Flex. Repeat.

Feeling grateful is not "natural" for me.

I'm a worrier.  If there was an award for building theoretical worst-case scenarios out of every damn snag that presents itself in this life, I would have a brag-wall full of gold medals.
  I am really, REALLY good at worry.  I've had a lifetime of practice.

I was hospitalized at the age of 10 and diagnosed with a "nervous stomach".  Had an ulcer by 18.  Have stood nose-to-nose with the black dog of depression several times (he's a real bastard - more on that another day).

It is bloody exhausting.  Worry sucks the life out of everything - and gives you absolutely nothing in return.

So I decided to try another way.  What if I actively looked for the "good"?  The small (and large) things that make me smile?  Make my heart swell?  My soul sing?  It was worth a shot - it couldn't hurt.

So I started trying to keep my eyes, and my heart, open to the positive.  Slowly at first - I had work to see the world through another lens.  When a person is accustomed to looking through a gray filter, it takes some effort to shove that heavy thing out of the way in order to see clearly.

I was blessed to have wonderful examples of positivity around me - friends and family who lived with adversity and still managed to be happy, optimistic humans.  I started to pay more attention to them - perhaps some of that good stuff would rub off on me?

Guess what? That elusive good stuff?  It's EVERYWHERE, man.  You just have to watch for it.  It is free and abundant - a naturally renewable resource, there for the taking.  Each time I recognized it I felt happy.  Peaceful. Grounded. Capable.  It was freaking awesome.

I was so damned thankful for those feelings.  It was like changing out of cold, wet clothes into your favorite flannel pajamas -  every single time.  I felt grateful - this was a gift.

But (there's always a but, isn't there?)....I found that if I was not actively looking for the good stuff I simply didn't notice it was there.  AhHA!!!  Eureka!  This would be something I would have to commit to.  I had to make looking for the positive part of my routine - exercise my soul daily, just like a muscle I wanted to strengthen in my body.

Flex.  Repeat.  Flex.  Repeat.

It's the best workout I've ever found - I'm hooked.

The classes are free, everywhere, and open to anyone.

Join me?

Sandi