Mary’s Minute
“If you want to find happiness, find
gratitude.”
~
Steve Maraboli
I have always been a big proponent of
the notion that happiness in life is a choice.
I also know that it just is not always that simple, and that simply willing
something to be does not always make it so.
This led me to think about specific strategies to make our goal (being
happy) a reality. Spending time in
nature or being with optimistic people are a couple of recommendations, but
what I have found most helpful to live with a happy heart is to find
gratitude. One very specific strategy
that I have learned is to start my day by reflecting upon the blessings in my
life. I try to make a mental list of
things for which I am grateful before my feet hit the floor each morning. This week I have taken it a step further and
started a Gratitude Journal where I jot down a list each morning before I get
up. This type of gratitude is not
proclaimed to the world; it is something we do privately just for ourselves. So why bother? The answer is simple, when we are grateful,
we are happy! Expressing gratitude to
others is a gift of kindness that I strongly encourage, but feeling gratitude
in our hearts is a gift to ourselves.
Happiness can be an elusive thing no matter how much we long for it. It is exciting that we really do have power
to make it possible: 1. by making a
conscious choice to be happy; and 2. by consciously being grateful for the good
in our lives.
By the way, my Perry Central family is
on my list!
Have a great week!
Mary
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