Last night, despite having much to celebrate, I found myself in a place of overwhelm. My mental chatter had taken a negative turn and I felt frustrated, tired, and beaten. A new cycle was starting.

I'm especially grateful for my husband in times like these to help remind me to come back to balance. I'm grateful for the practices I have in place that help bring me back. And I'm grateful to know the process of building back up with gratitude, self-care, and mindful self-talk. 

Sometimes people assume that I never have bad days. Sometimes that is an image I wish I could hold. But I am human and while the skills and practices that I use and teach are powerful tools to transform lives, this is still a very human experience. There are still challenges and stumbles. And yes, the practices I use will help bring me back to that place of joy but it still requires the effort and choice to use them. 

I'm grateful for this quiet moment to myself. I'm grateful to witness the emotions of last night from a new perspective. I'm grateful to see the factors at play in this new cycle. And I'm grateful to know that each spiral of this process builds me stronger.

What struggles have you faced? Do you ever have times where a struggle seems to repeat itself? Can you see the growth you have made in this process? Who or what do you use as your support system?

May today be a celebration of being human. May forgiveness and joy come easily. May you see the support that is all around you. Have a beautiful day!


I am human. We all are. If you are struggling with a challenge and need help taking the steps to reclaim balance and joy please reach out. You do not have to struggle alone. There are simple practices you can use to create a system of support. To learn more email me at ReyofGratitude@gmail.com. 

Today as I woke early and lay in bed feeling exhausted I tried a different form of meditation. Curiosity on what may have woke me, I let my thoughts create a free flow. I observed which thoughts were clearly that of me still half asleep and which ones had more form as they drifted through. 

Pretty soon I had honed in on one topic. It began to circle around forming more complex meanings and even judgements. This was my runaway train. Once I recognized which thoughts were taking over it was easy to see what my dreams had been telling me and why I had woken so early. 

I guided myself back to the free flow of thoughts but pretty soon that train came barreling through again. I put it on pause, one sentence at a time and sat with the feelings of each. Then I began focusing on my breath and fell back to sleep easily.

It was a process but it worked to get me back to sleep. When I woke I asked my husband what he thought about the question and judgement that had been circling in my head earlier. He came to the same conclusion, that I had made the best choice at the time. And with that confirmation I felt my thoughts begin to free flow once again. 

Our thoughts are not bad or good. They are the babbles of the brook. It is important to acknowledge the ones that catch and cause struggle but it is also important to move on. 

Perhaps today's message hits home with you or perhaps it is the ramblings of not getting enough sleep. Either way it was a beautiful moment to me to work through the process and find peace once again.

I'm grateful to feel balanced and peaceful. I'm grateful to release any judgements on "should have done" thoughts because they do not serve me. I'm grateful to know that I made my decision with the best information I had at the time. I'm grateful to have a husband that backs me. I'm grateful to have taken the time to sit with my thoughts this morning and process through so I could get a little more sleep. And I'm grateful for the little more sleep.

What do you observe when you allow your thoughts to free flow like a picture passing in front of you? Do you have a runaway train in the mix today? How do you choose to handle your runaway trains?

May today bless you with peaceful, loving thoughts. May you recognize your own good decisions and know that we all do our best with the information we have in the moment. Have a beautiful day!

Did you see the Full Harvest Moon pass through it's eclipse last night as the Earth came between moon and sun?  It was such a beautiful experience. For me, there was a kinship I felt with the moon as I witnessed this event.

The symbolism I felt as I watched the shadow move across the moon's surface, was intense but beautiful. It reflected to me the times in my own life that I have gone through shadows of struggle. It reminded me of witnessing friends as they face challenges in their own lives. And it gave me pause as I watched in anticipation as the shadow moved across and the light returned. 

Often in our own lives we can not witness this in such an obvious way. The shadow that moves across may seem overwhelming or encompassing. Yet it does always pass. It may change us and our perceptions but the light always returns and gives us the opportunity to find beauty in the situation. 

What if we could witness the shadow or struggles in our lives as easily as watching the moon's eclipse? What if we could stand back and appreciate the bits of beauty in this darkness, or at least in knowing the darkness will soon pass? 

I'm so grateful for the kinship I felt last night. I'm grateful for the reflection I saw in this event that mirrored my own experiences of transitions. I'm grateful to share this beautiful experience and my insights with my husband. I'm grateful to have had him "camped out" on the driveway with me and to see our different responses. I'm grateful for the beauty of the moon. I'm grateful for the rich symbolism I see all around me. And I'm grateful for my own experiences of shadow that brought me to this point today. I'm grateful to be using what I have learned to help others build resilience and positive practices to help themselves through times of shadows.

