Feeling and showing gratitude is something that I started practising a few years ago.   I admit that it has been a journey.  Naturally the journey started as a child when my mother taught me to say thank you.  This is a mother thing right?   She was my first teacher and role model and hence a major influential one.    I learned my lesson well.  Now as an adult  I am actually attempting to describe more than a *thank you* in this post;  I am setting out to go a further step into the realm of genuine gratitude. 

To put it bluntly It took me a lifetime before I readily acquired  the daily practice of really being grateful.  Maybe I am being too harsh because I have always had a feeling of gratitude.  I just did not take the time to express it.  On reflection, I can honestly say that people were my greatest influencers.  Like for instance, a *kind* friend challenged me with a Facebook activity to write everyday for one week *3 things I was grateful for.*  Being someone who always accepts challenges I did it with perhaps a *teensy bit* of reluctance.  

The person to whom I really attribute to impacting the most on my developing sense of gratitude is Oprah Winfrey.  I believe that I was at the *right* stage of my evolvement to really process Oprah's words .  You see I was relaxed and ready to meditate the Deepak Chopra way on that fateful afternoon.  I was participating in the *Oprah and Deepak 21 Day Meditation Program on Grace and Gratitude.* 


To me everything happens at the right time.  We call it synchronicity.   I was ready to hear Oprah talk about showing gratitude at the little things everyday.  She made sense!  Make it easy I heard Oprah say.  I felt motivated!  I immediately acted and started my gratitude diary.  Honestly It only takes me a few minutes every afternoon.  Yesterday I felt grateful for:

- tasting the flavours of the cold stewed pear for breakfast

 - reading the last chapter of *AfterLife* by John Edward 

- cuddling an 11 week old baby

**<center>The beach however, is a big thing that I am grateful for everyday.   I love breathing in the colours, the breeze and the energy of my surf beach across the road.  The beach regenerates me.  This is yesterday's beach.</center>**


![](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmPqguqH66CSALnDckJ3YCeUrNBAMQ472csqA9H6WUyuin/IMG_2843.jpg)



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Cheers
Angie

**<center>Thanks for reading and for your support.   It is appreciated.   Please upvote and resteem.</center>**



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