle for me.

    Much love.

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    1. An Etsy shop...how exciting Tracey. I am so happy for you. Believe my friend, believe, you are an amazing women.

      xo

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  10. I am truly grateful for my home as well and the kind calmness it offers me after a busy day with my kindergarten children. I am also grateful for short moments when I connect with the little souls and have a chat and or a giggle with them over something silly. And of course that I finally feel that I am coming out of a time of sickness, starting to feel strong and like myself again :)
    Dear Kim keeping you in my thoughts and prayers sending strength your way!

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    1. A lovely list Karin-Ida. Sorry you have been sick, but glad to hear you are feeling better. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers, we still need them, and I can feel the love from everyone. xo

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  11. That's a beautiful list and you're an amazing woman to be able to focus on gratitude during such a challenging time. Feeling grateful has never been my strong point, but I have much to be grateful for--family and friends, a cozy home, opportunities to explore my passions. Beautiful, sunny weather in November.

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    1. Thank you Andrea. It was this practice that was able to bring a little light into my darkest days, and having it is something I will always be grateful for.

      I second the beautiful sunny weather in November, it has been amazing!

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  12. I am thankful for 2nd chances. This absolutely gorgeous fall we've had. Amazing friends.
    Hope your week is a good one.

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    1. Yes!!! Second chances, such a good one. Thank you Darcel, wishing you a lovely week too.

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  13. A beautiful list Kim!! I'm grateful for my family and friends. Their support, their honesty and their company.

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    1. And a beautiful list from you Anke. Thank you for sharing.

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  14. I am grateful for many things ... and definitely among them, I am grateful that our paths have met, even virtually. I wish you a sweet week full of blessings. xo

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    1. Goodness Chantall, thank you. I too am grateful our paths have crossed. You are a kindred spirit my friend. Wishing the same for you. xo

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  15. For waking up to the rain, for wool sweaters, for the kind elderly men who help me find things at the hardware store, for videos of my girls when they were babies.

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    1. Oh, good list KC! I always find the people who work at the hardware store to be the most friendly and helpful. And wool sweaters, yay, you are getting some cooler weather, enjoy!

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  16. I am grateful for your parents and R who are holding you high through this life challenge and I am grateful to know you are going to soar in the future. I feel good good good things coming your way. The way you are living this is teaching your son so very much about life and attitude. He is and is going to be a fabulous person :) :)

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    1. Oh Karen, thank you, for your very kind words, they mean a lot to me. It is definitely a path I never in my wildest dreams saw myself walking, but here I am walking it, and slowly finding my way.

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  17. This is a wonderful practice. I've been trying to do it a bit more myself. Lately, I've been feeling very grateful for all of the suffering in my life and how much it has taught me. It's so difficult going through it, because at the moment it's nearly impossible to know what the gifts of it will be, but the wisdom I gain through it is invaluable. During those times, as always, I am always grateful for the people who support me and my family. It is a double gift, to be loved, and to witness the wonder of human compassion and selflessness. They always inspire me!

    And, I am grateful to have friends like you, who remind me to be grateful ;)

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    1. This is beautiful my friend. I do hope I can reach a point where I am grateful for this transition I am going through. There is gratitude now for the people who are supporting me, but I have yet to see the lessons and gifts from this experience. With time maybe those will appear to me.

      You already know how grateful I am to you, my friend. You have been such a wonderful support to me through this, and I will never forget that. Thank you. xo

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  18. So glad that you are still searching out the positive-- because there is so much, right? It can be hard to see it at times though, I know. Thinking of you so often these days. xo

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    1. Yes, so much to be grateful for, even in the difficult times. And yes, it can be hard to see them. I had one night when I sat down to email Renee, and I had nothing, absolutely nothing. It has the hardest day, and at the end of it I just couldn't find any light in it at all.

      Thank you Taryn, I appreciate that. And know that I am thinking of you too. xo

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  19. An inspiring post. I heard a great speaker on just the subject of gratitude this morning, and enjoyed his live music as well. Grateful for that!

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    1. Thank you! I bet your speaking engagement was very uplifting and motivating, I always find them to be that way.

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  20. A beautiful and very brave list to be sure. Like you, I've always looked for things to be grateful for. But also like you, I've had those moments when nothing, absolutely NOTHING came to mind. It is such a scary feeling. I'm happy you are finding light during this trying time. Thinking of you always.

    xox

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    1. Thank you my friend. Yeah, that one night was a tough one for me. It was a two nights after Justin told me he was leaving, and I had cried all day, by the time I sat down to email Renee I had nothing. It was so hard. But that was the only day, every other day I have been able to dig deep, even on the difficult days, to find those little bits of light to be grateful for.

      My gratitude practice was a huge help in getting me through the worst of this transition, and I know will continue to help me as we move through the transition.

      Thank you. xo

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  21. What a great list, and I admire you so much for keeping this practice through such a difficult time, and most of all I admire you for the 'letting go and acceptance', that sounds such a tough one to me. My list would be a strange mix of having my family all close around me, lovely hot bowls of porridge for breakfast, time spent making gifts, still steadily being able to get the garden more prepared for Spring, and looking forward to a quiet, relaxed holiday time.

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    1. Thanks Sally. Like I said it wasn't always easy, but once I had done it, it felt so good. Yes, letting go and acceptance have been the hardest, and some days are still harder than others, but slowly it is getting easier.

      Lovely list from you too my friend. xo

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