May today bless you with light and laughter. May you find courage and strength in the symbolism of last night's eclipse. Have a beautiful day!


If you are going through a period of shadow or challenge, please do not struggle alone. Reach out to family, friends, or contact me at ReyofGratitude@gmail.com. You are not alone. The light and joy will return. You are loved.

Each day I ask myself "what are you grateful for" a dozen times. It is a great way for me to stay in the positive mindset. A few days ago I was watching a TedTalk and the woman proposed an alternative to "how was your day?" She said, "What is the best thing that's happened to you today?" I love that!

It is another form of asking what are you grateful for and is a great way to stay focused on the present. I have been testing this question out on the people I meet and it is always met with a great response. It's amazing the things that are happening in people's lives that inspire their gratitude that we may never have thought about. 

I'm so grateful for TedTalks. I'm grateful for this woman's question that has inspired my week. I'm grateful to say that this week has been full of great things happening in my life. I'm grateful to have celebrated World Gratitude Day. I'm grateful to have hosted my first Men's Modern Toolbox class and gotten a good response. I'm grateful to have an abundance of clients this week and I'm grateful to see that trend continuing in the future. I'm grateful for it being Friday. And I'm grateful for a weekend ahead of many family birthdays to celebrate! 

I'm grateful for all these things and so much more. And when I stop and ask myself what the best thing that's happened to me today (in an hour) there is even more! I'm so grateful for my husband waking me after I slept through two alarms!!! I'm grateful to have slept so well and caught up on sleep. But the best thing that has happened to me today was being wrapped in a hug by my husband as he prepared to leave for work and feeling the love I have for him fill me completely. 

What is the best thing that happened to you, so far, today? What is the best thing that happened to you this week? And as September nears its end, what was the best thing that happened to you this month? What gratitude do these events inspire?

May today bless you with time to reflect on all the good things happening in your life. May you find bliss in taking the time to acknowledge these beautiful moments. Have a beautiful day and weekend!

Some days you just need extra snuggle time. And sometimes that connection has to be a priority.

My morning routine started up at 4:45 am, as I woke and did my morning yoga and meditation. As usual, I went and crawled back in bed about ten minutes before six to snuggle with my husband until his alarm. Yet when his alarm went off, despite being wide awake, I did not want to get up. We delayed a little but then it was off to get ready for work. 

I have to hand it to my husband, he is getting better at settling in for my six second hugs and planning enough time in the morning to get those two extra kisses before he rushes out the door. These are the things that are important to me and he does his best to adjust to give me that time.

Today after he left I turned back to my computer, ready to begin typing. I was going to write about how grateful I am for natural beauty after a makeover last night reminded me why I'm not a fan of the layers of makeup. (It's a sensory thing. Though I will admit I'm getting better at makeup "my-way" for special occasions.) 

Just as my computer came up, ready for today's work, there was a paw on my leg with a dog head peeking between my leg and arm. I gave her a quick pet and turned back to my computer but up she came again. 

This gave me pause for two reasons. One, she knows the routine and usually lays quietly while I work and waits for me to finish. And two, at nearly 12 years old and on a hard wood floor it was no small feat to be up on her back legs.

This was a priority. My fur-baby was communicating a need, just like I communicate my need to my husband in the mornings. (Plus how can I resist her sweet face?!) So I turned in my chair to face her and after a moment moved to the floor. 

Her happiness was palpable as her tail wagged and she nestled into my chest. This is pure love in its finest. And soon her younger sister joined in as well (albeit a little more of a bulldozer in her form of snuggling). The three of us just snuggling on the kitchen floor for a good ten minutes. 

This is love. This is gratitude. THIS is my priority. And in giving in to that moment by taking time to snuggle it did not mean I would not get my work done or that I will be late. Rather it gave me even more to write about and more gratitude for this moment.

I'm so grateful for Austin, my dog, who is such a sweet and gentle dog. I'm grateful to have her healthy and happy. I'm grateful for these moments when she comes to me and lets me know what she is needing. And I'm grateful to admit that I needed it too. 

I'm grateful for Pippin, my younger dog, who is crazy in all the best ways. I'm grateful for the laughs she gives me. And I'm even grateful for her rough snuggles like she just can't get enough of me. 

I'm grateful for the amazing years we have shared and all the different moves and changes they have experienced with me. I'm grateful for all the lessons they have taught me about living in the moment and unconditional love. And I'm so grateful, so blessed, to have them in my life.

