The Purse that Keeps On Giving

 

Do you feel your acts of kindness matter?

Dressed to the hilt and driving a nice car, my business partner and I tirelessly drove around the streets of Miami each week in search of our next listing. Such is the typically fast-paced and fairly unpredictable life of a Realtor.

During these drives, we encountered our fair share of women living on the streets. There they stood, begging for money on the side of the road in the sweltering Miami sun, facing car after car, judgement glare after judgement glare. Why don’t you get a job? Why don’t you get a house? Why don’t you get off drugs?

She may be a mother. Maybe she’s seen her fair share of hardship. Maybe the pain of the abuse she faced as a child drove her to drugs just to help make the pain go away. But it never really went away. It just built up and built up. Soon it affected her job. And without that, no rent. After begging for hours, she gets $10. Enough for a little fast food. The last thing her malnourished body needs.

While homeless individuals face a variety of challenges and life-threatening obstacles every day, there are a variety of challenges that threaten the women on a regular basis. Every month, women living on the streets must choose between buying feminine hygiene products or their next meal. Feminine hygiene products are often more expensive than other basic care products. Most shelters do not provide items like pads or tampons free of charge. For these women, the cost of these products is simply too much, so they use soiled t-shirts or rags as replacements. These unsanitary homemade alternatives cause health issues, especially without access to a washing machine.

This brought up thoughts and conversations about our increasing concerns on fluctuating income during a down market and a recession. The fact that we only got paid when we closed a deal. We could be rolling in cash one month and then go three months without a paycheck. It wasn’t always realistically possible to budget ourselves in order to weather feast or famine. Then, the reality that we could potentially be a paycheck away from being homeless hit us on the head like a ton of bricks.

We contacted all of our friends, family, neighbors, clients, prospects and acquaintances and asked them to donate their unwanted purses. We purchased feminine products and toiletries and were able to fill 11 purses. We headed to the streets that day with a different purpose. That was the day that, instead of a judgement glare, we held out a purse filled with toiletries. That was the day The Giving Purse morphed into more than just an idea.

The Giving Purse Foundation, now a Florida Non-Profit corporation, is dedicated to collecting, organizing and delivering purses and bags filled with toiletries directly into the hands of the homeless. We have had the honor of partnering with organizations like Lotus House, Camilus House and Choose Love Foundation. In the last 4 years, we have personally handed out nearly 1,000 purses/bags with toiletries. We believe we can work together with the community to provide this vulnerable population with basic necessities while they work to overcome hardships and move forward with their lives.

We hope to continue to provide these necessities with the help from our generous sponsors and individual donations and support. We believe acts of kindness can change the world.

Today, and every day, we should all be alert to ways we can spread kindness — even in the smallest of ways.

Today, and every day, we can change the world.

You can find us on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/TheGivingPurse

At The Giving Purse, we welcome support from YOU, our community, by donating via the link below:

PayPal.me/Givingpurse

Love & Light to you all! Have a wonderful Holiday!

Consider Making 2022 Your "No Buy" Year

 

A life changing experience…

My friend Adriane just purchased a new pair of jeans.

What’s so special about that? Those jeans represented the successful completion of her “no buy” year.

She shared with me some of the lessons she learned from a year of buying almost nothing.

Her main motivation, if not her ONLY motivation, was to save money.

When we went into the first lockdown, it was pretty obvious that, sadly, she might be losing her job. She wanted to protect herself as much as she could from potential financial ruin. This is when she came up with the strategy that, if she could get herself to the point where she could save fifty percent of her take-home salary, then for every month that she did that, she could almost buy herself a month of being out of work. She wanted to make sure she was OK if the worst happened.

Her “no buy” rules were pretty simple. She could only buy things that she absolutely needed and she did not allow herself to buy things just because she wanted them. Over this past year, she purchased food but no take-out, no fast food and no meals out. She did buy cleaning products and personal care/hygiene items that had run out. This means she could not buy a new shampoo because she wanted one — only when she had run out.

The Lessons

One of the biggest lessons was to be aware of impulse purchases. She realized how many things she was buying that were nonsense — those little impulse purchases. Even though she had been on an aggressive saving plan to be able to buy a house, by not spending in other areas, she managed to save an additional $300 per month. This was a big motivator from the start.

Buying things never really works. It just distracts you from the feeling at the time.

