5 Inspiring Ways to Live Your Life with Gratitude

I truly believe the most important thing we must do on a daily basis is to live our life with gratitude. When there is so much heartache in the world it's easy to fall into the pattern of feeling like nothing is going right in our own little part of the world. This negative perception will get us no where. Such as, I can't loss weight, why do my children constantly bicker, my book sales are not where I want them to be, etc. The negatives are endless if we allow them to be. That's where my "5 Inspiring Ways to Live Your Life with Gratitude" come in:

Start your day with prayer. It does not matter what religion you follow. "Thank you Lord, for this new day and the possibilities it comes along with it. Amen." Or use what ever prayer you prefer. Each day is a gift and we should treat it as such. We do not know how long our time on Earth will be so live it with honor and love.

Give thanks to the roof over your head and the comforts within. When my daughter (who is now 16) was 8 years old she came home from a new school chums house and exclaimed that Lauren was very lucky because she lived in a huge house and must be very rich. My dear old neighbor, Tom (who grew up in the Depression), took this opportunity to ask Nicole what she saw when she looked at her backyard, to describe what was in her house, and who was sitting along side her at 2 o'clock in the afternoon on a weekday. She went on to list her swing set, basketball court, and her Barbie dolls and all the fun pieces that go along with it, her own room, and that her mom was sitting next to her. He then replied, "Well my dear Nicole, in my book you are a very rich girl and you have all that you need. Especially a mom that can work from home and be there for you when you come home from school or playdates." This conversation has had such an impact on Nicole, that she never compares herself to others and is very comfortable in her own skin.

Be thankful for your family and friends (especially girlfriends if you are a woman). When you are true to your relationships with family and friends and you develop a two way street of appreciation and support these individuals will be your go to people in good and bad times. For without support, successes and heartache would be impossible to celebrate and navigate through.

Positive thoughts and actions over negative thoughts and actions. When our thoughts go to that negative place it shows upon our faces, which then invokes not such an inviting place for a another person to engage you in conversation. When you are out and about on your daily routine, say hello to those that cross your path. At first it may seem many people don't respond, but you will be surprised on how a simple hello brightens someone's day along with yours. I invoke this on my daily walks along the Hudson River and when in the supermarket and various other stores. It definitely sets for a positive tone throughout the day.

Smile throughout your day. Do you know it takes 43 muscles to frown and only 17 muscles to smile. So frowning takes more energy and it can zap you from enjoying yourself and letting your creative side explode.

What do you do to Live Your Life with Gratitude?

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Best wishes,
Donna M. McDine
Award-winning Children's Author
The Golden Pathway ~ August 2010 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.
http://guardianangelpublishing.com/pathway.htm