Starting a new year with gratitude is always a good idea. Indeed, if you have not already, consider putting “practice daily gratitude” at the top of your 2023 resolutions. Being grateful each day sets the tone for all that is to come.
Start practicing daily gratitude. Set aside a time. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. Make a habit of your gratitude time. Show up for yourself.
Gratitude grounds you in the present. Gratitude brings inspiration in the moment beyond regretting the past and worrying about the future. In gratitude you become a receptive vessel for the rich gifts of your experience.
Gratitude attracts inspiration. Remember that when doubting or fear show up, they are merely prerequisites for inspiration to follow. Do not run away! Lean into doubt and fear with your gratitude practice. You will be amazed at your power to attract the goodness that is sure to come.
My meditation teacher Light Watkins reminds us that when going the distance in developing a habit like gratitude, “The reason that most resolutions fail by February is because the original plan only works in best-cases scenarios. But what are you going to do if it’s snowing? Or if you have to stay up late working? Or if you get a headache? How will you make it happen? Figure out some workarounds. Test them out before you need them. And you’ll have a plan that can go the gratitude distance.”
Practice gratitude repetition. Build your gratitude habits. Start today and receiving daily inspiration will become second nature to you far beyond February. When setbacks appear keep going!
Gratitude will carry you over mountains. Gratitude will take you to the depths of satisfaction. Practice gratitude! Today. Tomorrow. Practice one day at a time right up to the threshold of 2024 and beyond.
Today, for what and whom and how are you grateful? What are your top ten gratitudes in this moment?
- I am grateful to walk this good earth another day.
- I am grateful for art as my first language and my passion.
- I am grateful for my husband David whose first language and passion, like mine, are all about art.
- I am grateful for artCentral.
- I am grateful for our Carthage hometown community where art and artists matter.
- I am grateful I have the privilege of directing artCentral through this new year.
- I am grateful for a position of work that perfectly aligns with my life purpose to serve art and artists to make our world a more creatively compassionate, safe and serene place for all of us.
- I am grateful for artCentral’s benefactress Katherine Hyde, an artist, whose vision inspired her to set aside her Hyde House family home to always be used to support artists and the arts.
- I am grateful for each and every artist and supporter who sustains artCentral through membership and participation and time and talents and dollars.
- I am grateful for artCentral’s exciting new exhibition season opening February 3 with FOILED AGAIN! showcasing the creations of the Joplin Regional Artists Coalition.
As our holiday decorations are put away for another year, with open arms and minds and hearts let us welcome this new year while we count our blessings with gratitude.
May 2023 bless us all with health in body and mind and spirit; with wealth in all the ways that sustain our well-being; and with happiness that reminds us to practice gratitude every day as we go about the business of appreciating and caring for the art and artists we love.
May we remember with gratitude the words of the wise sage Willie Nelson: “When I started counting my blessings, my whole life turned around.”