Feelings cannot be fixed with things. Many of us shop to distract ourselves from how we are feeling. Feeling sad? Buy a new outfit. Don’t feel pretty? Buy some more make-up. Feeling bored? Go on your favorite website and see what you can buy. The last couple of years have been filled with many unpleasant feelings. But there is really nothing any of us could have purchased that would have fixed any of that.

She admits that there is nothing really wrong with owning things or with shopping — only that now, when she finds herself shopping, she will ask herself if she really needs it. She will ask if this item will bring any kind of value to her life. If it it doesn’t fill anything, then it’s probably best to step away and deal with those feelings in a different way.

Saving money has lots of benefits over owning things.

Aside from having an emergency fund when you’re self-employed, having a “no buy” year has gone over and above having to replace the washer machine if it breaks. It offers a much greater sense of security.

Adriane states that, if she were to lose her job tomorrow, learning to live within her means would lessen her worry and anxiety.

Secondly, it offers you a much greater feeling of control. If you’ve saved money and you find yourself in a job you’re not happy with, you would be in a position where you could potentially say “up yours” and quit. Even though you might never do it, knowing that you could makes you feel less trapped.

Thirdly, it gives you options. Let’s say an opportunity came your way but it would mean that for the first year you would earn a lot less. You might decide, if you’ve saved your money, that you could take that opportunity and pursue your dreams.

If you get used to saving money and you get used to living with less, you might be able to take a lower paying job and spend more time with family or doing what you love.

Staying away from social media helps. When you don’t concern yourself with what other people have, and what other people are doing, then you’re much content with what you have and what you’re doing. You don’t need to compare yourself and that leads to less shopping and more happiness.

Adriane says that if she were to decide to do another “no buy” year, she’s fairly confident that her shopping will be fairly minimal. No one knows what could happen in the coming months. These really are unprecedented times.

During this past year, by doing the “no buy”, she ended up saving Sixty percent of her take-home salary. She would never have even thought that it was possible to do that. It certainly has changed her relationship with money and shopping forever. A life changing experience for sure.

Destress with Self-Care

 

This can be a game changer in your life. ..

This time of year can be demanding and stressful as we are all running around checking off items off our to-do list.

Self-care is an act of loving ourselves, nurturing our spirit so that we know we are enough. When I practice self-care, I feel relaxed, calmer and at peace. Self-care doesn’t need to cost a lot of money or any money, but it is a conscious effort on investing in ourselves. We are all worth the time so that we can feel our very best.

Setting the tone of how I want to feel helps slow down my overactive mind and helps me reconnect with the softer, calmer side of myself. I set a peaceful mood by lighting a candle and putting on my favorite soft, relaxing music. I close my eyes and think about everything I’m grateful for. When I am filled with gratitude, I’m not angry or frustrated, upset or anxious. Gratitude is an extremely powerful tool to help bring out the joy that I have. I set an intention of how I want to feel, intentionally listing all the positive ways that I want to feel for the rest of my day.

Bringing awareness to my breath helps quiet the chatter in my mind. I focus on my breath and notice the rise of my chest on the inhale and the fall as I exhale. I slowly breath in and out 10 times. The steady focus on my breath brings me steady focus and calms my stressful thoughts. This brings me a sense of peace and serenity.

I tend to take on the mood of anything I read, listen to, or watch. When I listen to an uplifting podcast or read an inspirational book, I am instantly lifted up and I feel more optimistic. Feeding my mind with positive uplifting messages really helps keep my mood light and it inspires me to be the best version of myself I can be. It can be a book on something that I’m interested in learning more about or an inspiring autobiography. Choosing a book or a podcast, something that inspires you or makes you feel calmer and more relaxed is a wonderful way to get out of the mind and the chatter, the stress and the overwhelming feeling.

By walking every day at least 30 minutes or doing another stretching and flexibility exercise like yin yoga has become a ritual of mine that really helps reduce my stress and gives me time to reconnect with myself and my thoughts. It provides me with a great opportunity to mull over any thoughts or ideas that I have. Moving my body, getting outside, taking deep breaths and fresh air, feeling the sun on my face and just noticing the world that’s happening around me is very calming and soothing to my spirit.

Doing something for myself that brings me joy doesn’t have to cost a lot of money. I love planting and tending to my plants. Spending time watering my plants, taking off the dry leaves, looking at their new growth and taking my time to make sure the sun hits them at the right angle. I love the life that they bring into my home as well as outdoor areas.

