Happy Thanksgiving, Kathy,

Thanksgiving has long been one of my favorite holidays!  It speaks to deep values that I have of family and home.  There is great conversation and even better food. Woven in the middle of it all is a heart full of gratitude, not just for the day, but for all the blessings of life. 

The sad thing is that too often, we spend time THINKING of THANKING and never get around to saying THANK YOU to the people that really need to hear the words of our heart. 

In my gratitude journal today, my top 5 things I'm grateful for right now are all people.  I'm using this platform to share my gratitude for them.

• my FAITHFUL HUSBAND: These last 5 years have been the most difficult of our life, yet Ren has continued to be faithful to me, to our family, to our wellbeing- emotionally, spiritually, physically, financially- you name it.  That hasn't been easy, because he has been grieving too.  But he has made the choice to continue to engage and be proactive in loving us as we feel loved, even as he is patient with us in loving him well.  Ren, I am so grateful for you in my life!
• my PRECIOUS GIRLS-  how amazed I am at how God is growing them as they consider 'what's next'! They have both perservered in tremendous ways to come to a place where they exhibit  strength, spirit & courage.  I am incredibly proud of you, Caitlin and Brielle. May you feel empowered to soar as you live out your unique design to accomplish great things.  I miss you terribly Leisha, but I feel your presence with me as I press on in helping others see GREEN HOPE in their brown worlds! I love all 3 of you dearly!
• my PARENTS:  Not only the ones of my birth, but also the ones I recieved the day I married Ren.  The four of you have been a faithful example to me in your marriages, your encouragement, your concern, and your love.  Thank you for your constant support!
• my SUPPORT TEAM- made up of family and friends, many of whom are part of the SIMPLY GREEN prayer team that have stood by me, with me, around me during the past, but especially as I have begun to take next steps of my own in this past year. To you, I am eternally grateful for the gift of your shoulder to cry on, encouragement to move on, and that kick in the pants when I needed to get with it. 
• and YOU- You have been listening to me, reading my blogs, and this newsletter, responding to ideas and suggestions, sharing your heart and your hope.  YOU are a gift that I don't take lightly.  Thank you for your presence in my life.  Thank you for your contribution to GREEN HOPE COACHING.  I have greatly appreciated your trust! 

In this newsletter, I've included an article about gratitude written by a colleague that I thought was helpful.  

I'm also including information of the new TELEGROUP called HOPE FOR THE HOLIDAYS
hosted on Wednesday mornings at 10am Eastern time beginning November 23.
If you are struggling this holiday season to find a reason to celebrate, consider joining us, or inviting someone to join you on this call.  For more information, or to register go to www.greenhopecoaching.com, or call Kathy at 419-306-8311.

It is my prayer that this day, and all days you are filled with gratitude for the blessings that are yours!  

Seeing Green Hope!

Kathy  ï»¿

ARTICLE

The practice of gratitude as a tool for happiness has been in the mainstream for years. Long-term studies support gratitude’s effectiveness, suggesting that a positive, appreciative attitude contributes to greater success in work, greater health, peak performance in sports and business, a higher sense of well-being, and a faster rate of recovery from surgery.

But while we may acknowledge gratitude’s many benefits, it still can be difficult to sustain. So many of us are trained to notice what is broken, undone or lacking in our lives. And for gratitude to meet its full healing potential in our lives, it needs to become more than just a Thanksgiving word. We have to learn a new way of looking at things, a new habit. And that can take some time.

That’s why practicing gratitude makes so much sense. When we practice giving thanks for all we have, instead of complaining about what we lack, we give ourselves the chance to see all of life as an opportunity and a blessing.

Remember that gratitude isn’t a blindly optimistic approach in which the bad things in life are whitewashed or ignored. It’s more a matter of where we put our focus and attention. Pain and injustice exist in this world, but when we focus on the gifts of life, we gain a feeling of well-being. Gratitude balances us and gives us hope.

There are many things to be grateful for: colorful autumn leaves, legs that work, friends who listen and really hear, chocolate, fresh eggs, warm jackets, tomatoes, the ability to read, roses, our health, butterflies. What’s on your list?

Some Ways to Practice Gratitude

Keep a gratitude journal in which you list things for which you are thankful. You can make daily, weekly or monthly lists. Greater frequency may be better for creating a new habit, but just keeping that journal where you can see it will remind you to think in a grateful way.

• Make a gratitude collage by drawing or pasting pictures.
• Practice gratitude around the dinner table or make it part of your nighttime routine.
• Make a game of finding the hidden blessing in a challenging situation.
• When you feel like complaining, make a gratitude list instead. You may be amazed by how much better you feel.
• Notice how gratitude is impacting your life. Write about it, sing about it, express thanks for gratitude.

As you practice, an inner shift begins to occur, and you may be delighted to discover how content and hopeful you are feeling. That sense of fulfillment is gratitude at work.

Author’s content used under license, © 2011 Claire Communications

EVENTS

GHC's Holiday FOCUS on Grieving__

TELEGROUP COACHING

HOPE FOR THE HOLIDAYS!

Special HOLIDAY group coaching opportunity for men & women!
TOPIC: How to do HOLIDAY when all I want to do is cry!

       SEVEN Week TELEGroup session
       Meeting  Wednesday, Nov 23, 2011- Jan 4, 2012

10:00am Eastern Time (19:00am C/ 7:00am P)

To watch a video invitation from Kathy, go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8WO4TKh_a8.

To register, go to www.greenhopecoaching.com and click on HOPE FOR THE HOLIDAYS
 Phone number/ access code given when registered.

Cost for 6 week session: Regularly $175,
Holiday special $25

Sometimes the sparkle of the holidays only amplifies the sadness of your heart. You are not alone.
Join us over the phone as we walk through the holidays together.

(one on one coaching available- contact Kathy for details)

___________________________________________________________________________________ 

Need an OUT OF THE BOX Christmas gift for a special person or couple in your life?  We can create a package just for you! For more information, or to register for any of GHC opportunities, CLICK HERE!

I look forward to hearing from you! 

Seeing GREEN HOPE!

Kathy 

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Kathy Burrus
419-306-8311
kathy@greenhopecoaching.com

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