It is with mixed feelings that I post today. I have been informed that in ten days I will no longer have access to my blog format through the company that hosts my website. I have weighed my options moving my website completely or making the change to a different form of media through this host. 

I have decided that at this stage of life, with the many transitions ahead, the natural course of action is to close Rey of Gratitude. I have not hosted my workshops in a while and I have only been blogging once a week. It seems the Universe has been steering me in this gentle direction for a while now. 

It is the end of an era. I started this blog and this site on the tail end of an epic journey and major life changes I was going through. That was nearly ten years ago. It has been such a blessing and privilege to share my journey with you. I hope my efforts to put gratitude and positivity into the world has made some small ripple of light. I hope you will continue your own gratitude journey.

I am contemplating opening a new website, Rey to Thrive. It will be a blend of my coaching and massage practices. But I have no timeline for that yet and I have not decided if I will return with a blog. I will continue to have my Rey of Gratitude Facebook page if you are wanting to reach me. I will also still be available through email. I'm excited about the endless possibilities ahead and curious which way the journey will lead me next. 

I'm grateful for you, my readers. I'm grateful for the beautiful light each one of you puts into this world just by being here. I'm grateful for the last decade of sharing this space with you. I'm grateful for all the kind words I have heard from each of you. I'm grateful to see the natural path and not fight it. I'm grateful to see what adventure is in store for me next. I'm grateful to know that if it is meant to be, our paths will cross again. Love and light to all of you. And please keep asking yourself, "what am I grateful for today?" Shine your light!

It's mowing season again but the yard isn't the only thing in need of tending. At work I have been working with my colleague to give a fresh look to an older space. At home I have been working to clear out some of the clutter, both organizing and donating. And I have been trying to add a bit more movement into my day as well. 

I have noticed I tend to go in cycles with cleaning and organizing. It definitely spurs me more in Spring and Fall as the weather is cooler. But with my focus on doing things for myself and seeking balance I am finding the fresh looks to be very energizing too. 

I'm grateful to clear out some stuff that needed taken care of for a few months. I'm grateful to cross of a couple things from my husband's list in the process. I'm grateful to tidy my workspace so I don't feel so crowded. I'm grateful to file the stack of papers that needed filed. I'm grateful for my little one's patience and ability to entertain herself. I'm grateful to take frequent breaks to play with my kids or do something for myself. I'm grateful to be feeling more energized the more I get done.

What is on your to do list? What fresh look would you like to see in your space?

​May we move into the next season with a fresh perspective and renewed motivation. Have a beautiful day!

Two of the most powerful words we can tell ourselves is "I Can". I have been listening to my self-talk lately and there has been a lot of "I can't" statements. It comes from being tired and overwhelmed but even then, these statements aren't true. I can. I do, every day. I will continue to do. So why do I bother telling myself the lie of can't?

Today I can. Whenever I hear my inner thoughts trying to say can't, I am changing it to "I can't quit now when I'm so close." I've got this. I CAN do these tasks.

I'm grateful to be tuning into my internal dialog. I'm grateful to recognize I'm tired. I'm grateful to see tiny ways I can help relieve some overwhelm and do it. I'm most grateful to just be turning around the negativity and reminding myself "I can".  I'm grateful for all the tools I have as a coach that I can use on myself at times like these. I'm grateful to admit I am human.

What are you saying to yourself? What encouragement are you needing to hear from yourself?

May we remember to speak to ourselves as friends. May we keep encouraging ourselves. Have a beautiful day!

My blog has not been as regular the last few weeks as normal. I have been practicing the art of truly listening to my needs and balancing my life. The holiday season is here and my professional and personal life are busier than ever. My blogs may continue to be a little irregular through the end of the year and I am letting myself be okay with this.

There is so much to be grateful for right now, from the beauty of the seasonal changes to the clear abundance that is surrounding my life. I have been gifted by the beauty of both storm clouds and sunshine as I witness the leaves falling from the trees. I have been able to enjoy both the playground with my youngest daughter in seventy degree weather and the zoo with both my daughters in a wind so chilly it brought snowflakes all in a week.

I have been blessed with a family effort to assist my business in accommodating the surge of clients this time of year. My business partner has been so generous in helping me find more hours to serve. My children have been so patient with my additional hours at work as I balance it with more focused time with them. It has truly filled my heart!

