Show Your Shine!

The grass is greener on the other side is a very contagious syndrome. You know, someone else has something, instantly we want it and think we must have it. We believe it will make our life easier, or better, or more meaningful. Only to find out once we have it, nothing has changed. Why is it we instantly see what we are missing and miss what we already have?

It's because the....

grass is always greener when someone else has it!!!

The simple truth is we will never be happy with what we have until we are happy with what we have. Okay, so maybe that sounds a bit redundant. It's not! It's so simple it's deep. LOL! Just think about it for a moment. It is only when we are happy and are grateful for what we already have that we began to feel happy for what we have. When we give thanks and appreciate the things that already exist in our life and stop comparing ourselves to others, we find peace and happiness.

Start your day with words of gratitude. It might be as simple as, "I am grateful to be alive another day to celebrate what life has in store for me." Do you remember the old saying count your blessings? When we get in the habit of counting our blessings we embrace gratitude. Think about all the things you are grateful for such as family, friends, health, home, work, the sunshine or even the raindrops. Take a notebook or your computer and write down the top 10 things that make you feel grateful. Funny, how once we start, we realize how many things we have to be truly grateful for...okay, maybe top 20 if you can stop there.

Learn to look at your cup as half full with room for more blessings versus half empty. Resonate an attitude of gratitude. Appreciate the people you know and show them with your words and actions, appreciate things you have by showing it in your words and actions, appreciate the opportunities you have in life by showing it with your words and actions.

Hmmm...I have never been happier in my entire life. I am so grateful for every moment I have been given to celebrate what life brings my way. Yet, when I think about it, it's not because it has always been fun or perfect or easy. In fact 2009 was my most difficult year and yet the one I am most thankful for and filled with gratitude. I said goodbye to my parents for the last time in 2009; mom in July and dad in November.

Instead of being overcome with sorrow and mourning over what no longer is, I was embraced by feelings of gratitude for all the gifts and blessings I received.

I count my blessing for the following this past year:

Being able to visit my mom and dad almost every other month and really learning who they had become and what was important to them. Mom even in her advanced stage of Alzheimer's knew and loved my dad to the very end. It really felt good to be available to be there when they needed help. In prior years, I would visit only once or twice a year.

Making the commitment to call my dad every day which turned out to be the biggest gift in the world for me. Discussing and pondering everything in life whether it be on the phone or sitting together outside and soaking up the sun. Sometimes...even in silence... which if you know me can be difficult. Dad used to tell me I was going to run out of words by the time I was five. I was four at the time. Ha...dad, who knew I would become a professional speaker someday!

Getting to really know my six brothers and sisters and learning how to help and support each other during the difficult times. We stood united through it all. It gives me shivers to this day, I am so proud to be their sister.

Being able to say goodbye to my parents knowing they were at peace and ready to go home.

When I look back at 2009, I am amazed at all the gifts and so very grateful that I was not blinded with pain and sorrow but instead enlightened with blessings.

My words of gratitude to you are to smile, breathe, and take a moment to end each day with words of gratitude by counting all your blessings.