Daily Gratitude: It’s natural for us to steer away from frightening things. That’s called survival. However, what my brain thinks is frightening is not necessarily the same thing your brain does. We interpret everything based on our previous experiences. Even though I’m 76 years old, my brain is still using its childhood data bank to make decisions about events, objects and people. Since my childhood was filled with daily fear and uncertainty, it has programmed itself to think that many things are dangerous and therefore frightening. I have worked hard to reprogram many of the data points but so many still exist – primarily because I was never brave enough to step into those scary places to find out they weren’t actually scary. This is one regret I have. I could have experienced so much in such a different way had I learned to do that. I encourage all of you to do this. I am enjoying the process now as I attempt to conquer the darkness. I can tell you that your life will be more enriched if you try it. And what you do in the endeavor will be a great model for those who watch you. That is the mark of leadership.

Daily Gratitude: Having just finished my training as a death doula, i thought this was such an important insight. At the end of life is when you’ll know how precious life is. Why not learn to appreciate it now even if things aren’t going that great right now. Take a few seconds to look up and simply say “I am grateful for my life”. Try to do that several times a day. Take some deep breaths and feel the life coming into your lungs and circulating throughout your body. Think about how this happens over and over every second and minute of your life. You don’t even have to be involved. It just happens. What a miracle. Know that like the sun, things will go up and down. There is change every day and we just take it for granted. Let’s pay more attention and show our gratitude each time we do.

Daily Gratitude: I wonder how many people know how truly special Helen Keller was. Her wisdom is greater than most and look at her handicaps. She was the most optimistic person you’ll probably ever hear about too. This quote is precious and strikes me even more since I’m doing the end of life doula work. When you’re dying people won’t remember (I hope) how big your house was. They’ll definitely remember how kind you were and how you treated them (we all know Maya Angelou’s quote about that). Instead of working to “get things”, let’s work harder to care for others and to be kind to everyone. That’s what really matters. As a friend put it, she’s responding differently now that she’s looking at everything feeling that everyone has good intentions and is doing the best they can even if it’s coming out wrong. If we knew the background of the people that were judging to be unreasonable, we might feel differently. So let’s just assume they don’t have a desire to be mean. Let’s see if we can feel what’s in their hearts.