As this year draws to a close, it seems like a good time to reflect on gratitude. Or more specifically, what I am grateful for. Here’s why….

I watched a bit of Elizabeth Gilbert on Oprah the other day, and she was talking about how you can create your own ceremonies. She described how one of her favorites is to wake up at dawn, take a walk, and use the first wild animal she sees as her totem for the year. I think this is a great idea, but she lives in the forest and I live in Chicago. I’m afraid if I tried the dawn walk near Lake Michigan, I would end up with a pigeon as my animal totem, and I just don’t think that would do it for me. Maybe I’m being to judgmental of pigeons, but my grandmother always called them ‘rats with wings’, a nasty image to shake.

So back to gratitude… My new end-of-the-year tradition will be to review what I am grateful for this year. I hope some of you (my friends and readers) will also share your ideas about gratitude.

I originally sat down to write this post because, if I am not feeling at my best, it helps to refocus on all that is positive. Writing down these ideas increases that focus. Publishing it on my blog shares it with others and also attracts more gratitude.

So what am I grateful for? I am most grateful to realize as I write this, that there are many people out there who have shown me a kindness this year. Many I know personally and others whom I have met online have surprised me with their thoughtfulness, so THANK YOU. I am grateful!

I am also grateful for my health, my family, my cats, my friends, my patients and all of their continued good health. I’m grateful to be moving forward with a new website and exciting projects for my favorite super-girl tcm007. I am grateful for every time I have had the courage to step out of my comfort zone, and I hope to do more of it in the future. I would love to live life as fearlessly as possible!

Every year holds surprises, and I am grateful for the new possibilities that I have yet to encounter.

What are you grateful for?