I'm grateful for all the wonderful people in my life that are helping this busy season more manageable. I'm grateful for all the assistance and patience. I'm grateful for the abundance of clientele. I'm grateful for the beauty of the season that surrounds me each day as I go about my busy schedule. I'm grateful to carve time out to connect with my kids. I'm grateful to say yes to a zoo trip even in the cold and to rake the leaves for them to play. I'm grateful to be finding that balance and allowing myself to be okay that other things are having to be less structured than usual. I'm grateful to be listening to my needs and finding that balance each day.

How do you find balance? What areas do you sometimes need to relax so you can keep that balance? 

May today remind us that balance is more important that perception. May we find the balance that nourishes our heart and soul this holiday season. Have a beautiful day!

The weather has been so beautiful the last few days! It is so nice to enjoy walking and seeing the autumn colors on the trees. I have been trying to soak up these warm days of sunshine before the cooler temperatures return.

I'm so grateful for days like today. I'm grateful for the way sunshine spurs me to be more productive and yet also brings me back to the present all at the same time. I'm grateful to just wander with my family, looking at leaves and wildlife. I'm grateful to learn about lady beetles and ladybugs. I'm grateful to find joy in discovering a leaf bigger than my head. I'm grateful for the majestic sycamore tree that always provides such beauty. I'm grateful to get a lot done the last few days and still have plenty of time to sit and relax and play. I'm grateful for this gorgeous time of year and the beautiful weather. I'm grateful for the beautiful Autumn colors. 

What has been helping your gratitude shine lately? Have you taken a stroll outside recently? 

May we enjoy the beauty of the seasons we witness. May we take time in each one to find joy and gratitude. Have a beautiful day! 

This weekend was packed full of fun from birthday parties to Halloween events. Every day was so full of abundance and blessings. And to add to the festivities I got creative with our food too, from ghost pancakes to bat quesadillas and mummy hotdogs. 

My daughter's enjoyed riding a unicorn and petting goats and bunnies at their friend's birthday bash. It was so nice to be with friends and enjoying time outside together.

We also got to have a fun, relaxed time celebrating my dad. I could not have asked for a better Papa to my kids or a more generous, loving dad. We are so blessed to have him as such a big part of our lives!

Halloween this year brought the return of trick-or-treating which was a first for our two year old. The neighbors did a great job of sitting outside and handing out candy in the safest ways possible. And it was so sweet how several of our neighbors even made special goodie bags for our girls as we have become more like family with them. It was a beautiful reminder of how important community and connection is to a joyous life. 

I'm so grateful for all the kind gestures of our neighbors. I'm grateful to have built good relationships with several neighbors. I'm grateful to see the joy on my girls' faces to trick-or-treat this year and feel seen and known within our neighborhood. I'm grateful to celebrate a friend this weekend. I'm grateful to celebrate my dad. I'm so grateful to have been so blessed to get him as a dad. I'm grateful for the millions of ways he has been there for me and my family! I'm grateful for the abundance of blessings that were so obvious this weekend but are always present.

What reminds you that you're blessed? When do you feel an abundance of blessings? How do you share gratitude and love with others?

May today remind us there are blessings every day. May we cherish those in our life that add to its beauty. Have a beautiful day!

When water flows over a stone it slowly smooths and carves it. It isn't an overnight event. It is something that happens over time. This is what I keep reminding myself as my family navigates a whole new schedule and new routines. 

I love mixing things up but I also love having a baseline routine. Certain times set aside for work, nap, and play help me to be present where I am needed. The routine is still new and in limbo as we try different things to see what helps us all transition most smoothly. But for now it still feels jumbled and a little chaotic.

This is the water from the storm. It is rushing and flowing any which way it can go to keep moving forward. 

Just like the storm water returns to a slow stream, so will my life return to smoother days. Those smoother days will slowly begin to carve a new routine. It will get comfortable.

Sure, there will still be times of storm and rushing water. There will be times the water changes course and has to begin again in smoothing a new path. This is all part of life and I welcome it.

For now I will let it flow in all its chaotic rush. I will take deep breaths and observe. I will watch for places the water seems to flow the smoothest and the routine seems to be working. And I will follow its lead. 

