Daily Gratitude

"And he who receiveth all things with thankfulness shall be made glorious; and the things of this earth shall be added unto him, even an hundred fold, yea, more." (Doctrine and Covenants 78:19)

Thank you for waking up early and having the energy and determination to get up and get going (more like this, please--thank you!). Thank you for the flexibility of my husband's job that allows him to go in when he wants. Thank you for a husband that is so amazingly supportive in everything I do (more like this, please--thank you!). Thank you for our car--for the technology that brought it into existence, for the money we have to purchase it and keep it running (more like this, please--thank you!), for the freedom it allows us to travel distances much farther than we could walk. Thank you for the gym--for the money that we have to pay for my membership (more like this, please--thank you!) and for the technology that allows indoor swimming pools to exist. Thank you for my parents, who had the money to join the club and pay for swimming lessons. Thank you for all my swimming instructors--including the ones that have written the books and recorded the videos that help me still today. Thank you for my Beyond Freedom, which challenged me to think of all that I wanted to achieve and to start achieving it! Thank you for Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz, who wrote the book that changed my life (The Power of Full Engagement) and gave me the courage to step up and become physically active for the first time ever. Thank you to Tim Kanaley for setting the example and showing me that real people can do triathlons. Thank you for my beautiful children, who are so sweet and loving and supportive (more like this, please--thank you!). Thank you for the inspiration and realization that achieving my own dreams sets the example for my children to achieve theirs. Thank you for the technology that brought the Internet, for all the people that created blogging, for the money to buy this laptop (more like this, please--thank you), for the ability I have to type (including my mind, my vision, and my fingers), and for the inspiration to write in the form of "thank you" rather than "I am grateful." Thank you for Habiba Miller and Carol Look.

Thank you for my amazing, wonderful, powerful, fantastic, joyful life (more like this, please--thank you!).

Lesson 1: Introduction

Here we are--a new day, a new month, a new year. "A blank page or canvas--so many possibilities!" (George Seurat, Sunday in the Park with George)

I am filled with so much gratitude today for my life, my Beyond Freedom, the community, and all of the many gifts I have received in this past year. My life has been enriched and transformed, and right now I am designing this next year to be the most fulfilling and joyful year I have yet experienced. I can't wait!

I am progressing through my Beyond Freedom yet again and will chronicle my experiences here. What jewels will I discover this time?

Exercise: My Ultimate Day

I love this exercise! It feels so good to think about this perfect day--and the more I think about it and write about it, the more my mind will work to bring it to pass.

I awake with the sun and linger only briefly in bed. I am filled with gratitude for my amazing life, and I am excited and eager to start this new, miraculous day. I brush my hair, put on my clothes and head downstairs to enjoy the morning. The house is quiet--I am the first one up--and, as I look out at the water, I again feel my heart swelling with gratitude for my life and the joy I feel in living each moment fully. My home is clean and sparse--I do not need things around me to be happy. In fact, the less I have, the happier I am.

I am so grateful that I am wealthy! I am grateful that I can afford for someone else to keep my house clean and my yard perfectly manicured.

I do some yoga and feel the stretch in my body. I have worked hard to keep this body in such good shape--I am strong, thin, flexible, and well-toned. I am so grateful for all the people that have come into my life that have helped me achieve the results that for so many years alluded me. I am grateful to have the opportunity to be an example for others who also struggle with their bodies.

I go for a quick run--the weather is beautiful, slightly chilly, but not cold. The sun is not too high in the sky. I can't believe that I can run so far and feel so good!

I return home to find that my family is just getting up. After I take a quick shower, we all enjoy a breakfast together of beautiful and bounteous fresh, delicious fruit.

After breakfast, we spend time together as a family. Maybe we play a game, read, or just talk, laugh, and love each other.

Later, we enjoy a delicious and satisfying lunch consisting of a large, fresh, green salad and maybe some hearty bread.

In the afternoon, we all go our separate ways. I may do some scrapbooking, writing, or blogging. Maybe I'll pay a few bills or do some shopping (now that I have this great body, I love to shop for clothes--I never did before!). Maybe I'll do a little business and return a few phone calls from some people who are ready to change their lives and start living stress-free like me. It's amazing how many people I talk to now that take action and get started. The money flows freely into my life, and I receive it with overwhelming gratitude!

In the evening, my husband and I join a few friends for dinner at a fine, vegetarian restaurant.

Afterwards, we head over to the theatre where one of our signature, empowering plays is playing to a packed house. I start the show by welcoming everyone to our life-changing venue. I feel the thrill of standing in front of a crowd--all eyes on me--smiles and applause--I just drink it up!

After the show, throngs of people come up to me to tell me how our plays have touched them and given them the courage to take charge of their lives. They have tears in their eyes, and I do, too. I can't believe I was chosen "for such a time as this." I am so grateful for my life!!!

I am so grateful that I got to live my ultimate day!