I think I might have changed my future...
I made one tiny shift in my gratitude practice recently… and I genuinely think it changed the trajectory of my entire day (maybe even my future).
A few weeks ago I was listening to a podcast about gratitude (for the life of me I can’t remember which one…. so sorry!), and the guest mentioned that they started saying ONE thing they were grateful for before they even opened their eyes in the morning.
Nothing fancy.
No journaling.
No meditation app.
Just a simple statement, said quietly to yourself the moment you wake up.
I figured… why not try? What’s the worst that could happen?
And honestly? That one small shift has made the biggest difference.
Every morning now, before I even open my eyes, I say to myself…
“I’m so grateful to have another day. How lucky am I that I get to experience today and everything it’s going to bring?”
I know. It sounds kind of woo-woo.
(To be fair, I probably would have rolled my eyes too a few years ago.)
But here’s my honest take away… my days have been better since I started.
That doesn’t mean everything is perfect. I still cry. I still get overwhelmed. I still have days where everything feels like too much.
The difference is: I start from a place of gratitude instead of stress.
I wake up feeling grounded.
I start by noticing just how lucky I am to wake up in a safe, cozy home with my family around me.
Before the noise and the to-do lists rush in, I choose gratefulness.
And that choice changes everything.
If you’re looking to add more gratefulness to your life, I highly recommend Attitudes of Gratitude (we’re reading it together this month inside the book club chat here on Substack. (available for paid subscribers)
Book Spotlight!
One of my amazing clients has a cozy mystery box set on sale right now for only 99 cents. If you love cozies with furry friend, you are in for a treat. Lucy is also an amazing dog trainer so the pups really have their moment to shine in these stories.
Check it out👉 https://amzn.to/45pnWVz
What readers are saying…
“Her three lovely dogs, and great friends make these mysteries so fun to read. And the descriptions of the beautiful landscape! And the cake! These books will warm your heart, as love and affection are everywhere in this great group of characters.”
“If you love dogs, friendship, determination and cake, do yourself a favour and read this boxset to be drawn into this beautiful area, full of characters interacting on so many levels, and so realistic I at least never wanted each book to end.”
📖❤️🫶
I hope you all have an amazing rest of the week filled with joy and gratitude.
Happy reading,
Melissa
P.S. I’m so excited that we added another community member to the book club! That’s one more book donated this month.
As a community we have now donated 17 books to women who need them.💝
For every membership upgraded for $5, I donate a historical fiction or romance book to a local women’s shelter.
Affiliate links are used at no extra cost to you, but they help me earn a small amount, just enough to grab a tea and keep writing! ☕
Your morning gratitude doesn’t sound woo woo to me; it sounds like prayer.
I’ve been trying to create a gentle morning routine to start the day in a positive way. I’m definitely going to add this practice over a cup of tea each morning. So much better than checking emails or scrolling the news!