It’s during the holiday season that we most often pause and reflect on the many people, things, and circumstances for which we are grateful. The Gratitude Book Project: Celebrating 365 Days of Gratitude encourages readers to do just that—but also, to extend that practice beyond the traditional season of giving thanks and showing appreciation.
I’m super excited to be a part of this project. I felt drawn to contribute to this book because it so clearly fits with my own gratitude practices. With a short gratitude story for every day of the year, the reader can adopt any or all of the inspirational ideas into her life.
Gratitude expressed returns to you in new blessings.
I’ve seen it happen so many times in my own life. I can’t say that I was truly quick on the uptake, but eventually I started noticing what happened in my life when I expressed gratitude for what I already had, but mostly when I expressed gratitude for what I wanted as if I already had it. I may be a slow learner at times, but I’m now convinced that gratitude comes before the blessing.
My entry describes how I practice what I call “forward-gratitude.” Every day I speak aloud my gratitude for something I want to bring into my life. Some days I chant that gratitude until the chant takes on a life of its own. Until I can actually feel the energy of the chant move through my body, changing my energy and changing my life.
That is exactly how my contribution to this book came about. I gave thanks for being a published book author every day for a year prior to receiving the invitation to take part in this book. Of course, I wrote and then wrote some more in that year. I knew I had to do my part to receive the blessing.
There could not have been a better vehicle for my first book, than one on gratitude. What more do I need to see to know that my intentions were multiplied and blessed by my daily practice. And what an exciting way to move from articles, short stories and editing, into books.
Celebrating 365 Days of Gratitude is full of inspirational stories and appreciation, not only for the things and people we sometimes take for granted, but for challenging circumstances and often less than desirable events.
Expressing appreciation for the good things in our lives, though sometimes overlooked, is fairly easy. But imagine expressing your gratitude for things such as not fitting in, Muscular Dystrophy, bankruptcy, or the loss of a job or a loved one. That’s when the practice of gratitude really starts to take on a life changing power!
Net proceeds from all books in The Gratitude Book Project® series are proudly donated by all the co-authors to the following charities:
- Feeding America
- Women for Women International
- American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (A.S.P.C.A.)
This book makes a great holiday gift for friends and family and is a wonderful reminder to count our daily blessings. I hope you will join me in supporting these organizations and in keeping gratitude in motion throughout the year.
Order your copies today, Wednesday, December 14, at http://amzn.to/szlmxy. (Don’t worry if you can’t make a purchase on today. The proceeds of later sales will still go to these important organizations. But we’re trying to make this book a bestseller on the first day. The more books we sell, the more we will be able to contribute to our charities at this time of year when so many need extra help.)
I’m grateful for the chance to participate in The Gratitude Project. I’m grateful to be able to be with you here on this blog. I hope your life is filled with a mulitude of opportunities to be grateful in 2012.