Daily Gratitude: Many of us sit around with regrets about not having accomplished this or that. Why not simply concentrate on making progress? That could be a big step or a little step. In this case (as in most cases) size does NOT matter. It’s that single step that counts the most. Remember that it’s the start that stops most people. That’s resistance and it’s all throughout your life. So if achieving a certain goal seems overwhelming with all else that’s going on in your life, make one small step (and remember the moon landing). Then once that’s done take another one. They may be so tiny that no one notices. But you will notice. Maybe right now that one step is simply to write down a goal. Don’t think of a goal as something earth shattering but as a project perhaps. Just something you’d like to do. Make that goal. Writte it down now before those voices in your head are yelling “you fool- you can’t do that. How foolish of you” and other things you’ve heard all your life. That is your first step. Your second step is to hang up that goal where you’ll see it a lot. In your bathroom and kitchen. Maybe your car. Just so you’ll see it frequently. Third step is to read it every time you see it. I put my 2024 goal list on the cabinet in front of the toilet and anyone with an overactive bladder can tell you that I looked at it many many times. Maybe TMI but you get the point. Baby steps are progress!

Daily Gratitude: I don’t think I need to add much to this but of course I will lol. It could also say home is people, not a place OR THINGS! When I was a child the only good memories I have were of my preparation for Christmas. I would try to figure out a lot of little things to give my mother and I made what I could (so I’m pretty sure they sucked) and I also wrote a little poem or note for each one. I couldn’t wait until my mother opened them. I didn’t care about any of my presents (except maybe when I got “The visible man”) I just wanted to give her joy. She put up with such garbage in our household that she deserved everything I could find for her. These gifts were given – and received- with love and that’s what mattered. Who is important in your life that you can send a note to during this time of year. Maybe they are lonely and feel unloved. You can fix at least some of that. And it may not cost much. There is no price on heartfelt love

Daily Gratitude: What makes me happy won’t necessarily make you happy and vice versa. Waiting for something to happen is not the way to be happy either. Don’t start the year off (or any part of a year) with “when I lose 10 pounds, I’ll be happy”. That never works. Start with “I am the master of my happiness and I choose to be happy no matter what”. Once you put your thoughts straight, you’ll be able to accomplish so much more. Remember that happiness is not conditional . If that person lost 10 pounds but lost their job, would they be happy? I think not. Make the decision that you are happy and do everything from deep within to change your thoughts to happy ones and you’ll end up happy. No one can take that from you. You can use gratitude to assist you. It’s hard to he depressed and sad while you’re being grateful. Why not make your next resolution about being happy and grateful? And don’t wait until New Year’s Day for it to start.