An experiment I tried this summer had amazing and unexpected results.
I understood the power of appreciation at an intellectual level, but I wanted to feel it at a cellular level.
I decided to spend time every day appreciating 10 different things in my life. Each day I had to look at 10 new things to be thankful for and why I was thankful to ensure I would honestly “feel” the appreciation – not just give it lip service.
I wrote in a journal every day. The process started off easy noticing all the major blessings in my life. But after a couple of weeks, I was out of those and I had to start looking at the smaller blessings…the ones I usually take for granted.
I needed a method to discover new things to sincerely appreciate, so I started to imagine life without.
That’s when the magic happened.
I thought about life without electricity and water in the house; without farmers to grow my food; without the barista to make me coffee; without gas stations to provide fuel; without streets and highways; without fans and air conditioning; without shopping carts in stores; without sun; without rain.
The list goes on and on. Which would I be willing to give up and never have again?
None.
That’s when I realized how much I truly appreciate these things in my life.
They are all blessings.
Amazingly, the more I appreciated the little things in life (and they really are not so little); the more there was to appreciate and the more joy I felt.
Now, spending time to appreciate is a regular practice for me.
So on this special Thanksgiving Day, I urge you to take a moment to notice and appreciate ALL that you have. It is amazing and wonderful. And what the future holds for you is more to appreciate.
I wish you a very Happy Life – one filled with love and laughter.
I appreciate you immensely and I thank you for allowing me into your life.
Expect abundance,
Lou Castillo
