I have a secret........

So the name of my business is Gratitude Journeys......I have the universal sign for gratitude tattooed on my wrist......and it is a word that lives on various walls in my home.....and while I write about being grateful often in my blogs, I have rarely written an entire entry about it.....GRATITUDE CHANGES EVERYTHING......and that cannot be overstated......living in a nearly perpetual state of gratitude these days changes my life in all the best ways.....my brain will now go to a grateful spot, over a negative one almost on its own now.....and the experience is different.....my gratitude meter has been off the charts lately......just bursting....and maybe I choose gratitude and feeling it, I mean REALLY feeling it, because it feels so damn good;-) It really does.....from my head to my toes.....and this attitude has carried me through many a storm......and the first time I remember really embracing it, was in my 30s.....after I had Gabe.....and maybe I had it sooner.....but I remember the shift I made then, from feeling overwhelmed by having such a special needs little guy, to embracing the gift it is to raise my son.......but I think gratitude began sooner than that.....and it is true that I came into this life.....with the propensity for gratitude in my factory settings.....but.....I deeply believe we can change our hardwire......and neuroscience backs that up.....we can switch negative thoughts to positive ones, victim stuff to victor stuff, lamenting to gratitude.....IF.....we do the work.....looking on the bright side of your life attracts more blessings, I promise....and pretty soon it is raining blessings into your life, no matter what! We have the power to insulate ourselves from the outside stuff that can threaten that.....by staying in our lane, doing our thing, and bettering our own lives....the kids in my class have been minding each other's business endlessly lately....ugh......and it is exhausting when they get into that pattern......and just like with kids.....grown ups do it too......more comfortable taking other's inventory, and letting their joy be swallowed up in another's actions.....instead of staying in their own lane and minding their own business.....and working on their own lives.....and gratitude stems from that mindfulness....of taking stock often at the quality of your life, and really feeling it! I sat on my deck last night, in the sunshine.....it is halfway put together.....and I sipped a beer, and listened to some music, and just breathed in the gift of my life.....all of it.....feeling complete awe that I get to live in this house by myself.....and swing it.....that I get to have the kids I have.....that I get to live in my healthy body....that I get to be surrounded by such lovely folks......you get the idea......I planted some flowers and just breathed in the good.....does that mean that I don't have dark and troubled parts of my life......it doesn't......but I starve those places with the lack of my attention whenever I am able.....and while they exist on the outer edge of my experience here, they don't get a featured role......they just don't:) And I get to decide.........I do.....because I am the one writing this story now, with the full support of the divine forces that are all around.....and so......that fact all stems from gratitude.....truly.....like as I type this, I am in my bed......sipping coffee....looking out my bedroom window.....my bedroom is a like a treehouse......there are big windows....where I get the distinct pleasure of watching the seasons happen on repeat.....and this morning finds the green leaves ever present finally......the trees so green....and the light popping through....and I am grateful just for that, THIS small moment......simple.....but profound......so if you find yourself negative and unhappy often, or lamenting and complaining often........I urge you to begin a gratitude practice......start a journal.....notice the moments, be present in the good that surrounds your life.....and I promise more will show up:) Happy Saturday:)