A dear friend sent me a message she had received from Alison Wearing, who she follows. I love it and am sharing Alison’s Instagram Post from yesterday.

Alison writes…This time last year I shared my daily good-morning-thank-you-love routine and I received so many comments of thanks for it, I thought I'd share it again. (It doesn't age.)

It's a simple exercise, akin to lighting a candle in a dark room, so if you are looking for an easy way to brighten your morning, it goes like this:

1. The moment you realize you're awake, say good morning (to yourself or someone else) in as sing-songy a voice as you can muster. The more exaggerated and ridiculous the better.

2. Say 'thank-you' for and to your cosy bed, because waking up in such a thing is a gift and a privilege. Try giving the bed a pat. It's a nice touch.

3. Take a deep breath and say 'thank-you' for your health. It's so easy to take for granted and grumble about the weather (or any number of other things) instead, but this small act can make even a rainy day feel like a privilege.

4. Then, go overboard. Thank and love every damn thing around you: love your pillow, thank the blankets that kept you warm all night, love the light coming in the window, the trees you can see, the fact that your legs are strong enough to get you out of bed and your lungs just took another breath without even needing to be asked. Stop there or go on and thank the hot water -- the luxury of hot water! -- in your shower. Love your coffee, thank the mug. Go absolutely bananas.

5. Lastly, the next time you see yourself in the mirror, thank every wrinkle and grey hair. I've never forgotten the words of a young friend with terminal cancer: "I wish I could get old enough to have grey hair." Getting old is a gift. Say thank-you for it.

This is a ridiculously simple ritual, but I swear it will lift your morning. Possibly your whole day. And gratitude may be a bit of a buzzword these days, but I can't think of a single reason why that's a bad thing. ~ Alison Wearing

One last thing…thank you for popping by to read Gathering Joy! My hope is that you are finding the pause you’re giving yourself a valuable tool to gather in your joy basket.

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12 Days of Christmas Countdown: Day 10