Fully align that gratitude isn't only reserved for when everything is going well. I spoke with someone feeling a bit joyless recently and we discussed how taking note of when you feel joy/gratitude is almost more important in those times. A form of medicine in a way.
Absolutely Niall! I think gratitude is most important in the hard moments – it becomes a tool to rewire our brain to notice the positive in our life (which is always there, even when hidden from plain sight). <3
For sure! Our being is always there — unbothered and ready to be returned to. The key word in your message is "notice". The act of noticing is what makes us present and allows us to tap into gratitude and joy.
One of the things that I have come to realize is that in searching for things to be grateful for, or simply searching for the emotion of "gratitude" within us, it is important to be cognizant of the 'less than happy' experiences in our daily lives as well. Most, if not all of them are merely [lessons] for us to learn - and thereby propelling us further forward. If we are not grateful for those as well, we may never acknowledge their power, and therefore fall deeper into despair by mis-interpreting what they are.
Yes! That’s a whole other level of gratitude - which I’ve been experimenting with lately: finding gratitude in all the challenging life moments which have taught me valuable lessons and brought me to where I am now 🙏
If you have not done so already, might I suggest that you begin reviewing past experiences that you deemed 'not good', or 'why me', and so on. As you review them look for the lessons that you may have missed... Once you become aware of them express gratitude - for not just the lessons you missed, but also for the clarity to now see them, and learn from them...
“Gratitude doesn’t mean ignoring the reality of our lives (or the world), nor falling into toxic positivity. But it’s learning to make space for both – misery and beauty, pain and joy, despair and hope – to co-exist at once.” Sabrina, yes! This is so on point, and I think can get easily forgotten. I so appreciated all these shares, I listened to you reading that gorgeous poem twice, with coffee, enjoying the sunrise. Thank you. Grateful for all you do 💛
Thank you so much Chloe 🤍 I have to honestly remind myself everyday (and writing it and sharing it helps!). I love that you listened to the poem with the sunrise and coffee 🌅 ☕️ I can’t imagine a more gratitude-filled way to experience it! 🥰
I used to note every day in my journal one cool or remarkable or beautiful or sublime event that I would encounter in nature. It might have been an Osprey on the wing snatching Spanish moss for its nest, or even the way autumn's angled light strikes the sugar maples behind my home here in Vermont. Although I never stopped noticing, for some reason I stopped cataloging those events. But in your lovely opening essay — among the best I've read on gratitude this year — you've reminded me that those moments, despite the state of the world or the state of me, are indeed ways of gratitude; they are opportunities. So I shall begin to write them, to sanctify them, in my journal once again. Thanks, Sabrina. I'm, uh, er ... you know ... grateful.
I love love these nature notes you would take - what beautiful observations! And it’s interesting the difference it makes between just noticing vs. also writing what we notice. Writing definitely helps me imprint it more deeply in my mind (and heart) ♥️ Perhaps you’ll share some of your daily notes with us? 🌿🪶🪲
"Living a decade in Los Angeles – where spirituality conflates with entertainment..." Ha! Really loved the post. Thanks for continually keeping things real and not believing the hype :) - because as you show each week/month, there's so much more beyond it.
Yes! I always have to preface my statements of gratitude with “not to sound cheesy but”.... (which I need to consciously stop doing.)
you really nailed it with the misuse and over saturation of #gratitude on social media that in turn waters down the actual feeing. love this curation as always 🤍 seriously grateful for it. Happy thanksgiving!
I’m sure your time in LA also didn’t help the warping of gratitude! 😆 let’s claim it back, and infuse it with some realness 🙌 so glad the curation resonated for you 🧡 happy thanksgiving friend!🍁
Duuuuuude, this sentence: "Since the mind already has a PhD in negative thinking, it could use a little guidance when it comes to noticing the positive. That’s where gratitude comes in: as an exercise in awe, wonder, and connection." We're two peas in a pod, Sabrina. Thank you for sending me this :)
Happy Thanksgiving, Sabrina! 🍁
Thank you Jolene! Happy Thanksgiving to you 🧡 I can only imagine how tasty your holiday is! 😋
To you both!