It can also be an activity, like going on a hike and having an enjoyable mid-morning breakfast with my friends. Taking a nice bath or shower and putting on body lotion from head to toe. Taking the time to do the things that really bring you joy is a beautiful way to show yourself that you value your happiness.

I tend to feel very overwhelmed when I have a lot on my plate. I have learned that when I just take a few minutes to prioritize my day and map out the things that are most important for me to achieve that day really gives me a sense of calm and makes me feel like I’m in control. I try to narrow down my large to-do list by eliminating the things that aren’t absolutely necessary for that day. I try to stick to 2 or 3 items that are most important, that must get done and I give myself permission to let go of everything else. I am kind and compassionate with myself as I realize I’m only one person and I can only do so much in a day and acknowledge that it’s ok if I don’t do everything.

When I treat myself with compassion and understanding, I’m much happier. Finding simple ways to reduce stress and relieve anxiety can be a game changer and it has been in my life. I hope that these tips will also be a game changer for you.

Sometimes life can leave us feeling stressed and anxious. With self-care you can feel abundant, relaxed and peaceful.

The Dawning of Doomsday

 

The day Alexa went on vacation…

On a gloomy Tuesday morning in December, my wake-up alarm did not go off and I overslept. Alexa failed to turn on the lights and announce the indoor and outdoor temperature. The time on my cell phone and the time on the analog clock that I had for decorative purposes were different. Looking outside and seeing that the sun was high in the sky confirmed that the time on the analog clock was correct. My cable wasn’t working either. So, I was not able to watch my informative morning show to start the day. The wrong time on my cell phone was concerning — did this mean the apps weren’t working either?

It became clear that there had been an internet outage. It felt as though I had fallen upon dark times, taken back to the prehistoric age. Lucky for me, today was my day to work from home so I wasn’t running late to an office job. But that was going to challenging without being able to access my google calendar and not having a clue as to what I had to do today.

Looking in my refrigerator for something to have for breakfast, I’m reminded (not by Alexa — by my own brain-almost forgot I had one) that I needed to get some groceries. That was going to be challenging since Alexa was keeping a list of the groceries I needed to buy. When I managed to scrounge something to eat, having breakfast without the noise of the TV or even a podcast was scaringly boring.

Having experienced some internet outages lately, mostly while at the office, I know that they can occur due to censorship, cyberattacks, disasters, police or security services actions or errors. My neighbor, who has a land line but claims she doesn’t know the first thing about troubleshooting, called her internet service provider, who explained that the internet outage was a major one. It wasn’t just affecting us, but a wider area and a large number of people.

So what does one do when this type of internet outage occurs? Pick up a book? Go outside and admire the sun? Smell some flowers? Instead, I decided to cry in the mirror, yell at my internet service provider and nervously pace back and forth.

I recall having a short-term outage a few months ago on a Saturday afternoon. I was sitting at home, surfing the web on my phone. My laptop was streaming Netflix and my tablet was streaming a funny YouTube video. I was having a nice, relaxing time, when all of a sudden, it all stopped. My movie stopped playing. Google wouldn’t load. My cat videos were paused right before the funny part. I repeatedly clicked “refresh” and asked God “why me?”.

In this age of technology, we are all wired up and plugged in. The slightest disruption to internet services causes us to lose track of the world around us. It’s a scary thought. And with more and more people plugged in than ever before, internet outages are more and more common.

Does this mean we can go back to spending time being bored and doing nothing? On the metro, in line at Starbucks, even in the shower?

We can go back to sending telegrams and Western Union will have to open up its doors that closed in 2006 due to the internet and cell phones. We can go back to see our doctors since we can’t look up symptoms and self diagnose. Average people will no longer have a chance to be celebrities.

If you happen to know anyone who still has an actual “landline” (not through a cable/internet provider) and a phonebook, be prepared to literally pay a pretty penny to use them — and make that cash!

Wristwatches can go back to their functional purpose instead of a fashion piece, so make sure they have a working battery. Hello records, goodbye Pandora, Spotify, iHeart Radio and Slacker. Perhaps some of those stores we loved in our childhood like Sam Goody, Blockbuster and Moviefone, which also shut down due to the internet, will make a comeback.

