GRATITUDE

I recently came across a study from Lund University where they studied 1,800 ‘long-livers’ for 15 years. They came to a surprising conclusion. Only 20% of longevity is determined by your genes – the rest is on you. One of the key findings was that GRATITUDE, yes, GRATITUDE played a huge role in longevity. They appreciated small things, ate simply but with joy, lived slowly but deeply. It kept their hormones balanced and protected their hearts from stress. Isn’t that interesting? So today, I am choosing to write a blog post about some of the things that bring me into a state of deep gratitude for my life.

FAMILY

Number one, I am grateful for my beautiful, healthy, happy, thriving children. They bring a purpose to my life that is indescribable. They teach me daily what is truly important in life – our relationships. I love my time with them and all the giggles that permeate our home and our days. They each bring their own spark, rhythm, and way of teaching me how to be better.

Number two, I am grateful for my gorgeous, supportive, confident partner who is constantly thinking of ways to make our lives run smoother and sprinkles pieces of magic into our days, weeks, and months with her thoughtful acts of service, many times in the form of food. I would not have the bandwidth to write this blog post today or do much of anything in my business without her quiet contributions.

NATURE

Number three, I am grateful for the outdoors, where I go to breathe, reset, and remember who I am. There is no problem too complex that nature doesn’t assist with breaking down into digestable chunks. It is incredible how our body just knows how important our connection with the Earth truly is.

MY PASSION

Number four, I am grateful daily for the work that keeps me inspired to constantly be in a state of growth. This work gives my life purpose and meaning and brings me into the lives of people who show me courage, resilience, and humanity in its rawest, truest form. Being an occupational therapist still feels like one of the greatest privileges of my life. I get paid to do something that is deeply meaningful and that is not lost on me.

CHALLENGES

Number five, I am grateful for challenges that stretch me. The ones that I actively choose and the ones that show up without my choosing. The ones that none of us could predict – many times related to devastating diagnoses or tragic accidents, leaving deep holes of sorrow. I am truly grateful for the challenges. The depth of sorrow deepens my compassion and connection with others. And likewise, the depth of joy keeps me soft and hopeful. It goes both ways and I appreciate the contrast deeply.

FOOD

Number six, I am grateful for delicious food. I am grateful that food brings people of all walks of life together over something shared. In the same light, I am grateful for my health and the health of all my loved ones. It is a more fragile gift than I ever realized up until the past few years. I am sure I am still in the learning years of what this means. Health and food. I absolutely love eating good food and have discovered an even bigger appreciation for the art behind a fabulous meal in the past year or so.

MOVEMENT

Number seven, I am grateful for movement. I am grateful for the ability that I have to exercise my body to assist me in carrying others through messy and beautiful lives. Strength training, walking, running, volleyball, basketball, biking, snowboarding, chasing my children, jiu jitsu, hiking, the list goes on. There are so many forms of movement that I relish in participating in. I am daily grateful for the ability to move and because I work with many people with movement disorders, I am reminded of the blessing of ease of movement almost daily. I know that extenuating circumstances could change that in a heartbeat and I work hard to not take it for granted.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

I hope you all had a fabulous Thanksgiving today and are able to reflect on the good in your life today. Focusing on the positive will only brighten our lives, however difficult or easy they might be. Practicing gratitude will make it better.

I am thankful for all the ordinary moments that make my life feel full

By C²
connie@pnwhomeforlife.com
360-770-1752