Editor's Note

Hi Everyone,

How are you feeling about Christmas?

Excited? Frazzled? Happy? Overwhelmed?

Christmas is certainly a magical time of year but for many of us it can also involve racing around trying to squeeze in as many things as possible – drinks with friends, shopping for presents, hanging up the decorations – it seems every spare moment is full of fun and festivity.

But this can also be exhausting, and a little overwhelming.

Is anyone else feeling this too?

I am reading a book at the moment called Idiots by Laura Clery.

She is an American mum and comedienne who regularly posts hilarious online videos of her life as a mum.

She is real, candid and I love the way she does not pretend to have it all together.

Last night I read a chapter that reminded me about something I learnt many years ago, but as with many things, had gotten lost along the busy road of life.

The art of Gratitude.

In her book, Laura tells us how she lists all the things she is grateful for every day – whether that be her family, her health, or even the breath in her lungs!

From that state of gratitude, she then manifests what she wants in her life.

Now I know this sounds a bit fantastical, but stars like Oprah Winfrey, Lady Ga Ga and Will Smith all swear by similar strategies.

Back in my twenties I was obsessed with them too – reading every book I could find on the subject.

As with many things, I thought I would live my life with this ‘enlightened’ mindset forever, but I guess we all need to re-learn and remind ourselves every decade or so.

With this in mind, I have started to practice gratitude again.

Listing things I am grateful for each day can seem a little silly and pointless at first – but I dare you to give it go – I have, and it feels great!

Rach

Quote of the week: “Some people grumble that roses have thorns. I am grateful that thorns have roses” (Alphose Karr)

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