What are you grateful for today? What priorities are you making in your life? Who fills your need for connection in whatever form that takes for you?

May today bless you with love and connection. May you see your blessings in the eyes of those around you. Have a beautiful day!

This morning seems to be rich with lessons for me to recognize on self-discipline. Having woken at 4:30 am, I was left with the choice to get up early and do my yoga and meditation and begin my day or stay in bed awake. I ended up choosing a combination of the two when staying in bed proved I would not be getting any extra sleep. 

I used to wake at this time every day and do a long morning yoga and meditation ritual and start my blog all before the sun peeked over the horizon. I have shifted this routine over the last several months and I cannot help but wonder if this is part of the return to balance as I make other changes this month to focus on self-care.

After a long meditation and a bit of yoga I greeted my husband who was just waking and got ready for work. When I began setting up to do my blog I found that my photography website is down at the moment. Once again I was left with a choice. I could spend energy getting frustrated and stressed or I could exercise discipline with the knowledge that stressing over things rarely changes them. I chose the latter and once again felt a bit of pride over the choices I am making today. 

Energy is like money. We have a choice how we spend it. It is equally exhausting stressing and worrying while doing nothing as it can be to take some other action. In fact, often times for me, the stress is more exhausting. 

How are you choosing to use your energy? Are you giving it to stress and worry or are you giving it to making a change? What plays a role in which way you choose to "exercise"?

I'm grateful for the clear choices I have been presented with today. I'm grateful for the clarity I feel around seeing how my energy is being spent. I'm grateful to be making decisions that are in my best interests. I'm grateful for a long meditation. I'm grateful for my sunlamp and the extra boost of energy it brings me in the wee hours. I'm grateful to choose the path of action and to give my energy to positive outcomes. 

May today bless you with moments of obvious choice. May you find time to witness how your choosing to spend your energy. May the discipline you are seeking be available in gentle choices. Have a beautiful day!



PS: Due to being unable to embed a motivational photograph from my site with you, you get a peek at one of my Costa Rica pictures.

The Autumnal Equinox is here! This is one of my favorite times of year as the leaves begin to change color and the temperatures cool. Here in Kansas, Autumn marks a beautiful and dramatic change. 


I'm so grateful for the sunrise coming just a little later to allow me to witness it in the morning. I'm grateful to know the leaves will begin their beautiful change to reds and oranges soon. I'm grateful to know it is almost time to carve pumpkins and celebrate another year of birth. And I'm grateful to still feel that youthful excitement about these things. 


I'm grateful for the symbolism of balance within the equinox and all the beauty that holds for me. And I'm grateful that it corresponds with my Project Joy goals this month of balance (which I genuinely didn't plan). I'm grateful for this synchronicity that shows me how in touch with nature I am even when I am not consciously choosing to be. And I'm grateful for this beautiful World around me.


What is your favorite thing about Autumn? What is your favorite thing to do this time of year? How can you take time today to honor the symbolism of balance and how it reflects in your life? 


May today bless you with time to reflect. May you find beauty in the changes beginning around you. And may you have a beautiful and blessed day!

Today is World Gratitude Day! For a Gratitude and Empowerment Coach this is like Christmas. It is a day of sharing the gift of gratitude with people that may ordinarily not take the time to consider it. It is a great conversation starter and a chance to further express my own gratitude (as if I needed a reason).

As the World celebrates in gratitude today I have a special opportunity to present to everyone reading this blog. Take a few moments today to think of 25 things you are grateful for. It may sound like a lot but I bet you can do it easier than you might think. If you need a hand getting started, read about what I'm grateful for and see if some of it is true for you as well. 

I'm grateful to meet some more of my neighbors last night and the warm welcome I received from them. I'm grateful for a new opportunity to serve my community with their proposed ideas. I'm grateful, so grateful, to be a Gratitude and Empowerment Coach. I'm grateful for the growing number of people interested in increasing their awareness of the things in their life to be grateful for each day. 

I'm grateful for my funny dog, Pippin, that instantly turns to a puppy again when she sees the bottle of bubbles. I'm grateful for my sweet dog, Austin, that is such a gentle and loving soul. I'm grateful to be married to the man I love and be creating a life together each day based in respect, love, and gratitude. I'm grateful for tickle fights and snuggles. I'm grateful to have someone I can have deep and meaningful conversations with but also play and be silly. I'm grateful for my amazing family and friends that are so loving and supportive at every turn.

I'm grateful for the everyday functions of my body that keep me healthy and sometimes get taken for granted.  I'm grateful to have slept so well last night that the alarm actually woke me! I'm grateful for natural remedies and the gifts of nature to help rebalance and recenter my body.

