Gratitude in Common Places

I watch my friends' kids one evening a week most weeks and thoroughly enjoy the time. Outside of hanging out with two stellar boys (7 and 9) getting stomped in Madden 13 and generally rough housing, I enjoy leaving the house and being greeted by the night sky. Last week when I walked out to my car and looked up, the moon and the starts were equally as bright and stunning, and I nearly fell over the sight was so beautiful.  I was so overcome with gratitude over the gift I received simply for tilting my head.  I have a thing for the sky whether day or night, and especially love cloud formations.  To me, they are daily gifts of creativity.

Brene Brown is a researcher and storyteller-aka author-who I've come to love in the past six months since getting pointed in the direction of her work.  Her research shows that one of the things that delineate people who live whole-hearted lives is practicing gratitude.  Practicing gratitude is a skill you can learn, it's not innate.  Encouraging!

People have often told me in my life that they are amazed at how easily pleased I am, or how I can find the positive in any situation.  I attribute this to what Brene calls practicing gratitude.  I notice things, because I look, and subsequently have more opportunities to be grateful for what's happening in life.

So, tilt your head up today or tonight, notice the sky or a cloud, or a tree, or a pebble, or the beautiful people in your life. Find a reason to have gratitude for what you see.  And, not only find a reason to be grateful, say something about your gratitude, be intentional in your gratitude.  Start practicing.  Malcolm Gladwell tells us it takes 10,000 hours of practice to be an expert.

I'm grateful that I'm sure I'm past that point already!

And, I will keep practicing.