Gratitude Diet: Week 1

Gratitude Diet: Day 1 — So, this is it. It’s the first of December, a brand new month and the last one of the year. It’s the perfect time to start on a brand new diet. And no, I’m not going to be starving myself or giving up all the sweet treats of the holidays. Nope, this is a Gratitude Diet. I’m dedicating the next 31 days to thanks and praises and tossing all complaints aside. It’s such a great time of year to reflect on all my blessings and that is exactly what I plan to do. Join me on this diet if you like. 31 days of thanks and not one single complaint. Do you think we can do it? Let’s give it a try. Today, I am thankful for things that make me laugh (like this dog hightailing it across the floor in his cage 😂). What about you?

Gratitude Diet: Day 2 — Okay, it's Day 2 of my Gratitude Diet. And today I am thankful for learning. It seems I am always studying something because I love to learn. Today, I spent most of my day studying yoga - not just the physical postures or asanas as they are called, but also the principles and philosophy of yoga. Yogic wisdom is vast and applying it to one's life is transformative. So thankful to have the opportunity to learn as much as I can about this wonderful practice. What are you grateful for today?

Gratitude Diet: Day 3 — Alrightee, it's Day 3 of my Gratitude Diet and I've already fallen off the wagon already. Yikes! 😳 Where did I go wrong? Well, the rule of the diet is to be grateful and to eliminate all complaints. And well, early this morning, I complained about the weather. Yep, I did. I'm a spring/summer lover and my body isn't feeling this cooler weather. So forgetting my diet, I let a complaint fly. But truly, I should be thankful for fall because it offers a time to rest and reflect. As much as I love spring and summer, there were several recent years in which I was so busy that I didn't have time to enjoy spring and summer at all. Buried in work and activity, I felt like I had missed those fun months altogether. Those years, I was so happy to welcome fall because I needed the change of pace, and the rest and calm that come with it. There's just something in those changing leaves and crisp air that beckons us to slow down, to rest and reflect and to enjoy the many fruits of our labor. I don’t know about you, but to me the changing colors of the leaves seem to say, “Remember, everything changes. And if you don’t slow down and notice, you may miss something that will soon be gone forever.” So, today, I am thankful for fall and its many lessons on rejuvenation, gratitude and introspection; and I surrender to it. #GratitudeDiet #NoComplaints #JustPraisesandThanks

Gratitude Diet: Day 4 — It’s day 4 of my Gratitude Diet. And today, I am thankful for clarity, that often elusive quality that many of us could probably use a lot more of. Clarity is clear vision, the ability to see beyond our own experiences, prejudices and environmental influences to understand the true essence of something. And it's not always easy to come by. Unfortunately, even the vision we have of ourselves is often clouded. Though I am grateful for clarity, I’m not claiming I have a lot it! But I am thankful for the small bit I do have and faithful that the rest I need is surely to come — in this lifetime or the next! #GratitudeDiet #NoComplaints #JustPraisesandThanks

Gratitude Diet: Day 5 — It's been said that our nightly sleep is like death and every morning we rise is like the beginning of a new life. So every morning, we get a chance to start anew, to pick up where we left off or to fix something that's not quite right. Aren't we lucky? Today, I am thankful for second chances. I've used my second chances to fix relationships, to change directions and to pursue a better me. I'm thankful for all my second chances; and I hope to wake up to many, many more. #GratitudeDiet #JustPraisesandThanks #NoComplaints

Gratitude Diet: Day 6 -- Two weeks ago, I celebrated Thanksgiving with a wonderful group of new friends half way around the world in India. At that time, we were attending a spiritual assembly at the Yogoda Satsanga Society (YSS) Ranchi ashram in northeast India. That day, while addressing an audience of over a thousand, one of the YSS swamis noted that it was the American holiday of Thanksgiving; and that it's a terrific tradition that more countries are beginning to recognize and celebrate. We Americans export a lot - both good and bad - goods, culture, etc. But Thanksgiving (once we come to terms with its controversial history) is probably one of our best exports to date. So today, I am thankful for the spirit of love and thanksgiving that inspires and reaches all the way around the world. Because though far from home that day, I was surrounded by love and the spirit of gratitude and devotion. And it was beautiful!!
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Oh, and this is a picture of my Thanksgiving meal. It may not look all that appealing compared to our traditional, holiday fare, but it was quite tasty, especially for ashram food! BTW, I haven't had the opportunity to interview any turkeys in India, but I am sure they are happy so many Indians are vegetarian. 😄
#TBT #GratitudeDiet #JustPraisesandThanks #NoComplaints

​Gratitude Diet: Day 7 — It’s the weekend! And I am so thankful for them — sleeping in, staying up late, partying into the night, hanging with my family and my crew, rolling into church on Sunday, a lazy afternoon with a cup of hot tea and a good book. Yep! That’s what weekends are for - bring them on! #GratitudeDiet #JustPraisesandThanks #NoComplaints