Though the idea of making a practice of gratitude has been a recent addition to our cultural zeitgeist, its importance is ancient, going back to the Ancient Greeks and Romans. Modern science has borne out the physiological benefits of counting our blessings. So there are clear, time-tested reasons why making a practice of gratitude can benefit our minds, bodies, and spirit but even if we know that, it is not always an automatic or easy thing to do. We live in a fast-paced, demanding world. Even if we are aware of the importance of tapping into our gratitude, we can easily be seduced by society's siren calls of consumerism and envy. And, even if we manage to stay free of that, we all live lives that are buzzing and busy, constantly overstimulated by technological intrusions. It's very hard to stay grateful in this kind of environment, which is whyCrafting Gratitude is filled with reminders to stay grateful. We need to remember, on a daily basis, the incredible, overflowing, abundant richness of life. If you are artistically inclined, or even if you're not, these 40 practices resonate with and prompt you to begin, or continue with, exploring gratitude.