We may sleep more. We may work more. We may socialize, party and relax more! We may even memorize phone numbers!

I think I may use some of the cash I have lying around the house to go buy a newspaper tomorrow and find out what ‘s going on and, while I’m at it, the weather and some of the sports scores.

It’s a good thing I decided to keep some of my cookbooks — now I can dust them off, leaf through them and decide what to make and eat. Alexa’s on vacation — maybe even a permanent one.

Like those now distant pre-internet days, I’ll have to physically go to the bank, or at least call it (using my neighbor’s land line) to check my balance and take cash out. I’m so glad I actually have a PRINTED list of my bank account numbers and passwords. We may soon be waving goodbye to PayPal, BillPay and Bitcoin.

It’s nice to have old neighbors, mine even have an entire set of Encyclopedia Brittanica (went out of print in 2011 because of… you guessed it) that I can use for research for my articles.

Singles can go back to meeting at bars or dog parks. No need to take a nice selfie or create a profile, a real smile and face-to-face conversation may do the trick. Privacy and anonymity may be back and maybe even serendipity.

My friends, if this is permanent, it’s time go outside, become confused and disoriented by the “real world”, paint our feelings and complain to our congressman if need be. It is the younger generation who will feel overwhelmed. The tables have turned. We don’t need texting; we can conquer the world sending notes in cursive to each other. We’ll sure miss those cat videos though.

Gaslighting - It's Not All in Your Head

 

A tactic that can dim your reality…

Imagine that you’re at a party and, as you’re talking to a friend, you notice that a couple of yards away, your partner is flirting with someone. And they’re being very obvious about it — like their hand is on the other person’s hip. You don’t want to make a scene at the party so you wait until you get back home to ask them “what was that all about?”. And then, they deny it. They say that you’re wrongly accusing them of something that, actually, you saw right in front of your eyes. Or you’re pretty sure you saw it. Actually, maybe you didn’t see it. You’re not so sure anymore. The more insecure you become, the more they insist; “I can’t believe you think I would do something like that. What kind of person do you think I am? Wow! I didn’t know you were so paranoid! You really hurt my feeling now”.

And so in the end, you find yourself apologizing, thinking ‘well, maybe I’m the one with the problem, maybe I’m being overly jealous?’ As they continue to sulk, you even apologize several times over the next days, feeling guilty for ever having questioned their commitment and their feelings for you.

Believe it or not, this actually happened to a friend of mine. And it’s called Gaslighting. She knew what she saw and, yet, she doubted herself. It was only when, by chance, someone else confirmed that it really did happen and that it wasn’t just ‘in her head’ that she was able to see how she was being controlled by her then partner.

Luckily, people are more and more aware of this type of manipulation. But sometimes, it’s not easy to recognize because gaslighters are usually very, very good at making you believe their narrative.

So, what is gaslighting? In plain terms it’s when somebody messes with your head by trying to shift your reality through the creation of confusion and doubt. You know something to be true, you’ve heard it, you’ve seen it, and they are doing their utmost best to distort your reality with a variety of different tactics. There’s misinformation, contradiction — it’s a manipulation. When our relationships are full of doubt, that is a serious red flag that something is wrong. In a gaslighting situation, somebody is benefitting from our doubt and confusion. In abusive relationships, the purpose of gaslighting is to bring you under their control.

The term “Gaslighting” refers to a 1930’s play called “Gas Light”. In the play, the main character is trying to convince his wife that she’s going insane by dimming the gas lights in their home ever so slowly while convincing her the darkening house is all in her imagination.

A very classic example of gaslighting is when a partner in a relationship is lying and cheating but denying that they are. There’s also the example of a co-worker that changes something in a piece of work but denies that they’ve done it — or asks us to make changes and when we do them and then they turn around and state that they’ve never asked you to do that. Even though, actually, you are the victim, they shift the focus to you being the problem — to the point where you actually forget that their behavior was a problem at all. You may end up apologizing for something you haven’t done.

If you are dealing with somebody who you suspect is prone to gaslighting activities, it’s a good idea to get into the habit of sticking to facts. This would make it far more likely to make them move on to another target. This is especially effective if you are dealing with this type of person in the workplace. Make sure that you have a trail and a follow-up system and that you can confirm information in detail. They will realize that they can’t mess with you because you are not willing to allow them to hijack your reality.

