A Spirit of Gratitude

Growing up, my mom would constantly comment on the beauty around us. If we drove over a tall hill, she’d say, “Look how far you can see!” Or, while admiring the autumn leaves, “Look how pretty the trees are today!” Once, I even heard her say, “In another life, I think I must have been a flower” as she lifted her face towards the sun.

As a kid, I always rolled my eyes at these observations. But today, I recognize the subtle lessons in gratitude and presence she was teaching me.

Like my mom, I now take time to appreciate the feeling of the sun on my skin. I listen to the birds singing – and sometimes whistle back. I admire the blue sky and puffy white clouds. I find peace in the rhythm of the raindrops.

These moments have become what Sue Monk Kidd would call my “grateful center” – a “golden place where you are able to see all the gifts that are here." For me, it’s a place of quiet contemplation and meditation, a chance to open myself, to listen, and receive.

Gratitude is a powerful practice, and it takes many forms. It grounds us firmly in the present and is a way to reconnect with joy. I once heard that gratitude is how we communicate to the Universe what we want more of in life – and I love that.

What does your “grateful center” look like? What does it feel like when you’re living from this place?

*The quote above is from Sue Monk Kidd’s book, God’s Joyful Surprise.