It’s a fantastic song and it makes me happy. I don’t need any other reasons than that.

What’s your gratiTUDE today?

What is a “GratiTUDE”?:

GratiTUDE is a  general attitude of thankfulness and gratefulness. 

What is “What’s Your GratiTUDE?”:

Every day, for as long as I can keep it going, I’m going to tell you something I’m grateful for. I want to do this because I want to remind myself how fortunate I am in a more concrete way. They will be small things, big things, meaningful things, and seemingly inconsequential things. They may repeat on some days if I happen to feel grateful for the same thing more than once. I’m not planning it or mapping it out. I’m just feeling grateful, publicly.  And I’d like you, if you’re feeling it, to do the same.

LOVElillian

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And no, I’m not about to break out into a R&B song.

It’s easy to get overly focused on the functionality of things. To try be efficient and maximize performance. To get the most bang for your buck. To do things, not because you enjoy them, but because you like what they do for you. And that’s not bad, per se, it just changes your experience.

If you’re dancing to get a good work out, that changes how you dance. That changes what you do. It changes how you feel about what you’re doing. It takes your focus away from how good it can feel to move your body to music, and points it towards worrying and wondering if you’re dancing hard enough to burn enough calories to get the rock hard abs that you want.

That focus takes you out of the moment.

I think that it’s important to do things for no other reason other than because they feel good. At least it is for me. To lay on the grass and look at the sky. To walk slowly in the rain. To lay on the floor and listen to music in the dark. To hula hoop in the park. To do silly things. To do simple things, not because they serve another purpose, but because doing them makes me, you, us happy.

Today I hula hooped in the park. I taught myself a new thing that isn’t of any real practical use, but it was fun to learn and fun to do. I taught myself how to hula hoop with my feet. It felt really good was I was doing it, and then after a while, it felt really good to stop. And so I sat on the grass and watched the trees and the sky.

What do you want to do today that has no purpose other than it makes you happy? Do you want to move slowly? Do you want to jump up and down? Do you want to close your eyes and sing as loud as you can? What would feel good to you today?

What’s your gratiTUDE today?

What is a “GratiTUDE”?:

GratiTUDE is a  general attitude of thankfulness and gratefulness. 

What is “What’s Your GratiTUDE?”:

Every day, for as long as I can keep it going, I’m going to tell you something I’m grateful for. I want to do this because I want to remind myself how fortunate I am in a more concrete way. They will be small things, big things, meaningful things, and seemingly inconsequential things. They may repeat on some days if I happen to feel grateful for the same thing more than once. I’m not planning it or mapping it out. I’m just feeling grateful, publicly.  And I’d like you, if you’re feeling it, to do the same.

LOVElillian

Follow me on the twitter, facebook, pinterest, youtube and if you never want to miss an episode, get on the mailing list!

I put some music on and hula hooped in the living room today. I felt like a fantastic whirling dervish. It was fun and I got sweaty.

I’ve been learning some tricks too. Not that I can do them in the living room or anything in case I slip and the hula hoop goes flying and breaks important things, but so far I can do lifts with either hand. I’m working on the other stuff.

What’s your gratiTUDE today?

What is a “GratiTUDE”?:

GratiTUDE is a  general attitude of thankfulness and gratefulness. 

What is “What’s Your GratiTUDE?”:

Every day, for as long as I can keep it going, I’m going to tell you something I’m grateful for. I want to do this because I want to remind myself how fortunate I am in a more concrete way. They will be small things, big things, meaningful things, and seemingly inconsequential things. They may repeat on some days if I happen to feel grateful for the same thing more than once. I’m not planning it or mapping it out. I’m just feeling grateful, publicly.  And I’d like you, if you’re feeling it, to do the same.

LOVElillian

Follow me on the twitter, facebook, pinterest, youtube and if you never want to miss an episode, get on the mailing list!

