Making each day count...for real

So we hear it all the time - be present, live each moment, be amazed, be grateful - but sometimes, we just don't want to.  Maybe we fought with a loved one, maybe work sucks, maybe your 9 month old kept you up all night for no discernible reason, or maybe it's just too dang cold outside.  Whatever the reason, life is often hard.  But as the wise Jimmy Dugan once said "...it has to be hard...it's the hard that makes it great." (yes, I realized I just quoted a fictional character from a baseball movie starring Madonna...which is a weird thought in and of it self, but anyway...) And in those moments, when life is really kicking your ass, those are the best times to check in and find the opportunities for gratitude, because they're there, I promise.  

And it doesn't have to be a "fake it till you make it" mentality.  By allowing ourselves to truly feel our emotions, by inviting in the pains or heartaches or annoyances, and sitting with them, we acknowledge that they are part of us.  And all of us is ok, hell, all of us is beautiful.  Turning away or denying their existence, denies a piece of ourselves.  And if you're not whole, then how can you be present?  Let those feelings in, allow them to settle, and smile, because this is life.  

Easier said than done?  Perhaps.  But I found this insightful step-by-step guide on Elephant Journal today to help jumpstart those rocky days. 

So, kiss the loved one you fought with, put fresh flowers at your desk, hug your daughter who refused to let you sleep and don't forget to wear a hat, it's cold outside.

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