One of my poems from my Hindsight 2020 collection recently earned Honorable Mention in the Soul-Making Keats contest. This felt significant to me for a number of reasons, and that's what I share in this episode... along with a reading of the poem which earned the award.

You can pick up a copy of my collection on Amazon for more.

Be sure to follow GratitudeCup.com, too.

We're seven days into 2022. How did you reflect on the previous year before moving headfirst into this one? 

I'll tell you one piece of my own reflective work and how it's benefiting me (there's the gratitude bit!). Maybe it will motivate you to find your own way to assess, evaluate, and reflect now or in the future.

For more on gratitude, follow gratitudecup.com.

This episode continues my 2021 gift list, a reflection on what gifts God has given me in 2021. 

I started creating this list about 10 years ago. It helps me reflect on what I've learned, the blessings I've been given, and my favorite moments before launching into a new year. 

In this episode, I'll share about how God taught me more explicitly to listen, hear, and heed His voice and then to wait and watch for the outcome. 

I'd love to hear your answer to the question, "What gifts has God given you in 2021?" Connect through my blog at gratitudecup.com.

Each year on my personal blog, I reflect on the past year before moving ahead into thinking about New Year's resolutions, selecting a focus word for the year, etc. By taking time to reflect on the gifts I've received over 12 months, I'm gaining awareness of God's movement in my life, refusing to take blessings for granted, and allowing my mind to perceive hard lessons learned and tough situations as potential gifts and blessings, too.

I'm going to share a series on this topic during December, and I'll write a blog post eventually... hopefully... but today I'm sharing ONE lesson learned in 2021 which is a huge gift.

Enjoy, and for more on gratitude, God, and encouragement, check out gratitudecup.com.

Have you noticed benefits of extending gratitude and appreciation? I have. Lots. In today's episode, I'm talking about how practicing gratitude breeds more gratitude. 

For gratitude blog posts and more, visit my site at gratitudecup.com.

If you're a survivor of sexual assault or similar traumatic experience(s), you'll benefit from this podcast episode. I share about my own experience as a survivor and discuss some recent reflections on reactions to trauma. I specifically touch on my struggle, as a survivor, to trust God. I share with you some of the keys to my healing process and recovery. 

Always grateful for the opportunity to allow God to use what's happened to me to heal others. For more on this topic, you can visit my blog at https://gratitudecup.com.

Who encourages you regularly? Offers support and rarely criticizes? 

Today's podcast is about one of those very people in my life, Dr. Teresa Burns Murphy, an acclaimed author who also happens to be my former award-winning professor.

I share with you some of the reasons Dr. Murphy is so valuable to me. I'd encourage you to extend gratitude to the encouragers in your life today, too.

You can find Dr. Murphy's writing on my gratitude blog and on Dr. Murphy's website.

In this episode, I read a chapter from my devotional book & gratitude journal, Mama Meditations: Vol II. 

For more of this goodness, grab a copy of the Mama Meditations Collection on Amazon.

Here's a special treat for all listeners: guest Pari Smart, a Certified Positive Psychology Practitioner (owner of Smart Possibilities, LLC) visited with me about mindfulness, gratitude, and applying positive psychology principles to help us flourish in the workplace and beyond. You won't want to miss these practical tips for improving your daily life. 

To reach Pari, visit smartpossibilities.net. For more on gratitude, follow my blog at gratitudecup.com.

Ever find your expectations for friendships don't match reality? In this episode of Gratitude Cup the Podcast, I share my own experiences on evolving friendships, gratitude for finding the beauty in unexpected newfound friendships, and a story about observing my daughter's growth in one of those unexpected friendships. 

For more stories about gratitude, positive growth, and encouragement, visit my blog at gratitudecup.com.