For any of you who know me, you know that eventually it had to get back to the food. The FOOD! I love the ritual of the meal. The gathering of friends and loved ones to nourish ourselves and each other. A gratitude meal is a beautiful way to celebrate our thankfulness. GRATITUDE MEAL Finding gratitude in every step of dining can make a meal more satisfying and joyful. From food preparation, to eating, to cleaning up, expressing gratitude will add a lot of goodness to you

TAKE A NATURE GRATITUDE WALK A gratitude walk can be very nurturing when you’re stressed, down or worried. Take 15 minutes or longer to walk outside in the park or in your neighborhood. While you walk take in the natural beauty on your path, the trees, water and earth. Breath deeply and enjoy a moment of gratitude for the sights and sounds. Be aware of all your senses. Notice the leaves rustling, the birds chirping, the green grass, ripples in the water, the sun and win

Each time I get a hand written note of appreciation, it feels like I've received a beautiful gift. Especially snail mail. I also love the art of writing a note. Something about putting pen to paper feels authentic and permanent. Our handwriting has our qi or our energy in it. It is unique to us. WAG Day 5 has 2 challenges. 1. Send a thank you note to someone who's made you feel grateful. Maybe it’s your mom or dad. Or Ms. Hurley, your 3rd grade teacher. Whoever it is,

Have you ever noticed how expressing Gratitude connects you with the present moment? According to University of California Berkeley's Greater Good Science Center, "mindfulness means maintaining a moment-by-moment awareness of our thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations, and surrounding environment. " Mindfulness has been shown to help deal with pain and depression and promote focus and well-being. Gratitude connects you to what your are experiencing both externally and interna

WRITE A GRATITUDE MANTRA A wonderful exercise to get you in the Gratitude mindset is to write a Gratitude mantra. What's a mantra? Its a phrase that is continuously repeated during meditation or prayer. It could be something as simple as "My attitude is Gratitude." Or "I am grateful." It can be longer such as "Gratitude brings me in harmony with the universe and those around me." Try to make it a phrase that feels natural to you. My favorite is "Inhale Love, Exhale Gratit

MAKE A GRATITUDE JAR. Find a clean jar and label it. Some naming ideas could be “Gratitude,” “Good Things”, “Thankful”, “Merci” or whatever feels right for you. Make sure the mouth of the jar is big enough for you to reach into. Here are a few helpful tips: Keep your Gratitude Jar in a visible place in the house. Pick a time of day to write down what you're grateful for on the small pieces of paper. Some families like to do it at dinner when you gather together and reco

Do you have a friend who always seems to have a smile on her face? If so, there's a good chance that Suzy Sunshine is experiencing the benefits of gratitude. Being kind to others creates better relationships which cultivates happiness. Expressing appreciation means seeing the good in the world. Here's how it worked in my world this past week. Many of our patients were stressed out from the Presidential election and came to balance for help. They were drowning in combativ

Gratitude is defined as an expression of thankfulness or appreciation. It's being grateful for what you have, noticing the beauty around you, acknowledging kindness that has been bestowed upon you. This week, we will explore the benefits of Gratitude and different ways we can bring it into our lives. Your first assignment to prep you for the week is to select a Gratitude Journal. Pick one that's appealing to you – something you enjoy picking up and writing in everyday. I