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Thursday, September 24, 2015

Nurturing Creativity-Part II


Expressing Gratitude-This is a BIG one for me. Many years ago my life was tremendously impacted by a sweet book written by Sara Ban Breathnach. It was "Simple Abundance". The world was abuzz with the concept of keeping gratitude journals. Not a new concept, but instantly driven home to the masses by this book and Oprah's endorsement. I bought a dozen copies and gave them to the women in my life that I loved dearly. It was just too good not to share the power of simply writing down five things we are grateful for every day and how this practice creates abundance. It's a universal law. REALLY, it is!

That was about seventeen years ago and I still practice gratitude journaling to this day. I remember it being difficult at times. But, most days, I could go on and on. Last week, I modeled for some students in an art class and spent the entire three hours listing (in my mind) all the things for which I am grateful. I wish I had counted them as I went. But, when I get started, the things I am grateful for rather flood my brain and there would be no way to keep count. It's truly euphoric! 


 This is me being grateful!

 
Although there are many brilliant works on this topic gratitude ,  I share with you this turning point for me as I recall lying in the hammock every evening while my husband, Charles, read the daily writings of "Simple Abundance" to me. We both shared what we had written in our gratitude journals and marveled that we had so much overlap. 


Grace is available for each of us every day-our spiritual daily bread-but we've got to remember to ask for it with a grateful heart and not worry about whether there will be enough for tomorrow.
 -Sarah Ban Breathnach


It is a lifestyle of expressing gratitude that nurtures my creativity. Seeing simple beauty around me supports my mission to create more beauty. And, that's how I see it! What nurtures your heart's desires?

Come see my new paintings!
With much gratitude,
Lisa

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