November is a 'Time for Gratitude'

​This is the theme for every November for most of us I'm sure. Some things are worth repeating year after year. There have been times in my life when I know I have not been as grateful as I should be or I realize I had something wonderful and didn't appreciate it in the moment. We all have these feelings at times, but this month I want to be more specific about what I'm grateful for and take a broader look at my daily blessings.

​Gratitude is important not just during Thanksgiving and Christmas, but I personally feel the need to be grateful at this time in my life because I have been fortunate. While I have had family and personal setbacks, things right now are wonderfully good. I want to soak that it. I want to acknowledge all the good things that are around me. Life can change at any moment, and challenges are inevitable. Yet I see what I have and want to express joy for it.

At this moment, I'm grateful for our fireplace! I know I will be even more grateful for this during the wintertime. I'm grateful that I have original art pieces from other talented artists. I'm grateful to have a healthy baby. I'm grateful I have fall flowers on our kitchen table. I'm grateful my children are learning to make friends. I'm grateful my husband works from home and can see our children grow up at this crucial stage of life. This list could go on!

​When I recognize what I have been given in each present moment, I feel joy, which enables me to create at my best. Gratitude is a key component of my creative process. There are times when I forget to feel gratitude in my daily life, and I notice how it affects my art practice. I become irritable, I don't see the results I want, and then I feel like giving up. However, when I feel grateful for the opportunity to create simply for the sake of creation, nothing else really matters. This allows me to let go and settle into a rhythm of creating that is more impactful.

I feel grateful to be able to call myself an artist. I recognize that this is a gift, and the idea that I can continue to learn and explore my artistic talents fills me with gratitude. Reflecting on all the places I've been able to go and the people I've met through my artistic journey, I'm so grateful for it all.

It amazes me how much gratitude and personal growth are intertwined. Have you ever noticed this connection? When you express gratitude, it seems to open more doors in life. People are drawn to your appreciative attitude, and they want to be a part of it. Welcoming more people into your life adds diverse perspectives, joy, and experiences that contribute to your growth. It's almost as if God, or the Universe, is saying, 'I see that you are open and ready for more; here you go!' And don't we all want to grow? Don't we all want to be moving forward?

Gratitude is often most felt in the simple things. There was a time in my life when I ran for exercise, (it was a LONG time ago). I remember one day deciding to focus on my blessings instead of listening to music while I ran. I thought about the little daily things that I could be grateful for. At first, it was a challenge to see if I could maintain this mindset for my entire run, but it became easy to recognize all the little things I had been blessed with.

So, what are you grateful for right now? What gifts have you been given despite what you wish you had? Notice all the small things that bring you daily happiness and be grateful for them!

It is a 'Gift' to take 'Time for Gratitude'.