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Excerpt from my November 2013 Capital City Hues column.

Not to long ago I had weeks of what seemed like multiple projects and deadlines coming due at same time in my both my professional and business lives. Therefore I missed seeing my three grandchildren for a couple of weeks. The youngest is 18 months old, he and I had been practicing saying the word Nana, which is what my grandchildren call me. He could say the word but he did not call me Nana. After what seemed like an eternity I went by their house and he met me at the door. He pointed at me, yelled out NANA and with the biggest grin ever he started doing a little dance while clapping he hands. Next, he grabbed my hand to follow him. As I followed I looked at my daughter and said, “You don’t get a greeting like this everyday.” I felt so loved, appreciated, happy, thankful, and so on. I felt a flood of positive emotions.

How would you feel, if every night after work, you were greeted by a family member who welcomed you with the exuberance displayed by my grandson? Happy? Loved? Glad to be home? The answer to this question gives you an inkling of the power of gratitude. But does giving or receiving thanks offer only immediate rewards, or does gratitude have far reaching benefits? What if you could live everyday feeling an abiding sense of gratitude — no matter what? Would that have any effect on your life?

This isn’t some etheric, touchy-feely self-help exercise. Some of this effect can be measured biochemically, while other aspects of it are currently beyond scientific measurement. But the bottom line is irrefutable: Expressing gratitude initiates a powerful healing effect in your own mind and body

Why does this work? Continue reading Attitude of Gratitude →

Art, Attitude & Spirituality