“Grace isn’t a little prayer you chant before receiving a meal.  It’s a way to live.”  ~Attributed to Jacqueline Winspear

My morning rituals have a new piece:  my gratitude journal.

I write in it almost every morning, usually while lying under the covers and watching for a hint of sunlight. Some days, it’s just a few lines – often because I’m in a hurry to get started on the rest of my day. Sometimes though I fill an entire page with people and moments and small joys that I appreciate. The list may include a ripe avocado waiting to be turned to guacamole; a bowl of fruit (leftover from a Hanukkah dinner), heading to my Mom and Dad’s for the weekend; a new writing assignment from Fortune or a friend who I ran into at a favorite Ann Arbor coffee shop. My sweetheart and my children show up regularly, so do an array of fruit and all the new skills and ideas I’m learning.

Nature’s beauty. Time for meditation. Christmas lights. A delicious dinner at Josephine’s in Ferndale. Petting a sweet dog. A very productive day. All inspire my gratitude and show up in my journal.

Often after my gratitude journal, I turn to prayer – thanksgiving and requests. Other days I jump out of bed, run through a few stretches and head downstairs for some water and coffee, some writing and some small act of Everyday Generosity. I’ve already seen  so much good in those few moments of journaling that I am glad to get going on a day of work and play, connection and creativity, all kinds of moments and people that will show up in the next page.

This new ritual makes me believe this fair quote from Henry Ward Beecher:

“Gratitude is the fairest blossom which springs from the soul. “

More posts on gratitude and appreciation will return in a couple of weeks. Watch for new posts soon on storytelling for career success and creating a wisdom jar for your desk.

My thanks to The Quote Garden for these and other quotes.