The Importance of Being Grateful

   I enjoy this quote by Shawnee Native America Leader Tecumseh that says, "When you arise in the morning, give thanks for the morning light, for your life and strength. Give thanks for your food and the joy of living. If you see no reason for giving thanks, the fault lies within yourself."
   Expressing gratitude is one of the most important things you can do to empower yourself and better your life. By showing that you are thankful for all that is around you, the universe will reward you with similar enlightening occurrences. Some might even claim that having and showing gratitude is the secret to health, wealth, and everlasting success. No matter who or where you are currently in your life, practicing gratitude can and will make a difference to help launch you in the best direction possible.
   Without getting too 'out there' in terms of Quantum physics and The Law of Attraction, I will skip the deeper stuff and instead give you examples on ways to improve your vibrational frequency by practicing gratitude daily.

1. Count your blessings - Every morning when you first wake up, write a list of at least 10 things that you are currently thankful for. Briefly explain why you are grateful for them and thank them accordingly. 
2. Write thank you notes - Take a few minutes to write a thank you note (or several) to someone who has helped or inspired you. List the reasons why you love them and all that you are grateful for. You don't even have to send the letter to them! The act of writing your gratitude is enough. 
3. Meditate on gratitude - Try sitting for a couple of minutes each day and just think about the things that you love and are thankful to have in your life. Start with 3 minutes and work your way up, a couple minutes more each day. Ideally, it's best to meditate around 15-20 minutes per day.
4. Keep a gratitude journal - Write daily about the things in your life that you are grateful for. You can take the journal with you and write down events as they take place. Or you can leave it by your bedside and write a nightly synopsis of your wonderful days.
5. Give up complaining - Complaining is one of the most draining and negative thought-producing things you can do. Try to vow not to complain (or at least take notice of when you are and try to change!). Do this for a week to see how much better and more positive you feel!

   These are just a few of many things you can do daily to increase your feelings of gratitude. I promise that the more you do, the more abundant your life will become. For further study on the Law of Attraction and Quantum physics, I highly recommend the documentary "What the Bleep Do We Know?," The Secret books by Rhonda Byrne, and the teachings of Abraham-Hicks, of which you can find a plethora of videos on YouTube. That's all for now, have a happy, gratitude-filled day! And remember:

   Thank you and stay clean! :)

Give Thanks

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving Day yesterday. Traditionally, the holiday is spent with our loved ones (family and friends) and we all give thanks for the many things in our lives that we are grateful for. But what happens the day after? Do we still say thanks for the great things in our lives? A lot of people go right from being thankful to pushing and shoving in lines at stores to buy "things" that aren't really necessary (they are wants not needs).

Instead, why not keep the feeling of gratitude going by giving to those who have less than we do? If you are off today, why not donate your time and energy at a soup kitchen, food pantry, or nursing home? You may also consider helping out a neighbor or family member with things on their to-do list. Helping others is a great way of passing on our gratitude. It keeps the holiday season positive and full of hope. And isn't that what the holidays SHOULD be about?

Until next time, keep it clean!!