With Deep Gratitude

“Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.” —William Arthur Ward

Thanksgiving is often a time to focus on what we are grateful for, but it is our everyday gratitude that can fill our hearts and minds with peace and happiness.

Over 15 years ago, I started a daily gratitude journal. First thing most mornings, I write three things for which I am grateful. One lesson that I’ve learned is that the more I’ve focused on and expressed the blessings in my life, the more reasons I have to be thankful.

But strange as this may sound, this year, despite the pandemic and the craziness of our political situation, I am abundantly grateful in ways that I had not appreciated as much before. And perhaps, you too have experienced a year that was so difficult that it could only get better from there. Last year, 2019, was that for me – the most challenging year of my life. And even then, I managed to express my gratitude most days: (i.e. I am grateful to be uplifted by the prayers and support of so many people, to have a loving partner, to be able to hold my dad’s hand during his passing, to enjoy the peace and quiet of my home, and I am grateful for feeling better today and trusting that the chemo is doing its positive job of eradicating any remaining cancer cells from my body…)

And now, at one year of being cancer-free and feeling healthy and well, I decided to spend a morning with what my friend Arlene had created and called, “Linda’s Love Box”, that was filled with a year’s worth of the cards, letters and messages of encouragement from friends, family and even strangers. I was moved to tears of gratitude for every single card, prayer, and thought that kept me strong, hopeful, and feeling supported.

I want to express my deep gratitude to each of you – my Mom, Francesco, my friends, family, neighbors and you, the readers of my blogs, for walking with me on this healing journey. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

And now, 2020 is nearing to a close, a year that was for most of us one of the toughest on record. Altogether, we have lost loved ones, jobs, health, homes, and at times, hope, and for many, freedoms.

How can we use our collective gratitude to lift up our own lives and the people around us as we appreciate what we do have, who is in our life, the free time that we have had to be creative and to discover what is most important? We are still here and can take a deep breath of gratitude for the gift of life and the opportunity to welcome a new day.

May this Thanksgiving bring you and your loved ones blessings of peace, gratitude and grace.

Please share “Who or what are you most grateful for?” Leave a comment down below, or post on our FB Just Ask 123 page.

As a “THANK YOU gift” I would like to offer free shipping on all orders of Just Ask 1 2 3 decks and the Love Is the New Currency book until November 29th. A heartfelt way to show appreciation to those you love over the holidays. Thank you, Linda