An Attitude of Gratitude

Written by Kim Kovavich

Photo by Amber Yedinak

           Ever had one of those days?

  

           Regardless of your best efforts, it seems that nothing is going your way. You wake up late, the coffee is MIA, and that friendly police officer who pulls you over isn't feeling exceptionally friendly. You try controlled breathing, make an emergency pit stop at Starbucks, and POOF, everything is flowers and stardust again.

          “Right?”

          “Yeah, sure!!”

            During these times of distress, author Brian Tracy's words echo in my head. He encourages, "Develop an attitude of gratitude, and give thanks for everything that happens to you, knowing that every step forward is a step toward achieving something bigger and better than your current situation."

When faced with these inevitable moments in life, we can do one of two things: Convince ourselves that our day is only going to get worse, or...re-direct our thoughts to something we are truly thankful for. As the beloved author Dr. Seuss says, "Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass...It's learning to dance in the rain."

I find that when I attempt to do the latter, my attitude and perspective completely change, ushering in a well needed, re-born frame of  mind. I begin to take notice of that which is beautiful and appreciate the many random acts of kindness that others tend to give so freely. 

So...When your world seems to be falling apart before reaching your first destination, I encourage you to make a conscious effort to re-route your thoughts and change the entire direction of your day. As Deepak Chopra states, "No matter what the situation, remind yourself, I have a choice."

            What are you grateful for today?