There’s a wonderful quote that says “gratitude turns what we have into enough.” It’s a simple concept but one that’s worth repeating: if we focus on the things that we DO have instead of what we feel we lack we realize we are truly blessed. But how can we have NEXT LEVEL gratitude? What does that even mean?
We’re releasing this episode just before Thanksgiving, the time when we many of us will go around the table and say what we’re grateful for. Some of us are better at counting our blessings than others. And to be sure, there are times in our lives that make doing that easier while other times leave us more bitter than thankful. In this episode on next level gratitude, we re-visit portions of one of our very first episodes from 2019 where we talk about being grateful during those darker times and how to go beyond just saying what we’re grateful for and living it out.
During this season of thankfulness, it’s extra important to be intentional about thinking about what and who we are grateful for. Remembering how God has blessed us, writing it down and sharing it with others are some wonderful ways to do that. As we talk about in this episode, this can help carry us through those times when we are reaching for something to be grateful for but can’t find it.
Let’s make an attitude or gratitude more than a bumper sticker or a positive quote on Instagram… and live it in our daily lives. We look at practical ways to not only feel it ourselves but to extend it to others. Click play to get your gratitude game going.
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Sandy Kovach [00:00:02]:
Gratitude. We know it's a good thing to have. There's a wonderful quote that says gratitude turns what we have into enough. We're releasing this episode just before Thanksgiving, the time when many of us will go around the table and say what we're grateful for. Some of us are better at counting our blessings than others. And to be sure, there are times in our lives that make it easier to count the blessings, while other times, Well, we might be a little more bitter than grateful. In this episode on next level gratitude, we're gonna revisit one of our very Very first episodes from 2019 when we're just getting the podcast started, where we're talking about being grateful during those darker times and how to go beyond just saying that we're grateful to living that out. I'm Sandy Kovach.
Sandy Kovach [00:00:51]:
On behalf of Lanee and I, Welcome to Imagine Yourself podcast where we try to help you imagine your next chapter of life with grace, gratitude, to the courage and faith, and we hope you enjoy this little gratitude reflection.
Lanée Blaise [00:01:06]:
Can you ever be thankful for things that on the Surface don't look like a good thing?
Sandy Kovach [00:01:14]:
You know, we should be because we look back at things and say, hey. That Changed my life, but at the time, that was a hard road to go through. And then we feel gratitude. But can we feel gratitude in the moment for things like that? I don't think that's not.
Lanée Blaise [00:01:27]:
Maybe not.
Sandy Kovach [00:01:27]:
I would love to say, hey. Yeah. But I'm guessing that's that's a no.
Lanée Blaise [00:01:32]:
I have a story where I was, Like you said, immediately, no. I was diagnosed with having real foot problems, hereditary from my wonderful father. And The doctor explained it was really bad. They were gonna have to do surgery on both feet. I would have to do 1 at a time. It was gonna take a year long process. Big chunks of it, I wouldn't be able to, of course, drive, but or walk or do anything to be homebound, bedbound. So initially, No.
Lanée Blaise [00:02:04]:
Not you know, painful, long, frustrating, not happy. Woah. But something some peace did come over me, And it was like a little message from god saying, Lanee, take it and be grateful because when you're finished with this, You are going to slow down some. I'm still gonna you know me. I'm all over the place. Right? But slow down some and savor Your family and your mother. Because my mom, I don't thank her nearly enough. It's not that I take her for granted necessarily, but I didn't realize she was a real mother.
Lanée Blaise [00:02:43]:
She had to take care of me like a little baby, You know, when I couldn't get around with my feet. Wow. And I'm really, really grateful that we got to spend time Sitting and drinking tea and talking and laughing together because I couldn't go anywhere.
Sandy Kovach [00:02:59]:
How old were you when this happened?
Lanée Blaise [00:03:01]:
Oh, honey. This was just, 2 years ago.
Sandy Kovach [00:03:03]:
Oh my gosh. So you're talking about your mom and daughter thing as a grown woman.
Lanée Blaise [00:03:08]:
And that meant She had to also take care of my kids because this was before my daughter could drive. So my mother had to get them off to school, had to do everything. My husband, you know, was there also, but Sometimes the mother's touch
Sandy Kovach [00:03:22]:
your mom was there for you the whole time.
Lanée Blaise [00:03:24]:
Absolutely. For both surgeries. She had to come back the 2nd time and do it all over again.
Sandy Kovach [00:03:28]:
Not unlike when she was raising you.
Lanée Blaise [00:03:30]:
Exactly. Yeah. And that's another one. Sometimes when we're raising our children, it's so hard. They cry. They get the fever. They Get these middle of the night nightmares that you're dealing with, but when it's over, it was all so very worth it. And even those tough times on the surface when you're in it, it may not be great at all.
Lanée Blaise [00:03:52]:
But there are so many people who will say That afterwards, they were able to see the blessing and feel the gratitude.
Sandy Kovach [00:04:00]:
Right.
Lanée Blaise [00:04:01]:
We were just encouraging that.
Sandy Kovach [00:04:03]:
Do you think there's a way that we can remind ourselves of that in the middle of these trials and tribulations and things that go on in our life? Or can we do something to see the positive?
Lanée Blaise [00:04:16]:
I think I have to go back to even if it's not an absolute gratitude journal, I wonder if I mean, lots of people, of course, stick inspirational quotes and affirmations and things like that up on their Bathroom mirror or in their room or before you go to sleep or when you wake up, something to we do we're humans. We have to have something to remind us Physically. Yeah. I can put that big old boot that I wore on my foot on top of my refrigerator. That'll remind You know, just there there has to be something in your own personal life that you overcame that maybe can be your go to inspiration. Keep your eyes focused on anything positive that you possibly can, And you allow yourself the grace to go through when you don't feel that way. Right?