The stories that we tell ourselves about why we did or didn’t do something, or why someone else did or didn’t do something, are probably the most important stories that we tell. Those stories determine how we react to everything in our world. I am grateful that I can, even if it’s usually after the fact, reframe my stories. Tell it from a different angle, or even, tell an entirely new story altogether.

That slight that seemed totally personal? The other person was simply preoccupied. That time I was sad? It doesn’t mean anything about me in particular, I am not a “sad person”,  I’m just I’m sad right now.  I’ll feel better later. I just need to be ready to feel good and let that happen.

It’s useful. It’s helpful. And it gets me closer to the truth. Whatever that is.

What’s your gratiTUDE today?

What is a “GratiTUDE”?:

GratiTUDE is a  general attitude of thankfulness and gratefulness. 

What is “What’s Your GratiTUDE?”:

Every day, for as long as I can keep it going, I’m going to tell you something I’m grateful for. I want to do this because I want to remind myself how fortunate I am in a more concrete way. They will be small things, big things, meaningful things, and seemingly inconsequential things. They may repeat on some days if I happen to feel grateful for the same thing more than once. I’m not planning it or mapping it out. I’m just feeling grateful, publicly.  And I’d like you, if you’re feeling it, to do the same.

LOVElillian

Follow me on the twitter, facebook, pinterest, youtube and if you never want to miss an episode, get on the mailing list!

Today is a glorious day. The air is sweet, the sun is strong (but not too strong), the wind is constant, and I’m working outside, underneath a tree. I don’t know what kind of tree it is, I only know that it’s gorgeous, full of pink and white flowers, and it’s providing me with just the right amount of shade.

Some days it feels really good just to sit still and breath. Today is one of those days.

What’s your gratiTUDE today?

What is a “GratiTUDE”?:

GratiTUDE is a  general attitude of thankfulness and gratefulness. 

What is “What’s Your GratiTUDE?”:

Every day, for as long as I can keep it going, I’m going to tell you something I’m grateful for. I want to do this because I want to remind myself how fortunate I am in a more concrete way. They will be small things, big things, meaningful things, and seemingly inconsequential things. They may repeat on some days if I happen to feel grateful for the same thing more than once. I’m not planning it or mapping it out. I’m just feeling grateful, publicly.  And I’d like you, if you’re feeling it, to do the same.

LOVElillian

Follow me on the twitter, facebook, pinterest, youtube and if you never want to miss an episode, get on the mailing list!

We fall down. We fall down all the time. It’s actually shocking how many times we all fall, literally or figuratively, in a day.

And then, we must recover. We must take the time to recover. We must give ourselves enough space, heaps of forgiveness, and then we must do it. Heal. Get back on our feet. Bounce back.

I always think that recovery will take much less time than it does. I always think I should be back on my feet much earlier than I am. And I always spend at least some of that time blaming myself for not being further along than I am. “Why am I still struggling with this? I should be passed this by now.” etc. It’s a waste.

Recovery takes as long as it takes, and the only things I’m doing wrong in those moments are misjudging the length of time I’m going to need to get passed whatever it is, and being less than loving towards myself. So I’m reminding myself today:

Be patient. Be loving. It takes as long as it takes.

What’s your gratiTUDE today?

What is a “GratiTUDE”?:

GratiTUDE is a  general attitude of thankfulness and gratefulness. 

What is “What’s Your GratiTUDE?”:

Every day, for as long as I can keep it going, I’m going to tell you something I’m grateful for. I want to do this because I want to remind myself how fortunate I am in a more concrete way. They will be small things, big things, meaningful things, and seemingly inconsequential things. They may repeat on some days if I happen to feel grateful for the same thing more than once. I’m not planning it or mapping it out. I’m just feeling grateful, publicly.  And I’d like you, if you’re feeling it, to do the same.

LOVElillian

Follow me on the twitter, facebook, pinterest, youtube and if you never want to miss an episode, get on the mailing list!

