Natascia (from Running Through Life- Journey of a Passionate Runner) recently wrote a blog post that really made me take a step back from life and think about things (I should have warned you that this post may be a bit corny…well I guess this is your warning now, eh?). When you get a moment, check out her blog and read that post (because she included a poem at the end of the post that I also loved and that you should read!). Anyways….Natascia shared a segment from her coaching manual book about gratitude with her readers and I am now sharing it with you!
“Gratitude is deeper than feeling happy. It is about a state of mind. To value gratitude and to be in this state of mind means that everything you see, you see through the eyes of thankfulness. Every action you take and every thought that you have comes from this place. The amazing thing about being in this state of mind is that it creates an increase in energy in you. Your overall body will feel strong and confident when you are in a state of gratitude. Have you ever been in a situation where you feel angry and frustrated and you take a deep breathe and think of something that you have to be grateful for? Maybe it was a friend in your life, maybe it was your health, maybe it was your family. Whatever it was, do you remember the shift in energy that occurred in you at that moment in time when you made that shift? Test it right now! Take a deep breathe and think of something or someone you are grateful for. How are you feeling? Observe your posture. It will shift and so too will the energy fields in your body. When we increase the energy fields in our body it is similar to electricity. The energy bursts throughout the universe and it connects with other people. When you are in a state of gratitude people notice. No body wants to be ungrateful or ungenerous. When people fail to live with gratitude and abundance it is usually through fear, habit or lack of reflection, rather than design. Most people, when they are operating at their best, are generous and grateful.”
QUESTION: What are some things that you have been grateful/thankful for this past week? it doesnt have to be all really serious things…you can be grateful/thankful for anything!!
Here is my list…
- Coffee…iced and HOT. Although I have been drinking iced coffee, hot coffee is a new thing for me and for some reason, I am SUPER excited about this. One day this week I got stuck in a torrential downpour while riding my bike to school. Needless to say, when I walked in my class completely drenched and freezing my a** off… I was NOT a happy camper. On top of that, I barely slept the night before. I usually am a pretty happy person and I am a morning person… but not today. Today, you did not want to speak to me. I was going to get some hot tea to wake me up and warm me up but i was so tired that I needed something more than tea. So I sucked it up and poured me a cup of coffee and I actually liked it! That’s my story of how I started “liking” (I dont love it yet, people!) HOT coffee. SO intriguing, right?
- My cadaver. Yes…you read that right. I am grateful and thankful to have the opportunity to work with a real human body. This person gave their body to science. This person donated their body to allow me to learn in order to one day become a great clinician. I truly have not taken this for granted. I wont lie…in college I used to joke around in labs and not take them very seriously (didn’t we all?). But now, although I am stuck in the lab for three hours at a time, I make the most of this time and learn everything I can possibly learn about the human body. Sometimes I forget that what I am working on is an actual human being, but every once in awhile something happens in lab that makes me realize that, WOW this is a human being and this person was once living/breathing and walking around the earth. They had a family, a wife, kids, grandchildren, people who loved them.. When you realize this, you respect what you are learning a bit more.
- Brownies- they are delicious. period. they truly make me happy and I could not imagine life without them. pathetic? perhaps. Whatever floats your boat, right?
- My family: Maybe I am a baby, but I havent been home in awhile and I miss it! I miss my mom, dad, oldest sister Danielle (although I have seen her), and doggies so much! When I got home to margate this weekend (although I had a ton of studying to do…blahhhh) it felt SOOO nice to be “home” again. and even nicer to be greeted with licks all over my face by the beasts I call Andie and Bradley.
- the beach: do I have to explain this one? nah.
- Biking: although I do not bike as much as I run, I LOVE to bike. I am not a pro at it or anything…it is just something I enjoy. This morning Mary and I went on a group ride with a local bike shop down the shore (we used to go to this every weekend last summer). I have missed this group ride so much and it felt nice to be back. Everyone we road with was very friendly and welcomed us back. It was a great ride.
- My new running shoes and running skirt! I never wore a running skirt before. My friend Katye wears them all of the time and always told me to try it out. When I bought my new shoes last week, I saw a running skirt in the store and decided to try it on and I loved it! You can look athletic AND cute at the same time…WIN. hahaha and my new shoes are so comfortable! they are red with yellow laces and although they are not the most beautiful things ever created, they are comfortable. P.S. Don’t you love smelling your new running shoes when you first get them out of the box? ah…glorious!
- Friends I have made in PA school: although I am only 4 weeks into my PA schooling, I have met a few really awesome people. It helps having people to be able to not only study with but also to joke around/have fun/workout/enjoy life with!
