GK Chesterton, provides our spark today..."Thanks are the highest form of thought, and gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder." When you PAUSE and express thanks -- you're participating in a higher level of thinking...one that CAN lead to a greater sense of WELLBEING and HAPPINESS. This sense of wonder -- it actually enhances and enriches our happiness, as it encourages us to appreciate the simple things in life and find joy in the present moment. That's what I invite you to do today...PAUSE, NOTICE, and EXPRESS gratitude for something that awakens or provokes AWE and WONDER -- share it with us if you will.

Such wise words -- "No one who achieves success does so without the help of others. The wise and confident acknowledge this help with gratitude.'

There's really no such thing as a self-made man or woman. Nor is there a successful 'solo-preneur.'

People contribute to your success! Be wise and confident so you recognize the influence and contributions of others.

Take a moment today to express gratitude to those who help you!

If you're like most people I know, you journey through life included a mix of high and lows, ups and downs, along with twists and turns.

I won't tell you that gratitude will eliminate those...gratitude will help you make sense of those.

Gratitude will also help you find ways to grow through whatever comes your way.

The BIG idea we're exploring today comes from Brain Tracy, "Develop an attitude of gratitude, and give thanks for everything that happens to you, knowing that every step forward is a step toward achieving something bigger and better than your current situation."

Movement creates momentum. Every step forward is movement...enough steps forward become momentum. It's hard to steer a parked car! Take action today to move forward!

Here's the BIG idea of today's GEM -- By embracing an attitude of gratitude, I made a decision to be the hero of my story rather than the victim of my circumstance. Let's break this down into two parts...part one EMBRACING AN ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE... YOU HAVE AGENCY...YOU GET TO CHOOSE YOUR ATTITUDE. The second part of this BIG IDEA -- when we EMBRACE an ATTITUDE of GRATITUDE we're also making THE DECISION to be the hero of my story rather than the victim of my circumstance. YOU HAVE THE POWER and the OPPORTUNITY TO EMBRACE GRATITUDE...and BY EMBRACING GRATITUDE -- write a BETTER STORY--- a story with YOU as VICTOR and not VICTIM.

Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness. Desmond Tutu I love this line...it recognizes and admits the truth that THERE is DARKNESS in the world...and you and I will all experience times of darkness -- like we discussed in GEM 24. IF HOPE GROWS IN GRATITUDE and HOPE is what allows you and me to be or become more optimistic than pessimistic -- then it's probably fair to say that OPTIMISM also grows IN gratitude.

When was the last time you found yourself in a dark place? A time of despair...a time of desperation...maybe you had lost hope or had become disillusioned -- maybe even stopped believing in yourself or that something better was possible for you? Here's a truth -- one you may be tempted to doubt...moments are like these are part of the human condition...AND every one has them at one time or another. Today -- I invite to to THINK with DEEP GRATITUDE an IGNITER OF THE FLAME...and if possible, send them a note of thanks -- whether that's a call, a text, an email, handwritten note or letter.

Today's Gratitude Insight -- "silent gratitude isn't much good to anyone" suggests that simply feeling grateful for something or someone without expressing it outwardly doesn't have much impact on others or the world around us. When you express the gratitude you have FOR someone TO them -- you're hitting the HOT BUTTONS -- in effect, you're SAYING: I SEE YOU, I VALUE YOU, YOUR PERSON, YOUR PRESENCE, and YOUR CONTRIBUTION...you're telling them YOU MATTER...and mattering matters...a lot. Today's INVITATION is for you to NOTICE the amazing contribution/s of someone in your life and world and communicate THE GRATITUDE YOU FEEL FOR THEM...TO THEM.

Today, we're drawing on some ancient wisdom -- Epicurus who lived 300 BC. Here's the thought he had that we're using to illuminate our hearts and minds today... "Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for." Today's invitation is to PAUSE -- look around in your LIFE and NOTICE something that you now HAVE that was once just a dream...something you only hoped for...but now experience as reality. Take a moment to EXPRESS gratitude for that. I invite you to share what you DISCOVER that was once just a dream.

Welcome to another GEM...#21.

You've heard me say before that gratitude never travels alone...that gratitude always travels in good company. Here's something else that is often found in the presence of gratitude...COURTESY. When YOU are sincere with your gratitude...you're acknowledging the VALUE and WORTH of someone's ACTIONS, IDEAS, or CONTRIBUTION -- you're saying I SEE YOU, I APPRECIATE YOU...I VALUE YOU...and that is an exquisite form of courtesy.