Daily Gratitude: How often do you look around you? When you’re stuck in traffic or at a light, why not look at the details surrounding you instead of complaining about the traffic and being late? You’ll be amazed at the little things you may see. Did you ever wonder who came up with the drive through concept? Or how they configure the traffic lights that are causing your current headache? What about the names of products or stores? I enjoy looking at the names and laughing or even being confused. It’s just something small and simple to me but it’s important to that person. On today’s walk I noticed a new bench in the park. I hadn’t been down that route since July or August. I wondered who had put it there. Obviously it was the park people but on whose bequest since there weren’t any others on that route. Then I said my gratitudes for it because there isn’t anywhere else to sit comfortably for at least a mile in either direction. This will help many older people who are out trying to be healthy. When I concentrate on these things that are cute and helpful, it raises the vibration in my body and makes me feel so much better. Maybe it’s because I’m little that I say there’s magic in little things. Who knows?

Daily Gratitude: We’ve talked about this a lot. But it can never be emphasized enough. Baby steps, baby chunks. That’s what you need to list and then take. A baby step might be just doing your research to see if you’re really interested in this subject. Start with a daily success journal, a daily review or maybe just a daily gratitude journal. Perhaps you want to read more books. You can read for 5 minutes a day. Anyone can do that. Make it very simple. Remember the cliche- it’s the start that stops most people. Making tiny projects and tiny goals can help you make anything happen. Just do something every day. If you fall off the wagon (or couch), just shake it off and start again.

Daily Gratitude: Remember that worrying about things we have no control over is a waste of time and energy and only creates more anxiety. Control the controllables. When a problem arises, we spend a lot of time trying to figure out why and feeling victimized. What good is that? Instead try these three things (from The Stoic Gym): 1) What is the direct way to solve the problem? Don’t ask why it happened but ask “what do I need to do to fix this problem?” 2) If there’s no direct solution, turn your focus away from the problem. Do something else. Think about something else. Don’t concentrate on the problem as there’s nothing we can do about it at this point. It’s not in our control. Reset your mind. 3) Now focus on the solution. What do I do now? How do i approach this? What steps do i need to take. I’m going through something along these lines right now and am trying to follow my own advice.