2015 Gratitude List

It’s Thanksgiving week here in the US. The official kick-off of the holiday season and a time when we turn our hearts towards all that we have to be thankful for.

I did this last year and enjoyed it so much I’ve decided to make it an annual tradition. I give you my Gratitude List for 2015:

My Mom

My mom raised my sister and I as a single parent. My dad did the best he could but he was living in another country with limited resources so it was on my mom the majority of the time. Despite things being hard for her, my mom never once led me to believe I couldn’t do anything I wanted to do.

My gender, race, or socioeconomic statuses were never placed in front of me as potential barriers. I was the only thing that could stand in my way. I’ve really come to appreciate that message this year and I am deeply grateful for my mother’s wisdom and unfailing conviction that I could be anything I wanted to be.

Old Friends

As I navigated some transitions this year, my relationship with a lot of friends shifted. This wasn’t a bad thing, just a necessary thing. However, there were a handful of friends who stuck with me through the changes. They have laughed with me, cried with me and, when I needed it, they have kicked my butt to keep me moving forward. I’m grateful for these friends who, like pieces of a puzzle, fit perfectly in my heart.

New Friends

This year my relationship deepened with a few new friends and today I can’t imagine my life without them in it. Each of them has come into my life quite unexpectedly but they fit so perfectly it’s as if my soul had been waiting for them to arrive. They make me a better person on multiple levels and my life is richer for their presence in it.

My Coaches

I, obviously, believe in the power of coaching and this year I invested in a few coaches to help me stretch and grow. I’m grateful for the women who have supported me both in my business and personal life. They challenged and pushed me when I needed it, and held space for me to go slowly when that was needed. They have all been a huge gift to me and I’m thankful I made the investment even when I didn’t think I could “afford” it.

My Clients

I seriously have the best clients in the world. I realize every coach thinks that but mine REALLY ARE the best. Their willingness to do the hard, messy work required to create the kind of change they want in their life is inspiring. They make me excited to get out of bed in the morning. It is such an honor to support and walk alongside this extraordinary group of women (and men too).

Musicals

Musicals still take me to my happy place. This year, I fell in love all over again with Into The Woods. I loved the stage version, but I also enjoyed this movie version. I may or may not play the soundtrack on a regular basis in my house. My old favorites also kept me company this year because, well, some things just don’t change 🙂

Nature’s Gifts

This city girl has become much more aware of the gifts to be found in nature. The cyclical rhythm inherent in nature has provided me with several lessons this year. Lessons that have grounded me in ways I didn’t expect. Grateful for this very unexpected gift.

The Ocean

This year I became even more aware of the ocean’s ability to soothe my soul in ways nothing else seems able to do. Multiple times this year, my soul has needed the salty air of the ocean and I’ve driven the 4 hours to breathe in its magical powers. While I would love to live within walking distance of the ocean, I’m grateful to be a relatively short drive away.

Hard Starts

This year started out HARD!!! But I’m grateful for those hard months because they helped me let go of some significantly limiting beliefs I had that I didn’t realize I was holding on to. Those hard months brought those beliefs to the surface so I could look at them and choose to let them go. I’d rather not live through any of that again but I’m grateful for what I learned through it.

Clarity

I’ve been in business now for about a year and a half and I finally feel clear about the direction of my work. This year, I got really clear on my message and the value I add to my clients and that clarity has made such a difference for me in my business. As I have settled into this knowing, I can see how my life has been preparing me for this work and I’m excited to see where things go in 2016.

Okay now it’s your turn. What are you grateful for this week? Tell me in the comments below or come over to Facebook and let me know. I can’t wait to see what you share.

From my heart to yours,