Breath is essential, grounding, life giving, has the capacity for transformation, and is so simple.

Just let it in and let it out. Try to keep it in mind, but don’t think about it too much.

What’s your gratiTUDE today?

What is a “GratiTUDE”?:

GratiTUDE is a  general attitude of thankfulness and gratefulness. 

What is “What’s Your GratiTUDE?”:

Every day, for as long as I can keep it going, I’m going to tell you something I’m grateful for. I want to do this because I want to remind myself how fortunate I am in a more concrete way. They will be small things, big things, meaningful things, and seemingly inconsequential things. They may repeat on some days if I happen to feel grateful for the same thing more than once. I’m not planning it or mapping it out. I’m just feeling grateful, publicly.  And I’d like you, if you’re feeling it, to do the same.

LOVElillian

Follow me on the twitter, facebook, pinterest, youtube and if you never want to miss an episode, get on the mailing list!

It’s easy to feel alone. To feel like the things that I struggle with are what separates me from others. But the truth is, it’s my struggles and joys both, that connect me to everyone I hold dear.

It’s important that I remember that.

What’s your gratiTUDE today?

What is a “GratiTUDE”?:

GratiTUDE is a  general attitude of thankfulness and gratefulness. 

What is “What’s Your GratiTUDE?”:

Every day, for as long as I can keep it going, I’m going to tell you something I’m grateful for. I want to do this because I want to remind myself how fortunate I am in a more concrete way. They will be small things, big things, meaningful things, and seemingly inconsequential things. They may repeat on some days if I happen to feel grateful for the same thing more than once. I’m not planning it or mapping it out. I’m just feeling grateful, publicly.  And I’d like you, if you’re feeling it, to do the same.

LOVElillian

Follow me on the twitter, facebook, pinterest, youtube and if you never want to miss an episode, get on the mailing list!

I just spent Sunday evening the best way possible. Sitting by the river with a good friend, drinking champagne, chatting and laughing for three hours. It was luxurious. The water was beautiful, and the conversation sparkling.

I forget this sometimes, but the simplest things usually turn out to be the best things. Walking to the water, talking, laughing and yes, drinking. It doesn’t get much simpler than that. But it also doesn’t get much better than that either.

What’s your gratiTUDE today?

What is a “GratiTUDE”?:

GratiTUDE is a  general attitude of thankfulness and gratefulness. 

What is “What’s Your GratiTUDE?”:

Every day, for as long as I can keep it going, I’m going to tell you something I’m grateful for. I want to do this because I want to remind myself how fortunate I am in a more concrete way. They will be small things, big things, meaningful things, and seemingly inconsequential things. They may repeat on some days if I happen to feel grateful for the same thing more than once. I’m not planning it or mapping it out. I’m just feeling grateful, publicly.  And I’d like you, if you’re feeling it, to do the same.

LOVElillian

Follow me on the twitter, facebook, pinterest, youtube and if you never want to miss an episode, get on the mailing list!

I played five games of ultimate today. I’m so tired right now that I can barely type, but it’s the happy kind of tired.

I did almost nothing but play today. I didn’t spend time on my computer, I didn’t watch tv, I just ran around outside with my friends for 8 hours.

Today was a good day.

What’s your gratiTUDE today?

What is a “GratiTUDE”?:

GratiTUDE is a  general attitude of thankfulness and gratefulness. 

What is “What’s Your GratiTUDE?”:

Every day, for as long as I can keep it going, I’m going to tell you something I’m grateful for. I want to do this because I want to remind myself how fortunate I am in a more concrete way. They will be small things, big things, meaningful things, and seemingly inconsequential things. They may repeat on some days if I happen to feel grateful for the same thing more than once. I’m not planning it or mapping it out. I’m just feeling grateful, publicly.  And I’d like you, if you’re feeling it, to do the same.

LOVElillian

Follow me on the twitter, facebook, pinterest, youtube and if you never want to miss an episode, get on the mailing list!