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Five hundred and ninety one days ago, in the middle of a tough and challenging few weeks, my recovery sponsor suggested I write a list of at least 5 things I am grateful for, and text it to him.

He suggested that no matter what is going on, there is always something to be grateful for. And that it was the fastest way to turn my thoughts from struggle and despair to an appreciation of blessings.

He was right! I instantly felt better and wrote much more than a list – I wrote a long reflection. I had been stuck in feeling bad for myself, and I felt my whole attitude shift to realizing how fortunate and blessed I am.

His suggestion changed that day for the better. Little did I know it would also change my entire life.

Over the past 591 days, never missing a single day, the very first thing I do each morning is thank God (i.e., my own personal conception of a Higher Power, Universal Energy) for a new day, meditate and write a gratitude reflection. I then text that reflection to 20 people. Here is my reflection from Monday, November 9:

Good morning!

Today I’m grateful to wake up early to the bright orange glow of the sun rising over the horizon outside my bedroom window, reminding me that no matter what is happening in my life and the world around me, the planet keeps spinning and the sun will rise each day, often to magnificent beauty as it did today.

I’m grateful for family. I’m grateful for a beautiful Sunday afternoon hiking up a mountain and then climbing a fire tower with my brothers, my husband, my sister-in-law, my nephews and my niece. I’m grateful for love in my life. I’m grateful for time together.

I’m grateful for friendship. I’m grateful for Sunday morning breakfast on the patio, in the warm sunshine with a family of friends. I’m grateful for love in my life. I’m grateful for community.

I’m grateful for fellowship. I’m grateful for phone calls and texts from other addicts, living life on life’s terms, in recovery. I’m grateful that together we can do what no one of us can do alone. I’m grateful for love in my life. I’m grateful for the healing of shared experience.

I’m grateful for the pure joy, playfulness and entertainment of our pets. I’m grateful for time playing in the yard and time cuddled on the couch. I’m grateful for wet kisses and ferocious games of tug-of-war. I’m grateful for love in my life. I’m grateful for companionship.

I’m grateful for a relationship with God. I’m grateful for all the grace and blessings in my life. I’m grateful to be sober and live my life based on spiritual principles. I’m grateful for love in my life.

Have a marvelous day full of God’s love, grace and blessings. ❤️

Today, I’m pondering what I’ve learned from this discipline; how, and why it has transformed my life:

  • I start each and every day slowly and intentionally, easing into it. Starting peacefully and intentionally leads to a much more peaceful and intentional day overall.
  • On any given day, as I share my gratitude with others, I get many messages of gratitude back. I don’t get texts of complaint or negativity, I get positive messages throughout the day.
  • The practice has caused me to deeply connect with a community of people — some who I know very well, others who are newer acquaintances. We motivate and inspire one another.
  • It has become a habit. If I am feeling overwhelmed, negative, sad, or discouraged, my mind now automatically tells me to find and focus on what I am grateful for in that moment, in that situation – and it always turns around.
  • I am accountable. If I don’t send my gratitude reflection first thing in the morning because I sleep in, or someone slips off my text list, I get messages and calls making sure I am okay. What a gift to know I am not alone and am held in love, care and concern.

Gratitude is an attitude, it’s a choice and an action in any given moment. It’s a discipline. It is a gift. I am truly grateful, and no longer take anything for granted. I recognize that everything is grace and kindness working in my life; I like myself more and am a more pleasant person to be with. I no longer begin my day looking at it as a burden or dreading the day ahead (not even Monday mornings). Each day has become an opportunity and a gift, and I am happy for every blessing.

In Man’s Search for Meaning, Austrian Holocaust survivor Viktor Frankl wrote:

“Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms – to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way… Man does not simply exist but always decides what his existence will be, what he will become the next moment… every human being has the freedom to change at any instant.”

Each day, I choose an attitude of gratitude and my existence has been more peaceful, joyous and balanced because of it.

I am grateful for CLP and to re-connect by contributing to The Circle. May your days be filled with gratitude and blessings.

To reach Chris directly: cacole1@mac.com

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