Quarantine has been the perfect time to stop and be mindful of all those little things we took for granted in our lives. We probably lived in a hurry, but today we know more than ever how to appreciate, enjoy, and be thankful for them.
Recently, I came across an article by Gonzalo Gal that says: “Give thanks, give thanks, give thanks. Let this be your daily mantra, for gratitude brings joy, enlightenment, and encouragement. Giving thanks is a relief to the weary soul; it's a poem of love; it's learning to value everything. Gratitude is liberating and healing; therefore, always be grateful for the small and the grand. Choose three realities each day and give thanks for something different; you'll see how your mood improves. Give yourself the gift of banishing complaints and regrets; give yourself the gift of appreciating all that is good and beautiful in life. Gratitude is a radiant star in the firmament of life; it's a lightning rod against sadness and fills your life with color.”
The art of gratitude is simple, but we often complain when we have incredible opportunities, mistaking them for burdens. For example, I often complain when my daughters ask for their favorite food and I hadn't planned to cook, when the truth is, I have the privilege and blessing of cooking for them and sharing quality family time around the table!
In Medjugorje, I learned to be happy with whatever I touch, that all walls are white and have black spots, to be thankful for failures because they teach me a lot, to focus on talents and blessings, to always choose to see the good in others, to live with joy. For those who don't know, Medjugorje is a city in Bosnia-Herzegovina, where the Virgin Mary has appeared since 1981, and where I want to return again and again!
The more gratitude we express, the better we feel and the happier we will be. And with that, I want to tell you how grateful I am to be able to write this article for my blog, Projects! It's an honor to have you here, and I appreciate it beyond words!