No matter how much you like a certain person and enjoy being with them, if when there is a problem, they react by denying it, by refusing to acknowledge the impact of what they’ve done, by shifting the focus or by calling you names- then you know you need to step away.

It’s important to note that gaslighters are not always necessarily evil people who are consciously trying to mess around with your head. Sometimes its just people who, in their inability to be honest with themselves, can’t be honest with us.

Do not allow anyone in your life to convince you that gaslighting is the way to go. Instead of spending time doubting yourself (‘maybe I should be more this or less that’), flush them out of your life, and fast.

The Objects of Our Attention

 

How dependant are we on obtaining objects?

Last Monday I overslept and was running late. I had a quick shower, some coffee and gathered together the things I needed for my work day. Hurrying to get out of the house, I realized I didn’t have my car keys. I panicked. For that moment, that tiny object, a small piece of metal, mattered more than anything else. Racing back in the house, I rummaged around in yesterday’s clothes, searched the kitchen table, the laundry basket and the desk with the computer. No car key. Agitation, anxiety and wild thoughts took over.

I finally spotted the key on the coffee table. I had sat on the couch to take off my shoes when I got home the night before and must have put the keys down on the coffee table. My whole body relaxed. Inner peace returned and I returned to the car. My forgetfulness had triggered panic that I could have avoided thru mindfulness.

Our world is full of objects. If I think of the number of different objects that come to my senses every day, I couldn’t possibly count them. It got me thinking about how many different things I see on a daily basis or how many things I hear. Then add to that all the different smells, tastes and things I touch. I might also describe all that goes on in my mind as objects as well, because thoughts, attitudes, states of mind, memories, plans and the whole range of feelings, emotions and reactions exist as objects of our attention.

Day in and day out, we have become involved with objects to the point that we might describe our life as going from one object to another, moment after moment. There are times when the importance of an object is brought sharply into focus — like my car keys.

Our relationship to ‘things’ affect our sense of well being. We might give an object- whether it is a person, item or idea — great significance. Sometimes we claim that an object causes our happiness or is responsible for our unhappiness. We grant significance to objects and give them power to make an impact on us. Our mind swings from elation to despair, according to the way we see things.

Does possession of an object really matter? What is so important about objects that we have granted some of them such overwhelming importance in our lives?

As I practice mindfulness, I’m learning to see objects as objects, free from desires and needs and to explore the interconnectedness of all things and experiences. This helps me to stop investing too much of myself and projecting my desires onto objects.

The Energizing Power of Newness

 

Doing something new is like taking a happy pill…

We take care of our health all our life so that we can have long lives. As an old soul, I’ve always looked forward to old age, or what I consider to be old age. For me, 60's feels old, or at least, a lot. So it seems clear that I have arrived. Now what?

Who am I now that I’m in my sixties? What does 60’s mean? How does the world perceive me in my 60's? I’ve never defined myself by the things I can’t do anymore (skiing, for one). My energy level is lower. But why should I concentrate on the negative when there’s so much positive?

Now I have new rights, responsibilities and privileges in the land of the old. I have made the decision to be a writer. I truly believe that I have something to say more than ever before — to make a difference somehow.

I decided to do a few new things every year. I don’t want to become stale or uninterested. I want to keep expanding and exploring. You might think that by our 60’s we’ve done so many things, what’s next to do? Plenty!

Doing something I’ve never done before makes me feel new — and young. It makes me feel like an explorer, a conqueror. Doing something new is like a happy pill. The challenge of doing something new is energizing.

I’ve taken the time to reflect on my life. Self-reflection is considered a luxury instead of a necessity these days. You rush from one task to another and the minutes tick by until the end of the day when you literally fall into bed. Sometimes even sleep is rare because the mind chatter won’t stop spinning. It has helped me stay out of “stupor” and celebrate life instead of slogging through muddy waters.

After years of never having the time (due to work and family mostly), I finally have the time to write about subjects I care deeply about. It’s time to have my say! It’s been an ongoing education to learn the craft and I’m nowhere near mastering it. I’ve come in contact with so many people on blogging platforms like Medium that are in the same boat I am, as well as some “masters” I truly admire and fashion myself after. I won’t mention any names here. You know who you are.

