Gratitude is the Key

Would you like to sleep better, physically feel better, cope better and think better? Are you looking for something to improve your immune system, reduce your blood pressure and improve your mood? Do want to experience more joy and purpose in your life? Well, it’s simple. The key is to practice gratitude.

Volumes of research shows us that people who practice living a life filled with gratitude tend to be in better health, emotionally happier and are more likely to maintain healthy relationships. But wait, there’s more. Grateful people tend to be more compassionate with a strong desire to do for others in the truest spirit of “paying it forward”.

Gratitude is not only about being thankful. It is about recognizing the gifts and kindness that are given to us. It is a way of thinking that forces us to move away from negative and pessimistic thoughts and to recognize opportunities and moments of joy that can be life sustaining.

There is no arguing that this life is short, temporary, and yet so filled with opportunities to fulfill our purpose. We rely on the voices in our head to guide us in our choices and decisions when we reach a divide on our path. In more recent years, I have learned to rely on gratitude for all that seems small and insignificant, as I have come to appreciate that these are the sentiments that sustains us when the inevitable disappointments and painful moment come in life.

It is our joyful moments that, when stacked together, give us our greatest strength. So, in celebration of World Gratitude Day, Nana and I would like to thank all of you for sharing our message of living a life of gratitude. Many of you have been kind enough to share your stories and messages on how you “stay greedy for life”.

There have been stories of generational love and connection that can only be found in the art of caregiving. A reminder that caregiving is truly a gift we give to ourselves. “When you take care of others, you sleep better at night,” Nana reminds us. You realize that you were here for a purpose.



There is the story of a dear friend, who despite her personal tragedy of losing the husband she knew to a terrible accident, still finds a reason to be grateful every day. She inspires us all with her ability to remain grateful for all the moments in life.



Then there were those silly stories of the importance of living life to the fullest, by embracing the moments in life that give us pleasure. Reminding us that the art of living an authentic life is found in being true to who we are and respecting the same in others.

Nana and I raise our glasses to each and every one of you who are living a life of gratitude. To those of you who are paying it forward and acknowledging the gifts in others, we salute you.

The only people with whom you should try to get even are those who have helped you. ~John E. Southard

http://www.amazon.com/Greedy-Life-Memoir-Aging-