When it felt like my life was falling apart and the barbarians were at the gate, I would turn to gratitude. It interrupted patterns of panic and fear that did not serve me.

Gratitude transforms me into a conscious state of appreciation for everyone and everything around me. When I focus on objects of gratitude, I find more of which to be thankful.

I begin by asking myself, who or what am I most grateful for today? A tool that creates a powerful shift is called RAGED or Random Acts of Gratitude Every Day.

I would write a list of people or things that I am most grateful for. Then I send emails, text or notes of gratitude to those people on my list or those people that allow me to have the things that I am most grateful for in my present life. The rush is amazing, but the rush of getting responses from the recipients has become addictive. Hearing that I have made someone’s day a little better or that my note was the best thing that happened that week fills my heart with joy. Suddenly, there is something that I know that I can control, and I want more of that feeling.

Everything is a miracle and for that I am so grateful. More of my self-care epiphanies to follow… Hugs and gratitude!