Gratitudes + Tuesdays = GratiTuesdays

About 5 years ago, I was introduced to a simple exercise called Gratitudes + Breakthroughs commonly practiced in the yoga community. This practice has had a positive change on my mindset and I’m hoping to share that with you!

Each week I sit and reflect – usually with a cup of coffee –  about the things that made me the most happy and the lessons I’ve learned in the last 7 days. Originally, I remember having a hard time feeling grateful for anything that wasn’t grand, overly impressive or spectacular; but as time moved and I dedicated myself to the practice I discovered those things should certainly be celebrated but that it was the smaller instances and connections that really held space in my heart. More so now, I’m grateful for a phone call with a distant friend, the perfect sunset on the porch of my boyfriends house or belly laughs with my sisters in our ongoing text thread. In addition to accounting for my gratitudes I also try to find breakthroughs, lessons or realizations I’ve learned over the week – sometimes they are obvious other times they are elusive, sometimes I have them and sometimes I don’t. This practice helps me recognize growth in various aspects of my life. At times I’ve learned that I needed to dedicated personal space to myself to recharge, that I needed to be less selfish or that I should hold back on that third shot of espresso if I didn’t want a headache.

These things have helped me nurture my life and push for a more real life instead of just passively existing. What does that mean for you and this blog? Each Tuesday I’ll be posting my personal gratitudes + breakthroughs, I’m hoping you’ll start your own private practice or share too in the comments!

GRATITUDES + BREAKTHROUGHS // MARCH 8, 2016

Gratitudes

A weekend trip to Miami, Florida to celebrate my sister Katlyn’s bachelorette party. The trip was filled with sunglasses, sunscreen, a topless beach, cold beach beers, a trip to a night club and a delicious cuban dinner, as well as many stories of friendship and adventures with Katlyn. It was really the best place to honor her as a sister, friend and the joy she has brought to the many special women in her life.

I decided I wanted to start reading again – more consistently – I picked up Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert. She’s the same author for Eat, Pray Love. So far (I’m about 100 pages in) it’s a punch of positivity with inspiring anecdotal accounts that are suppose to help you build and live a creative life. I recommend it!

Breakthroughs

I have officially reached my age limit for partying in a club, especially those welcoming college spring-breakers. I was more concerned about the noise level of the deejay, if my vodka soda was actually top-shelf, how amazing the go-go dancers looked and if my body could move as theirs did. I tried mimic them from our table after gaining confidence from alcohol – turns out I cannot.

Going hand-in-hand with reading more, I remembered a much more affordable way to do so. Currently in my Amazon cart I have over $160 worth of books I’d like to read. That’s a lot of money to shell out on books that I might not like, never finish or even get around to reading. I have rediscovered the local community library, I reinstated my library card and checked out two books(Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert and The Negative by Ansel Adams). And best of all I can read and renew at my own pace, reserve titles online and use their vast e-book collection on my iPad when I travel. I’m feeling positively giddy about this breakthrough and I can’t wait to digest many books over the next year.

As always, thanks for reading. xoxo.