"Appreciating what shows up in your life changes your personal vibration. Gratitude elevates your life to a higher frequency." -Oprah Winfrey

Today is a new day. Upon awakening, I smile and welcome the morning with anticipation and enthusiasm. Aside from my daily tasks, I never know what the approaching hours will bring.

In the last few years, I've made it a habit to greet the day with appreciation. With practice, it's easy to compliment the day and notice what I am grateful for. Paying a compliment to someone or something opens me up to be more generous and kind. When I express or receive admiration, my heart fills with compassion, happiness and optimism. I have this unending feeling to do good things. For this week - pay a compliment to someone or share your appreciation of something to a friend.

"The deepest craving of human nature is the need to be appreciated." -William James
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As I continue to practice gratitude daily, it's easy to notice what I am thankful for. I witness ordinary moments with enjoyment and pleasure. Every day becomes more fulfilling.

One of my favorite ways to express gratitude is to send it. It always makes me feel good to send a card to my parents, a close relative, a best friend. Whenever I write them, I smile knowing that not only will they receive a surprise in the mail but also a letter filled with love and kindness. Even though we are miles apart, a heart-felt message of appreciation is never too far or too close to send.  For this week - send a card or write a letter to someone you appreciate. Let them know how grateful you are to have them in your life. :-)

"Whatever our individual troubles and challenges may be, it's important to pause every now and then to appreciate all that we have, on every level." -Shakti Gawain

With the holidays coming up, November is the perfect month to express gratitude. In the midst of our daily routine and responsibilities, we sometimes lose sight of what really matters. We tend to overlook life's little pleasures of happiness. This week, I've learned that there's nothing too small to appreciate. In truth, we have so much to be thankful for. So why not start each day with a grateful heart. :-)

Each week for the rest of the month, I'll share with you the many ways I practice being grateful. I hope you find these methods fun and helpful too. For this week - start your day or end your day by writing five things you are grateful for. Noticing what I'm grateful for not only makes me happier but it also shows me the abundant amount of love and joy in my life.
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"Food is our common ground, a universal experience." -James Beard

Up until a few years ago, I never thought that I'd find inspiration in the kitchen - but now I do:-) Cooking sparks my creativity. I love the different colors of spices and the smell of fresh herbs. I enjoy cooking for my family and finding new recipes.

What I love most when I'm in the kitchen is food prepping - chopping vegetables, mincing garlic, measuring the right amount of spice. Essentially, prepping my ingredients relaxes me. I enjoy every part of my cooking experience - the repetitive sound of dicing, organizing my chopped veggies into bowls, choosing the right spice and tasting the way it flavors the food. The mix of smells, sounds and tastes calms my soul.

Aside from prepping, I love finding new recipes. They give me inspiration to start cooking. I love reading my list of ingredients first - the measurements from teaspoon to tablespoon; do I chop or mince, whisk or blend. These new flavors stimulate my taste buds and the delicious smells spark my curiosity. In the end, I always wonder - what will it taste like? Will it be savory or sweet?