Hope you are all having a nice weekend 
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
What a beautiful post. It came to me at just the right time actually. I spent some time with my parents last night and learned that my dad is in a really bad place right now. He underwent a major shoulder surgery in January and found himself quite depressed with the implications. My dad is an extremely active person… He owns a Physical Therapy practice in my home town and his work is his life. He is someone who is truly compassionate for his work. He also LOVES to golf! Being out on the golf course with his buddies and his family is definitely one of his favorite times. He’s a pilates nut too!!! Haha Secondary to his surgery both his work and golf were taken away for some time. He has found himself quite defeated by that. Just this week though, he returned to work and can see about 3 to 4 patients a day AND he swung a golf club 30 times on Thursday! Something to be grateful for….I sure think so.
One additional side note… My family lost someone extremely important to us about 3 weeks ago. Her name is Jane. She was my mom’s deepest, truest friend and became our family shortly after they met. She spent holidays with us, took care of my brother and I when my parents traveled, and loved my family as her own. She wasn’t just that though…. She was by far the most incredible woman to ever grace my life. Jane lost her mother, husband and daughter in a tragic car accident when she was in her 30′s. Heart wrenching… I know. But Jane took what was handed to her and continued through her life with strength, love, happiness, faith and GRATEFULNESS. She always found the BEST in everything. I can truly say she laughed often, loved much and made the best out of a
any situation. She truly left this world a better place. Jane battled hard and suffered much from 2 forms of cancer, but finally lost her battle on June 5th, 2011. She is at peace now with her family, and that comforts me. She gives us all soecial signs often that she is ok.
Anyway… You are prob wondering where im going with this. Well, I know my dad is feeling pretty sad and defeated right now. Losing A LOT of things or pieces of things he loved/ loves very much. But…when I saw him last night I wanted to shake him and say “C’mon dad…chin up, move forward and do what our Janey would do… Be GRATEFUL for what you DO have and make the most out of it!” 3 patients are better than none…30 strokes are way betters than zero. His pessimism is hard for me to tolerate because of the experiences I’ve had seeing what true suffering and loss are. Janes loss and suffering, and taking care of sick children and losing them…along with living the experience with their families. So I guess what im trying to say is… You are SO RIGHT! We should ALL be grateful for EVERYTHING we do or don’t have. My dad will see, and I will do my best to get him there. The excerpt you shared says it well, and I plan on sharing it with him. Thank you for your post… And thank you for letting me vent on here! Haha I feel better and maybe I’ll even get a little studying done now!! Haha
I’ll leave with 3 things I am thankful for right now:
1- my husband, Adam… My rock, my love, and my best friend.
2- my family and friends (new and old)… They are so wonderful and special, and I owe my successes in life to all of them.
3- the opportunity to advance myself, and pursue my dream of being a PA… eventhough school is kicking my a#* right now and I don’t want to study for Physio at all!! Haha
Thanks again. I wish you all a beautiful rest of the weekend:)
Xoxo
Jen
I’m gonna go check out her blog right now. That excerpt is awesome. I love the “energy burst” effect.
This week I’m grateful for my family. We all had our ups and downs on our vacation, but in the end we all are supportive and understanding of one another and end up smiling and laughing together.
hey jen! thanks for sharing
I am really sorry to hear about Jane…that is absolute awful what happened to her and her family. But pretty admirable that she continued through life with such a positive attitude. I’m sorry to hear about your dad, too. I couldnt imagine losing some of the things I love the most in my life. I hope you can find a way to help him see the things that he does still have and help him appreciate that. Sometimes parents can be pretty tough to deal with…especially since as they get older and older, they just get more and more stubborn! I feel for you, jen…hang in there! I am having a nice weekend in Margate… needed to get out of Philly! haha I probably wont be back in time to study with you today, though. Do you still want to get together before the exam tomorrow? I’ll text you guys later today about that 
hope you had a nice weekend, too and I hope you and Adam liked the apartments…I want you to live near me!!!!!
Hi there would you mind sharing which blog platform you’re using? I’m going to start my own blog in the near future but I’m having a hard time making a decision between BlogEngine/Wordpress/B2evolution and Drupal. The reason I ask is because your layout seems different then most blogs and I’m looking for something unique. P.S My apologies for being off-topic but I had to ask!
no problem! we use wordpress and had our blog “made over” by revive my blog—scroll dwon to the bottom of our blog for the link!
I googled “grateful” and came across this photo, I hope it´s o.k. I borrowed it for my blog.
I´m also doing a blog with my sister (connected-blogs) so maybe it wasn´t a coincidence that I found you. Keep up the good work! . I will be adding you to my blogroll
no problem at all!! that is funny that you are doing a blog with your sister !! I will check it out after I update my blog haha
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