Pressing Pause
Someone wasn’t lying when they came up with the phrase “the days are long, but the years are short” in reference to having children. I woke up this week with a 5 month old baby and I’m not really sure how we got here! The truth is, this year has been incredibly busy for me. Between being pregnant, giving birth, keeping a newborn alive, back to work, eat/sleep, rinse, and repeat, I’ve hardly been in the headspace to think about anything extra. However, to help slow time down, one thing I try to be diligent about is making gratitude a daily practice.
With a child, it's a little tough to keep a gratitude journal (even though that would be my first choice). Instead, I think of 3 things I’m thankful for while I’m lying in bed, before I go to sleep. It fits into my schedule and feels like the right way to end the day. Sometimes my husband and I say them aloud to each other, but if we’re totally zonked (more often than not with an infant), the best I can do is make a mental note. Most days my “gratefuls” are the same: thankful for the sweetest, happiest, baby, thankful for my mother’s help with him while I go to work, thankful for my husband and all he does for our family, thankful for our puppy Curly, and most importantly: thankful for our health! Some days it's as simple as “I am so grateful for the ability to go for a walk today” or thankful to have 1 hour of alone time to take a bath and recharge my batteries.
The point is, it doesn’t have to be grandiose. It can be very simple. I was reading a research article that said that gratitude improves your mind and changes your mental state even if you don’t share it with someone else. Also, after practicing a little gratitude, the benefits of happiness can last for MONTHS. How amazing is that? Mostly I’m realizing, big or small, gratitude improves your happiness and your happiness is everything in this life!
What are you grateful for this year? I know one thing, I am VERY grateful for our Alpenglow family. You are all one of the best parts of my day and I feel incredibly blessed by all you!
