I often think that focusing on things that bother me become habitual patterns that aren’t in my highest interest. I notice how easy it is to get caught in the hamster mill of critical spinning and how challenging it is to stop the cycle. It is definitely important to own and express my feelings but I wonder when does this become being stuck in the same scenario day after day.

As we walk into springtime, how can we come back to simple core elements that assist us in creating new patterns. What would happen if we choose to focus on appreciation for the entire month of April and generate a gratitude practice. What are the benefits of being thankful, how can it change our lives? In my experience expressing gratitude warms up my entire system, and helps center my life on positive experiences.

There are many ways we could activate the practice. For example we could express gratefulness by writing lists or saying it out loud. Or what if we choose every encounter to appreciation whatever the moment has to offer. “I am grateful to my cat companion who keeps me warm as I write, I am thankful for safe drinking water that comes out of the faucet, I appreciate my work, family, friends and challenges, I recognize the gift of the New Mexico sun and my legs that carry me, I feel thankful for all my guidance….” What would your list say? Would it take a minute or several hours? Could a gratitude practice be fun and playful? Maybe the lists are made with colors, or written on sticky notes placed in key spots, or a song and dance. How could your gratitude practice unfold?

So in this spring beginning, magnitudes of gratitude to all of you, may you experience blessings after blessing after blessing.