May is a very intense month for me.
It is the month I became a Mom after eight years of trying.
It is also the month my Mom passed away suddenly eleven years ago.
And it is the month we celebrate Mother’s Day—a day that can feel heavy for those of us who have struggled through infertility or have lost a Mom.
Each year in May, I am reminded that my most difficult experiences have also been my greatest teachers.
Waiting eight years to become a Mom, and falling apart in the process, is what led me to discover the power a gratitude practice would have in my life. As painful as it was to go through, my struggle is one of the things I am most grateful for.
Had I not been practicing gratitude daily at the time I lost my Mom, I know with absolute certainty that I would not have been able to accept her passing with the strength I felt at that time. Very shortly after the initial shock of losing her, I began feeling overwhelmingly grateful for the Mom I had, and for the years I had her.
My gratitude practice somehow cushioned the blow of losing my Mom so tragically.
It was in that moment that I realized the power gratitude was having in my life. Soon after, I decided to make gratitude the focus of my business as a health coach.
I’ve never looked back.
The decision to prioritize gratitude in my life has guided me to things I never thought were possible for me.
A few years later I was blessed with the most amazing little baby boy and this month we celebrate his eighth birthday.
My gratitude practice helps me focus on the joy of motherhood, and doing this makes me a better Mom.
This year, for the month of May and beyond, I am kicking off something very special: The Gratitude Moments Project.
What I love about The Gratitude Moments Project is that it’s designed to help you notice all the different ways we experience gratitude in our lives.
Sometimes we feel grateful for something wonderful. It could be something small, like a cool breeze on a hot day, or huge like the birth of a child.
But gratitude happens in other ways too. It can sneak up on you when you least expect it, as was the case for me when my Mom passed. (Hint: The more you practice, the more this tends to happen.)
Gratitude is also like a BFF – it’s the thing you reach for first when you start feeling things going south. Once you have a solid practice in place, your gratitude BFF is always there to help you turn things around.
For this month and beyond, I invite you to share YOUR gratitude moments with me.
- Follow me on Instagram
- Share your gratitude moments and use #mygratitudemoment
- Tag me @gratitudetobliss in your posts!
If you’re not on Instagram, you can email your gratitude moment and we’ll post it for you if you wish. Include a photo if you like.
If you need help getting started with your own gratitude practice, check out the newly refreshed Gratitude To Bliss App in the App Store (available on iTunes and GooglePlay). FREE for 14 days, the Gratitude To Bliss App gives you a full year of daily gratitude inspiration, coaching tips, and more. Share it with someone you love too!
I can’t wait to see your “gratitude moments.” And I LOVE seeing the ripple effect of gratitude we are creating around the world.
Remember, every day you practice gratitude takes you one step closer to living your bliss.
Make it the most important five minutes of your day!
With love,