Gratitude: Vibe Guide Style
Happy Thanksgiving, Vibe Tribe!
I’s almost hard to believe that it is the holiday season already. It is an exciting time of year, filled with family and food, celebrations and obligations. And while the holidays, this one for starters, can often feel stressful and overwhelming, Thanksgiving is one of those rare moments in the year when we’re invited… encouraged, even… to pause the chaos, gather around the table, and actually reflect on all that we’re thankful for. It is a moment at the very beginning of the hectic holidays when we truly take the opportunity to appreciate people, places, things, opportunities, and experiences that we sometimes take for granted in our busy lives. So on this day of giving thanks, in addition to focusing on the feasts to nourish our souls, we wanted to take a moment to chat with our Vibe Guide about one of the ways we all use to nourish our spirits - gratitude.
On this Thanksgiving Day, we asked our Vibe Guides the following question:
How has gratitude shaped the way you view and interact with the world, and how do you work to create more gratitude in your life?
And here is what they shared with us.
Vibe Guide and Community Outreach Coordinator Toni told us: “I’ve always been a positive person. I try to be. Challenges in life have tested my positivity but with those setbacks came gratitude and appreciation for what I have and how far I’ve come. How far I’ve grown! Gratitude has helped me focus on what is going well in my life, which helps foster joy and resilience. My grateful mindset shifts my perspective and helps me see the beauty in the world around me and in my life. As soon as I feel weak or knocked down, I think to myself “it could be worse.” Because it could! So I allow the hardest moments of my life to ground me, to balance me and keep me grateful.”
Vibe Guide and Social Media Manager Jen M shared: “Gratitude has enabled me to find the extraordinary in every day life. In a world that seems so fueled by instant gratification and the need to impress with extravagant adventures and out-of-this-world experiences, it can be easy to live what is deemed a “normal” day feeling as though you’re lacking. Gratitude is the grounding force that reminds us that everything around us is far from ordinary. When we live with gratitude, we don’t just live for the weekend or the “highs” of life. We wait less. We live for every breath taken, every coffee cup savored, every hug shared, every meal consumed, and every moment cherished. Gratitude reminds us that it’s so much bigger than us - how lucky we are to be constantly humbled by its presence.”
Vibe Guide and Studio Operator Alena had the following reflections: “Shifting my focus toward gratitude, for me, has both allowed for a healthy amount of “letting go”, and an ability to care more deeply for those I love and the world around me. There are so many amazing thingss, cool things I GET to do and participate in, and so many people around me who love me. But even in times of depression or weariness when reminding myself of those things isn’t quite enough, a simple thought of “I’m grateful that I woke up in a safe place this morning”, or “I’m grateful to have the leisure to think deeply and the capacity to care deeply” go a long way. So I try to find something each day, no matter how small, to say out loud that I’m grateful for, and through that gratitude be reminded of the beauty of life, no matter how complicated it gets.”
Personally Trainer Melissa said: “Gratitude is a choice. Despite age, I’ve struggled with a lot of body aches and injuries. It is easy for me to feel sad for myself (and occasionally I do because I’m human), but I choose to be grateful for good doctors and the finances to pay for them- as well as the body parts that are still strong. Every day, I choose to find gratitude despite my body and joints rebelling against me.
Speaking of age. We live in a world of filters, extreme skin regimens and strong bodies with smooth skin. While not all of us have that, I tell myself it’s a blessing to see aging skin and shape. Many of our loved ones never made it to an age to see these changes. So again, despite looking in the mirror and not loving what I see, I choose gratitude for the gift of living and aging.
Like all things in this life, gratitude is hard. Negativity is easy. Focusing on all the bad is easier than choosing to pull the silver linings out of life. I Smile. I say thank you and mean it. I give compliments to strangers. I look at my family and despite the chaos and frustrations, I try to be thankful for it. Choosing gratitude and accepting the bad has changed my world. I’m happier, I feel lighter, I laugh more, and I’m more in control because I proactively choose gratitude and know I’m always a work in progress.”
Vibe Guide and Studio Operator Jada shared: “For me living with gratitude every day means taking time to acknowledge the effort I put into my everyday life and giving myself grace around what went well and also what I need to do to work on improving. Practicing gratitude to me is also acknowledging that while my life might not be perfect, I have what I need and I have an abundance of love in my life. It means that I acknowledge that I am grateful for the movement of my body, the home where I live, the family that I have, and the team/community that I surround myself with who I can rely on for friendship and support.”
We are so grateful to our Vibe Guides for sharing their thoughts, reflections, and insights today, as they share their hearts, talents, and energy with us everyday!
We are so grateful for you, Vibe Tribe, for your trust, support, energy, and enthusiasm that energize us and remind us what is most important in this world.
So as you read these words and as you go through your day, we encourage you to ask yourself the same question:
How has gratitude shaped the way you view and interact with the world, and how do you work to create more gratitude in your life?
We wish you a day of celebration, of making memories, of being surrounded by love, and of gratitude.
Happy Thanksgiving!
