Gratitude Month Reflections

November is National Gratitude Month!

It’s my reminder to celebrate what I’m grateful for in the past year. I like to write down as many as I can think of in my Pathway Planner as I think about my intentions for the next year.

Gratitude is your superpower and gateway to experiencing positive energy, relieving stress, and feeling joy. As humans, our tendency is to focus on our failures or the things that didn’t go as well as we hoped. Then, we either have the choice to give up or set goals and focus on ways to improve. This is called having a growth mindset.

Gratitude can help you focus more on the positives versus the negatives, and it can motivate you to keep going, even when you feel like giving up. 

Chasing Passions and Feeling Grateful

I’ll share one of the many things I’m grateful for in 2022. Ever since childhood, I have been fascinated by the beauty, strength, and vitality of horses. One of the most beautiful images I hold in my mind is watching them run free in an open space – it’s an awe moment! It reminds me to think about how I can experience that sense of freedom, mindfulness and enjoy the outdoors in nature.

Growing up, I never dreamed I would ride horses as a sport or hobby, but I enjoyed the occasional trail ride on vacation. Later in life, I decided to pursue my passion by taking riding lessons. I quickly realized the dedication and time commitment it takes to build a relationship with a horse and make progress, even as an amateur rider. It was more than I could commit to as a mom of three with a career. I put it on hold with the intention of pursuing it later. Looking back, I’m sorry I didn’t stick with it, even if it meant I wouldn’t make huge leaps, my perfectionism and “all or nothing” mindset held me back.

The good news is that my passion came to life this year. I’ve been blessed with amazing school horses, and I’ve been riding several times a week. Aside from being grateful for this opportunity to pursue my passion, I’ve also learned a lot, including humility, courage, and the importance of relaxing in the saddle, which reminds me to relax in other areas of my life as well.  In fact, I’ve been reminded of actions that can apply to any part of our lives:

• Pursue your passion, whether it’s something you excel in or you’re learning something new –  it will result in a happier, healthier you! Take the time, as we close 2022, to reflect on what you really love doing and how you can integrate it into your 2023 intentions.
• It’s never too late to learn something new or pursue something that’s on your bucket list. If you’ve been holding yourself back, reflect on what’s causing you to hold. Maybe it’s fear or a time management issue, whatever it is, face it head-on.
• I’ve practiced patience and perseverance to learn with humility and “to get back on the horse” even when I felt I wasn’t progressing fast enough or had a lesson that didn’t go as well as I hoped. 
• I’ve been reminded of the importance of strong partnerships in work and life. A strong partnership includes trust, patience, and the realization that when you’re in sync with your partner, you’re better together. I’ve built a strong and meaningful relationship with my horse and with people that share my passion. These relationships create positivity and joy in my life.

If you want to learn more about passions and explore yours, I recommend The Passion Test by Janet Bray and Chris Attwood.

As we near the close of 2022, I encourage you to also reflect on what you’re most grateful for this year and what lessons, if any, you can take away from those experiences.