Sandy Kovach [00:05:11]:
Exactly.
Lanée Blaise [00:05:12]:
And you keep pushing.
Sandy Kovach [00:05:14]:
Now there is a quote that I love, and I pulled this out because I like quotes. I like posting quotes. As you know, I'm I'm, like, the positive quote lady. Yeah.
Lanée Blaise [00:05:22]:
I like that.
Sandy Kovach [00:05:22]:
I pull this down in Thanksgiving a lot. It's, for a John F. Kennedy quote. As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that The highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them. That's another level. Right?
Lanée Blaise [00:05:39]:
That is THE level. That's the whole purpose. Right?
Sandy Kovach [00:05:40]:
Yeah.
Lanée Blaise [00:05:41]:
And that makes me feel like you kinda go outward To others, start with thanking them, and that how about the pay it forward method? Do it that way. The pay it forward method, the Better to give than to receive. You know? Sometimes Yeah. Make your life an example, And make your life, in some ways, dedicated to helping others and serving others.
Sandy Kovach [00:06:08]:
If you were given a certain Comfortable comfortability that's not a word. And you are I'm making up words now. Is comfortability a word? If you have been given a certain level of being able to help other people, then You're
Lanée Blaise [00:06:25]:
kinda talking about using your gifts that you're given also, I believe.
Sandy Kovach [00:06:29]:
Gifts whether they're financial or maybe they're not financial. Maybe you don't have a lot of extra money. Maybe you just have the gift of Being a great teacher, so you help out of your child's school. Yes. There are many ways.
Lanée Blaise [00:06:39]:
Or your next door neighbor who you know is struggling with in a certain area, you offer to lend a hand and Do some maybe free tutoring or there's so many ways.
Sandy Kovach [00:06:48]:
There's so many ways. It doesn't always have to be financial, but I definitely believe in the the paying it forward when you can or if you can give an extra tip to your server because those people work so hard. And just knowing people who work in the Service industry and the dining industry, they depend on those tips. So I always try to, you know, extend a little more with that too. But, I mean so you've got paying it forward, maybe They are buying someone's coffee at Starbucks, tipping a little bit extra. Yes. Helping your neighbor. If you have the means to make larger financial contributions to do that.
Sandy Kovach [00:07:21]:
Yes. Things like that.
Lanée Blaise [00:07:22]:
I love it. These are ways of being living examples of people who are full of gratitude And willing to share that mindset and brighten this world. And I'm thinking it's takeaway time.
Sandy Kovach [00:07:38]:
Okay. When you say it's Takeaway time. I'm ready to get my notebook out.
Lanée Blaise [00:07:42]:
Yes. Get your notebook out. Turn to page 3. Here are takeaways for the day. Thank you, doctor Lanee. So these are very simple little starting points. I'm gonna call them try to takeaways.
Sandy Kovach [00:07:56]:
Okay.
Lanée Blaise [00:07:57]:
Let's try to fall asleep every night by reflecting on all the things that we're grateful for till we just pass out from exhaustion.
Sandy Kovach [00:08:06]:
Pass out from exhaustion. Things are all Yes. Things. Or at least can we think of a few things?
Lanée Blaise [00:08:12]:
As many as possible. Instead of counting sheep, count blessings.
Sandy Kovach [00:08:15]:
Okay.
Lanée Blaise [00:08:16]:
Okay? Let's try to wake up in the morning, That part where it's still hazy and your eyes are still kinda closed and unfocused, and just give a quick simple thanks to god for waking you up in the morning. Alright. Let's try to, during the day, have little moments where you're thankful for loved ones and you share that Gratitude for them while they're still here and alive. And you're grateful for your home, your basic shelter and food and water. Like it? Let's try to, after the tragedy strikes, and we've taken our time to mourn, to just Eventually take a day and look back and intentionally search to find that one possible little golden nugget of Something to be thankful for even when we were back in the thick of it.
Sandy Kovach [00:09:08]:
That'd be a little more difficult.
Lanée Blaise [00:09:10]:
That's a hard one.
Sandy Kovach [00:09:10]:
It's a doable one.
Lanée Blaise [00:09:11]:
Yes. And the last one is let's try to pass on the spirit of gratitude to others in a real living way, And and also in a patient and loving and beautiful way. We don't wanna shut it down anyone's throat. That's right.
Sandy Kovach [00:09:27]:
No. That's true. Because Sometimes if people are in a bad mood and you're just smiling and,
Lanée Blaise [00:09:32]:
oh, let's all be grateful today. I like that.
Sandy Kovach [00:09:34]:
That can be obnoxious. So
Lanée Blaise [00:09:36]:
Yeah.
Sandy Kovach [00:09:36]:
Just by being extending kindness and patience and understanding may be the most the best thing you can do.
Lanée Blaise [00:09:43]:
The best way to really show that gratitude and and be a living example instead of Forcing it. You know, like you said, just listening.
Sandy Kovach [00:09:50]:
Sometimes that's all people need is somebody to hear them. Exactly. And if you found this podcast encouraging, we would like to hear from you. Or maybe you wanna tell us about something we could do to make it better or something you'd like to hear us talk about. Go to imagine yourself podcast.com to get in touch. You can also find all the info in the show notes. We love it if you could give us a rating. It really helps people to discover us and just know that we are so grateful that you are part of the Imagine Yourself podcast family.