And to you two: Marco & Sabrina (my name twin ;) 💛💛
Fully align that gratitude isn't only reserved for when everything is going well. I spoke with someone feeling a bit joyless recently and we discussed how taking note of when you feel joy/gratitude is almost more important in those times. A form of medicine in a way.
Absolutely Niall! I think gratitude is most important in the hard moments – it becomes a tool to rewire our brain to notice the positive in our life (which is always there, even when hidden from plain sight). <3
For sure! Our being is always there — unbothered and ready to be returned to. The key word in your message is "notice". The act of noticing is what makes us present and allows us to tap into gratitude and joy.
One of the things that I have come to realize is that in searching for things to be grateful for, or simply searching for the emotion of "gratitude" within us, it is important to be cognizant of the 'less than happy' experiences in our daily lives as well. Most, if not all of them are merely [lessons] for us to learn - and thereby propelling us further forward. If we are not grateful for those as well, we may never acknowledge their power, and therefore fall deeper into despair by mis-interpreting what they are.
Yes! That’s a whole other level of gratitude - which I’ve been experimenting with lately: finding gratitude in all the challenging life moments which have taught me valuable lessons and brought me to where I am now 🙏
If you have not done so already, might I suggest that you begin reviewing past experiences that you deemed 'not good', or 'why me', and so on. As you review them look for the lessons that you may have missed... Once you become aware of them express gratitude - for not just the lessons you missed, but also for the clarity to now see them, and learn from them...
“Gratitude doesn’t mean ignoring the reality of our lives (or the world), nor falling into toxic positivity. But it’s learning to make space for both – misery and beauty, pain and joy, despair and hope – to co-exist at once.” Sabrina, yes! This is so on point, and I think can get easily forgotten. I so appreciated all these shares, I listened to you reading that gorgeous poem twice, with coffee, enjoying the sunrise. Thank you. Grateful for all you do 💛
Thank you so much Chloe 🤍 I have to honestly remind myself everyday (and writing it and sharing it helps!). I love that you listened to the poem with the sunrise and coffee 🌅 ☕️ I can’t imagine a more gratitude-filled way to experience it! 🥰
I used to note every day in my journal one cool or remarkable or beautiful or sublime event that I would encounter in nature. It might have been an Osprey on the wing snatching Spanish moss for its nest, or even the way autumn's angled light strikes the sugar maples behind my home here in Vermont. Although I never stopped noticing, for some reason I stopped cataloging those events. But in your lovely opening essay — among the best I've read on gratitude this year — you've reminded me that those moments, despite the state of the world or the state of me, are indeed ways of gratitude; they are opportunities. So I shall begin to write them, to sanctify them, in my journal once again. Thanks, Sabrina. I'm, uh, er ... you know ... grateful.
I love love these nature notes you would take - what beautiful observations! And it’s interesting the difference it makes between just noticing vs. also writing what we notice. Writing definitely helps me imprint it more deeply in my mind (and heart) ♥️ Perhaps you’ll share some of your daily notes with us? 🌿🪶🪲
I loved this one, so beautifully curated (as always?!). Happy Thanksgiving, Sabrina 🍁
Thank you so much Claudia! Happy thanksgiving 🧡 so grateful we’ve recently connected through this space ✨
Wish we were in our old home in LA, but a wet, cold London will have to do!
"Living a decade in Los Angeles – where spirituality conflates with entertainment..." Ha! Really loved the post. Thanks for continually keeping things real and not believing the hype :) - because as you show each week/month, there's so much more beyond it.
Thank you! 🙏 True gratitude can only come when we keep it real 😉
Yes! I always have to preface my statements of gratitude with “not to sound cheesy but”.... (which I need to consciously stop doing.)
you really nailed it with the misuse and over saturation of #gratitude on social media that in turn waters down the actual feeing. love this curation as always 🤍 seriously grateful for it. Happy thanksgiving!
I’m sure your time in LA also didn’t help the warping of gratitude! 😆 let’s claim it back, and infuse it with some realness 🙌 so glad the curation resonated for you 🧡 happy thanksgiving friend!🍁
Duuuuuude, this sentence: "Since the mind already has a PhD in negative thinking, it could use a little guidance when it comes to noticing the positive. That’s where gratitude comes in: as an exercise in awe, wonder, and connection." We're two peas in a pod, Sabrina. Thank you for sending me this :)