Gratitude and thankfulness...

Gratitude and being thankful is more in the forefront at this time of year. Being grateful and experiencing the feelings of gratitude has far reaching health benefits that we do not even consider.

The feeling of gratitude when truly felt, permeates the skin and travels through our entire body, lifting our spirits and our energy. This feel good energy raises the vibrations in every cell. It literally makes every cell feel good and starts eliminating the bad stuff in the cells....The catch is that one has to start feeling this gratitude deeper and more frequently to keep the bad energy out of the cells and the body.

Feeling grateful for things we take for granted, like our breathing, our heartbeat, our legs that carry us through life, is something we can start by doing everyday. I have found that once I start with that, I find so many more things to feel grateful about and soon enough I feel really good.
I think of it as one of the tools in my arsenal for health and wellbeing.

I'm not sure if feeling thankful and grateful are the same thing, they are definitely in the same family. As long as feeling thankful is not riddled by guilt or brought on by guilt...as in, I should feel thankful for all I have and the good things in my life, because so many others have less. The guilt riddled thankfulness is a whole different, not so feel good energy.

I come from another country where there is no thanksgiving and where my family was never close, so I really do appreciate this holiday and look forward to getting together with the people I care about. What I do not care for that much is turkey, I am however thankful for the opportunity to be creative and come up with my own tradition. I am also grateful that all those participating in my first thanksgiving meal are willing to eat whatever I attempt to serve.
Now, I'm on a roll....I'm grateful that I have tons of homeopathic for achy tummies and adverse food reactions.
Don't get me wrong, I do know how to cook but just in case.

In just this simple day and all it entails I can find a million things to be grateful for.
Electricity, a fully functioning kitchen, food on the table, yummy gluten free deserts, lovely vibrant green vegetables, modern conveniences, not to mention the friends and family and all the wonderful, healthy relationships in the room. The sound of laughter and communication.

As the end of this year draws near, I am so grateful for it. I have learned and grown so much this year. I have found new experiences and discovered so many nuances within myself and I am truly grateful for all the experiences and people that participated in my discoveries and challenges. For all those that helped me grow and were mirrors, reflecting aspects that I could choose to change and embrace.
I told you I was on a roll.

I guess I have made my point. Once one starts on the road to gratitude it can be hard to stop finding things to be grateful for.

So, at this wondrous time of thanksgiving and gratitude, I am grateful you are reading this and that it just may have lifted your spirits a little. Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, I am grateful you are here and that we all get to witness another sunrise, another sunset, another snowfall and the warmth of our family and friends.