I'm grateful for the morning song of the birds outside that is always a welcome sound as I blog. I'm grateful for the wildlife I can find in my yard and the symbolism that I find in these encounters. I'm grateful for the beauty and symbolism I see in all aspects of nature. I'm grateful for Sycamore trees that are my personal favorite. I'm grateful for the cooler temperatures of Summer coming to a close. And I'm grateful (and excited) for Fall. 


I'm grateful for myself. I'm grateful for my loving and playful nature. I'm grateful for my ability to work hard and carve a less traditional path for myself because it is where my heart leads me. I'm grateful for all the experiences and characteristics that make me the person I am today. I'm grateful for jobs I love and wonderful clients that are taking steps to create even better lives for themselves. I'm grateful to still have the pleasure of doing cartwheels and to share with my dog a love of bubbles. I'm grateful for all the magic I see in this amazing world.

As I pause to go back and count I realize that just that easily I have gone over 25. And after listing out what's actually a small fraction of what I am grateful for, I am filled with a sense of being so very blessed. What are you grateful for today? Can you find 25 things in your life to be grateful for? 

If you would like tips for finding gratitude in your life and building it into a daily practice to create your best life, visit www.ReyofGratitude.com and request the free Building Your Gratitude Practice booklet or check the calendar for the next workshop on gratitude. (Please note that tonight's workshop is already closed for reservations but more will be on the calendar soon.)

Thank you for following along today. May today bless you with the eyes and heart to see all the blessings in your life. May you find an abundance of gratitude today. Have a beautiful day!

Yesterday I wrote about trying to see each moment as if it were a still-life painting of the perfect moment. I wanted to see if I could hold that view, choosing to see each moment as positive. To show my commitment to this task I said, "challenge accepted". It is a key phrase I use when I'm feeling empowered.

Yesterday, after using this phrase, the Universe responded in like. It gave me challenge to this mindset. It challenged many of my positive viewpoints by allowing me to feel a pain that was overwhelming and encompassing. I disregarded several of my own principals on positive living and did not succeed how I had wanted at seeing the "perfect" in each moment. 

I'm sharing this because many think living the positive life means perfection. Some even think that because I have been doing this for so long that I have somehow mastered these skills. In reality, what I have nearly mastered is awareness. And the biggest lesson I commit to is forgiveness. 

This morning, as the dawn brings a new day, I can see the beauty and lessons in yesterday. I can see a few picturesque moments in the challenges I faced. And most of all I can be proud that, while the "challenge" I thought I was accepting threw me a curveball, I came through yesterday with courage and the ability to bounce back.

I'm grateful for days that show me my strength. AND I'm grateful I rarely have to experience them in such a powerful way. I'm grateful for this opportunity to reevaluate my language and find a new saying to show my commitment. I'm grateful to have the opportunity to test out some new phrases such as "let's do this!" I'm grateful for the family that rallied around in support yesterday as I asked for help. I'm grateful to have the courage and wisdom to ASK for help! And I'm grateful to return to a place of balance and gratitude.

What challenges your commitment to a positive life? Are you able to bounce back and forgive stumbles on this journey? May today bless you with the courage to try again. May you find love and support all around you on this journey. Have a beautiful day and weekend!

If you would like to learn more about positive living and self-forgiveness please email me at ReyofGratitude@gmail.com.

This morning as I stood in the bedroom and looked in the mirror, I felt like an observer. In my peripheral there was a young woman standing by a dresser but her eyes were focused on the handsome man getting ready. "This is my favorite painting," I said. It was one moment or our lives and yet it is always shifting. 

What if the best picture of my life could always be the one in the looking glass? That's a bold choice and I definitely like the idea. What if I chose to believe that every moment, whether actually in front of a mirror or not, were one of the best moments of my life? This morning certainly felt that way as I gazed upon the two of us getting ready. 


I'm grateful to have taken that moment to pause and enjoy. I'm grateful for the man in my "picture". And I'm grateful for the love and beauty in my heart as I observed. I'm grateful for the woman in the looking glass that is creating a beautiful reality. I'm grateful to see this bold choice and envision each moment of my day as if it were a part of a beautiful painting. 


What do you see in your mirror? How can you choose to find beauty in each moment? May today bless you with a moment to pause and give gratitude for the beauty in your life's image. May you find love in the eyes looking back at you in the mirror. Have a beautiful day!




For tips on living a more joyful life or starting a gratitude practice, please email me at ReyofGratitude@gmail.com.