The Gratitude Attitude! It makes a difference to me, maybe it can for you too
By Lindsey Fox:
I write a gratitude list every morning. It was a suggestion from my sponsor in the 12 step fellowship I am part of. It is now the foundation of every day. A grateful alcoholic need never drink again.
My mental health has always been a battleground and, I’ve learnt, that I cannot go into single handed combat with it! Once upon a time, alcohol was the solution to all my problems. Now, gratitude, and connection with others, is the solution for the soul sickness I live with.
The gratitude started off concise and almost like a ticking box exercise. When I couldn’t think of things I was grateful for, I had a look at what I take for granted. I have running water, my legs work, I have two healthy children and an impressive collection of fluffy socks! Now, I get to find the spectacular in the ordinary. The constant chatter of the mental health brain gremlin is quietened by looking at what I have rather than what I’m missing. My friends send me their gratitude lists every day which means that, every morning, before I put my feet on the floor, I’ve had over 100 reasons to be grateful. You can’t get up mad when that’s how you start the day!
No longer do I imagine the “what ifs?” Today, it’s all about the “what now?” My gratitude list did not fix my life overnight but, it does open the window to let the sunshine in.
