One of my patients came in today with her daughter who is on the spectrum for autism.  The girl was so lovely and wanted to keep giving my nurse and I hugs.  She kept telling me I smelled good and asking if I was happy.  She was so looking forward to going to Publix after mom’s appointment to get cookies with sprinkles.  Mom sad she is always happy.  She then told us she was 24 years old.  She did not look older than 16.  It then made me think about how anxiety and negative emotions must make us age.  She is living in a constant state of bliss!  Made me think that I really need to meditate every day, twice a day, so I can age as well as her daughter.  “Shay, Thanks for being my life lesson for the day! ”

Sometimes a hug says it all!

I spent my Saturday morning in a Gratitude Workshop.  For the most part, I feel on track with this practice, but unfortunately, that is what it is….PRACTICE.  Just like anything we do, when when stop doing,  we forget about it.

Today, I want to touch on a few of the pointers I took away from the workshop.

The practice is an attitude and is an active process.  It requires reflection.

It strengthens our spirituality and immune system.

Its obstacles are ego, self-importance, and entitlement.

As a exercise, he had us think about 1 event that occurred in the morning that we were thankful for.  Then he asked us to analyze how our day would have been different if that event had not occurred.  He reiterated that for gratitude practice to be effective, we must be specific.

Thanks for reading my blog!