Daily Gratitude: Stress is both good and bad. Actually it’s the stress reaction that’s both good and bad. Without it we would not be able to respond to true danger. But our brain does not know the difference between a bomb dropping on our head and the cancellation of our favorite TV series or being stuck in traffic. It responds the same. The constant outpouring of the stress chemicals is not good for the body. It leads to chronic Illness and pain. “So what do you expect me to do about it? I can’t go live on a fancy private island.” You might be growling. You can change how you think about things, though. So you’re stuck in traffic. Look around you and enjoy what you see or use that time to daydream. It doesn’t do you any good to be mad or upset during that time. Listen to the radio or sing your own song. Change how you’re thinking. When I was in DC I lived 70 miles south and the traffic was always horrendous. One December a storm was coming. I asked my boss if I could leave early. He always said yes knowing the circumstances. But this one day we were having a guest speaker and he said no. I was so angry. But I stayed. Thank goodness. It turned out there was a 100 car accident on I-95 and had I left when I wanted I would have been right in the middle of it. It still took me 8 hours to get home but I was safe and extremely grateful. Make a date with yourself and promise you’ll start thinking about the things that you think are going “wrong” differently. Do it as an experiment and see if you feel better.

Daily Gratitude: We are all born with potential. We all have different definitions of winning. It may be big or it may be small. It doesn’t matter what your “win” is. It’s yours. The second most important aspect is what’s your “why”. Deep down inside what is the burning reason that this is your “win”. Once you’ve determined all of that, the next task is to do as this quote (and wise old Zig Ziglar) says. Plan your “game”. Strategize. How are you going to get there? Chunk it down. Tiny bits and pieces. Watch a house being constructed. It doesn’t happen overnight. The foundation is laid but you know what? Before the concrete is poured there are blueprints. Before the blueprints are drawn someone has the desire and has planned that this is the best place for them to build this particular house. As the house is being built, the future owners are preparing to live there. They are selling their house because they expect to move. When I was 4 God told me I was going to be a doctor. I had to figure out how a girl was going to do that (this was a long time ago) so my classes were strategized. I studied all the science stuff I could. I was preparing. I didn’t get accepted to medical school twice. But since I expected to be a doctor, I just kept applying until i did. I won and you can too.

Daily Gratitude: This is just a little one today. And that’s what it’s about. The little things. Can you think about how you rushed about your day yesterday (or maybe even today depending on when you’re reading this)? How often did you stop and actually look around you in detail? It’s one of the reasons I no longer mind being so slow when I walk. I see things around me that either fascinate me or just fill me with the happiness of being around them. It might be beauty if I’m walking in the park or it might be something more modern if I’m walking in a neighborhood (like the cute way a house is decorated or a nice car). It’s simply appreciation for something very small. Do you thank your coffee pot (or tea pot or juice maker)? You might consider it. How much easier is it making your life? Then thank ALL the people that were involved it bringing it to you. Just as all the commercials say “brought to you by….” Fill in your own … after that. It’s fun and it will make you pay attention to the little things in your life that bring you happiness and joy.