I'm grateful to just pause and focus on nature. I'm grateful to witness the rush feeling and observe it as if it was a river flowing past. I'm grateful to know the waters will smooth and slow again soon. I'm grateful to let it flow as it needs as my whole family adjusts to all the new. I'm grateful to be as calm and steady as possible for my kids in these times of change. I'm grateful to learn from them the art of rolling with it.

Which stage of life is your water flow? Is it rushing and changing? Is it smooth and steady? What visuals do you picture to help yourself stay steady even when life is shifting?

May we be steady as the rock and flowing as the water. May we find comfort in being the observer while still having both feet in the game. Have a beautiful day!

It has been a bright, sunny, and hot couple months. Despite all the rain we received in June, the ground is full of deep cracks in need of water. 

We spent some time yesterday out weeding the backyard garden and edges of the forested area. Some weeds just snapped off, their roots held tight in the dry soil. Other areas the weeds came out with big clods of dirt exposing the rocky surface beneath. 

Last night clouds rolled in and we got some rain. The clouds have lingered all day with drops falling here and there. More is needed but it is a start. 

I'm grateful for an opportunity to sleep to the sound of rain. I'm grateful for the cloudy, calm day. I'm grateful to take it easy and just order food for family lunch. I'm grateful to keep the lights dimmed and just relax with books this afternoon. I'm grateful for these quiet, calm days. I'm grateful for the rain.

When the world can seem so chaotic, sometimes just talking about the weather is a nice reprieve. How is your weather? If it isn't ideal, what is your ideal weather?

May today be simple. May we take a step back from all the politics and agendas and just be thankful for topics like weather. Have a beautiful day!

Some days are great because they are special. There is something special to celebrate or someone is coming for a special visit and it sparks gratitude. Other days are great because they are just ordinary. 

Today is one of those great, ordinary days. I got to wake up, do some stretching, and shower all without drama. I got to spend time with my creative, explorative children. I got to do a little gardening. There was nothing amazing other than it was just a nice, quiet, ordinary day.

I'm grateful for these quiet, ordinary days. I'm grateful to do a little focused playtime with my girls and a lot of kid-led playtime. I'm grateful to spend some time outside. I'm even grateful for the blazing hot sunshine, just to be outside. I'm grateful to let go of the idea of having a vegetable garden this year as squirrels have once again taken my sprouts. I'm grateful to laugh it off and let it go. I'm grateful to BE today. I'm grateful for a quiet moment now to get some work done. 

What are your favorite parts of ordinary days? Is it a slow start or a productive start? Is it time to yourself or spending it with the usual people? What makes your "everyday" special?

May we have plenty of special days. May we cherish the ordinary days just as much. Have a beautiful day!

It happened; today my baby turned two! I can't believe how fast time has gone. I love this stage and I hope time can slow down a little bit. I will forever be grateful for the time at home during the pandemic to slow life down and spend time with her. 

It is amazing how much babies change and grow in the first couple years. They go from helpless and mewing to running and chatting about their own opinions. And they seem to have an opinion on everything at this stage. I love hearing their thoughts on the world.

My daughter is at a great stage of imagination. If she wants to hold something from the book, she scoops her hand and pretends she has it in her hand. If she doesn't know the word for something she will combine two other words that she knows and keep telling you about it until you figure it out and tell her the correct name. My favorite was asking for "buffalo bar" when she wanted a lemon cookie. "Buffa-corn" has become a popular mystery label to animals she doesn't know. 

She is starting to ask tough questions, too. Like, "oh no, Mommy! What if bird eat my armpit?" I mean...what is a good answer to that? She's got the "thinking outside the box" down.

I'm grateful for this beautiful little miracle. I'm grateful for all her sweet, big hugs. I'm grateful for all the laughs and silliness. I'm grateful to watch her finding her own balance between needing me and being independent. I'm grateful for her laugh. I'm grateful that she reserves her smiles so you know it is genuinely earned. I'm grateful for the way her mind works and the way she communicates it to us. I'm grateful for her creativity in finding ways to express herself even if she doesn't know the words. I'm grateful to be her mom and watch her grow. I'm grateful to see where I can add more "growth" in my own life.

What were you doing two years ago? Have you experienced the same big changes that the first two years of life gave you? 

May we always keep growing. May we always be ourselves, no matter what anyone else thinks. Have a beautiful day!