I founded a non-profit organization called “The Giving Purse Foundation” to provide homeless women living on the streets with purses filled with toiletries. It keeps me active and engaging in all kinds of activities to raise funds and prepare events. Volunteering my time and being involved is an empowering feeling. It makes me feel engaged and current.

In addition to my regular walking schedule, I bought myself a bicycle a few years ago and ride regularly with friends for exercise and fun.

I now have a morning routine and I start my day thinking about me. In addition to my predawn hours of writing, I practice yoga for stretch, toning and balance. I do a short, guided meditation to slow down the endless mindless mental chatter and decrease the incessant conversations I have with myself. This is followed by some weights for the prevention of “bat wings” and upper body strength. After my exercise, I do my journaling, reflecting on the previous day and all the things I’m grateful for, as well as my intentions for the day ahead. I find that, if I start my day with clarity and intention to do the most important work, success follows me. It’s has become the main ingredient of how I measure my life.

I joined a spiritual tribe that I do different activities with every month and retreats throughout the year. I’ve learned to open my heart. My heart reflects a generosity of spirit and a sense of encouragement and inspiration for others. It gives me a measure of how I am managing my expectations and how my mindsets can be changed to reflect more positive perceptions, peace, joy and fulfillment. I’ve made some great friends and continuously learn about a variety of subjects including self-love and being in touch with my intuition.

What new things will I do next year?

I will make simplicity my new luxury. I will focus on living light. I will stop collecting people, places and things that get in the way of making clear intentions. Living light eliminates the superfluous and reframes my mindset to reflect purpose.

I will learn to say NO. I’ve realized that I say YES to people because it’s easier and requires little thought or effort. I will be responsive to myself and learn to discern and reflect about what adds value to my life. I’ve learned that NO is a powerful word when used appropriately. It is a measure of how I establish boundaries and belief systems that add value to my life.

On January 1, 2022, I will delete the Facebook app from my phone. Being constantly connected has reduced my quality of life and can potentially harm me. It interrupts my work, my time with friends and family, and even the time I should be using to rest. I want to enjoy life in real time.

I will no longer bend to the reflections of people around me, take on their opinions and observations as if they might be my own values or beliefs. I will not let anyone else influence me or tell me who I am. I am unique unto myself.

The new things I’ve done in my 60’s have made me confront my priorities, my fears, my desires, my sorrows, my regrets, my passions, my unanswered questions. I promised myself to live in the moment, to practice compassion, which the Dalai Lama says is the most important thing in life.

Change Your Mind Change Your Life

Read short and uplifting articles here to help you shift…

Why Gratitude Will Change Your Life Forever

 

Make it your positive addiction…

For me, Thanksgiving has always been a reminder to appreciate all the good in our lives. This can include family, friends, and colleagues as well as fruitful lifestyles, good health, and wellness. The most wonderful aspect about this holiday is how it tends to focus us onto all things positive and away from gift-giving for materialistic motivations.

During this time, we are reminded that there is more to be thankful for than to be sad about. I’ve been reading and learning about the power of positive thinking for many years now — specifically to look at the glass as half-full rather than half-empty. After almost two years of pandemic living, it’s a welcome relief to gather with our friends and loved ones to celebrate.

Some of us have experienced losses and feeling gratitude might be more difficult. But there is always something to be grateful for, even when feeling alone and lonely.

Some say they don’t have time for gratitude in their busy lives. I was introduced to a ‘gratitude journal’ at a work event many years ago. It was highly recommended as a way to show gratitude on a daily basis. I loved the idea of taking time every day to recognize the things I was grateful for. However, in those days, time for journaling seemed scarce in my busy life.

The concept of keeping the journal was easy enough. It simply involved making notes at the end of each day of the things I was grateful for. The format and details were up to me — list form, paragraph form or bulleted list — whatever worked for me. I treated myself to a new “pretty” notebook, got started and have never stopped since. I wrote about what I was grateful for each day, even on difficult days. I wrote about things I was grateful for then that I once thought I didn’t need. I wrote about privileges I was taking for granted. It allowed me to put a lens on to the day that selectively allowed me to see more of the positive.

I learned that expressing gratitude in writing produced a sense of appreciation, reduced my stress and strengthened my emotional resilience. It has been a continual reminder of the importance of incorporating gratitude into my stream of consciousness. It’s my reminder that, even when it seems I’ve hit rock bottom, there is always hope that will come out on the other side.

Living a life of gratitude is my positive addiction.