Gratitude
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Meaningful gifts
“Gratitude is an emotion that reflects our deep appreciation for what we value, what brings meaning to our lives, and what makes us feel connected to ourselves and others.” ~Brene Brown, Atlas of the Heart My nesting instincts kick in when summer winds down and the new school year begins. I’m motivated to move furniture, declutter my closets, and donate books to the library. Though it sounds like work, early fall cleaning makes me appreciate the changing season as well as the treasures in my home. The salt-glaze pottery shown in today’s photo is one example. It was a gift from my college pal, Libby, who moved to Virginia after…
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The theory of generosity
“You can get everything in life you want — if you will just help enough other people get what they want.” ~Zig Ziglar Everyone talks about the spirit of generosity during the holiday season. The phrase “paying it forward” — giving to someone without expecting something in return — is practically a cliche now. But I’ve discovered over the years that whenever I’m kind or generous to others, my life magically improves, too. Of course, it’s harder to be generous with our resources, time, or abilities if we don’t believe we have enough to share. Frugality is necessary for survival, at times, but stinginess grows from a “shortage mentality” —…
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The light of gratitude
“At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us.” ~Albert Schweitzer The gratitude list is a tool I often promote in the workshops I coach, whether we use it as a writing prompt or a personal growth exercise. And I try to practice what I preach. One of my favorite exercises is to jot down the names of everyone, past and present, who has made a difference in my life. The medical doctors who’ve taken care of my family and me are at the top…
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All-inclusive gratitude
“Cultivate the habit of being grateful for every good thing that comes to you, and give thanks continuously. And because all things have contributed to your advancement, you should include all things in your gratitude.” ~Ralph Waldo Emerson When we consider Thanksgiving, we usually think of our good fortune. But as my old friend Emerson suggested in today’s quote, “all things” have made us who we are today. That includes setbacks and struggles such as health crises, personal losses, career challenges, and other difficulties. We all face hurt and disappointment at some point. The pilgrims who left England to start new lives here — including my own maternal ancestors on…
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Three’s a charm
“Three grand essentials to happiness in this life are: Something to do, something to love, and something to hope.” ~Joseph Addison, English poet and essayist There’s something magical about “The Rule of Three” — a time-honored literary device. Just for starters, there are three blind mice, three musketeers, three little pigs, three spirits of Christmas, three wise men, and the three fates. And of course, in countless myths and fairy tales, the hero on the journey is typically granted three wishes or given three tasks. I’m also a fan of Dr. Andrew Weil’s “Three Good Things” journaling exercise, which suggests making a list of three good things that happened each…
