An Attitude of Gratitude

In its first incarnation, I dedicated an issue of this newsletter to the topic that is most prevalent in my life - that really brings me the most joy - gratitude. I thought it an appropriate way to end 2011 to focus again on how thankful I am for all that I have been given, for all that I have worked for and achieved, and for all those around me whom I'm lucky enough to have in my life.

Long ago, Maya Angelou was talking with interviewer, David Holmstrom, about a period in her life when she was depressed. She talked about the advice she was given to lift herself from the funk she was in. She was told, "... here's a yellow pad. Write your blessings... Start with the fact that you can hear me, that you see the page, that you can hold the pen."

If we start with the blessings as basic - and significant - as Angelou was asked to think about, imagine how vast our gratitude can be. A recent article in the New York Times (http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/22/science/a-serving-of-gratitude-brings-healthy-dividends.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=attitude+of+gratitude&st=nyt) points to the benefits of an "attitude of gratitude" and suggests what will be this post's coaching exercises related to this topic.

There isn't a more grateful poet I can think of than Walt Whitman. His passion for all that he experienced is uplifting. Here is an excerpt from his "Song at Sunset."

To breathe the air, how delicious!
To speak - to walk - to seize something by the hand!
To be this incredible God I am!

O amazement of things, even the least particle!
O spirituality of things!
I too carol the sun, ushered or at noon, or as now, setting,
I too throb to the brain and beauty of the
earth and of all the growths of the earth.

I sing to the last the equalities, modern or old
I sing the endless finales of things.
I say nature continues - glory continues.
I praise with electric voice,
For I do not see one imperfection in the universe,
And I do not see one cause or result lamentable at last.


I hope that 2012 brings each of you much to be grateful for.
~ Sophie