Be Grateful

It's too often that we take for granted the little things. Especially when we're moving so fast... Our lives are full and busy, and as Latinas, we have a lot on our plates!

Start the Day With Gratitude

Do you start the day with thoughts of gratitude for all the little things? I know that I, for one, can overlook the simple things that mean so much, and that I'd miss were they not there!

Things such as...the feel of the sheets, the sound of the alarm clock (hey, at least I can *hear* the alarm clock! :-) ), the fact that I have a bed, and things to do during the day and people who need me... And once I roll out of bed, am I grateful that my body allows me to walk to the bathroom, that I have warm running water for my shower, and food in my refrigerator for breakfast.

There is so much to be grateful for -- including my dog who waits for me to get up and then wants me to immediately take him out for a walk.

We have kids, significant others, and even parents who live with us and want things from us, and we can be grateful for them, too! And grateful for the fact that people believe in us enough to ask us to do things for them.

Remind Yourself Throughout the Day

As we get caught up with the daily grind, we can forget to appreciate the leaves on the trees, the wind in our hair, the sun shining down, or even the much needed rain that waters our plants. It's easy to forget that we have transportation -- whether by car, bus, train.

I forget to give thanks for music I hear, the fact that I have a job, that my child is healthy and even that I have so much to do!

It's important to take time during our days to be grateful for all the wonderful things in our lives.

Keep Your Focus

When we CHOOSE to focus on all the amazing things we can be grateful for, it tends to crowd out our less positive thoughts. Because the reverse of this is that we can choose to dwell on what we don't have, what we wish we had, and where we feel we lack.

Instead, in the words of Oprah, "Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you'll never, ever have enough."