Pizza Party at Work🍕🍕🍕 // And: Being Grateful!💓

Hey, Hive friends! HAPPPYYY FRIDAAAYYY💗

I hope you all are happy, healthy, safe and doing well.🙇‍♀️✨ Today's post is extra sweet because we had a pizza party at work since it is one of our boss's daughter's birthday.

Our kind boss decided to bring the party to our office since he was unable to invite us for the actual birthday because (1) they live far away from the city and (2) it was an intimate family celebration.

The whole gang gathered, blessed the food and dug in! Our pizzas were the bestsellers of Angel's Pizza House: Creamy Spinach and Garlic Shrimp. AND GOODNESS ME - BOTH WERE REALLY, REALLY GOOD. I am normally not a fan of spinach but I could eat this pizza the entire day. 👌 The lasagna was INCREDIBLE, too! I was super full from all these scrumptious foods, my word! 😍

Before I end this post, as per usual, allow me to share this LinkedIn wisdom nugget:

👉👉In my early twenties, I found myself constantly caught in the whirlwind of dissatisfaction and resentment. I'd fixate on what I didn't have, what hadn't gone right, or what someone had done wrong. Then, in a bookstore's self-help section, I stumbled upon a quote from Oprah Winfrey: "Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never, ever have enough." The simplicity of this idea struck me. Gratitude wasn't just about saying "thank you"; it was therapeutic, a panacea for painful emotions.

For me, the journey into gratitude began with journaling. Every evening, I'd scribble down three things I was thankful for. Some days, it was as profound as the love of family, and other days, it was as simple as a cup of perfectly brewed coffee. Over time, this daily acknowledgment piled up, and something changed. My heart felt lighter, and my mood elevated. This wasn't just a fleeting feeling; it was a cumulative effect of continuously acknowledging the good, even amidst life's chaos.

I want to share with you a particularly challenging period in my life, when I faced self-doubt, fear, and uncertainty about my career path. The shadows of negativity threatened to engulf me. But it was in these moments that my gratitude practice truly shone. Every time I wrote down something I was grateful for, it was a counterpunch to the looming gloom. As Victor Frankl once said, "Between stimulus and response, there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom." Gratitude was my chosen response, reframing my perspective and allowing me to see the silver lining.

Amidst life's tempestuous storms, remember that the dawn of gratitude and hope always awaits; let every ray of light guide your path towards inner peace and resilience.

Now, to elevate this practice further, I intertwined gratitude with mindfulness and meditation. The amalgamation of these practices became my daily ritual. It's one thing to note down what you're grateful for, but immersing yourself fully in that feeling, grounding yourself in the present moment— that's truly transformative. The ripple effects on my mental well-being were palpable.

So, here are my tips for you: Start small. Dedicate a notebook for your gratitude journaling. Every night, write down three things you're thankful for. No matter how trivial or monumental, jot them down. Slowly integrate mindfulness exercises and meditation. Focus on the sensations and emotions each grateful thought evokes. And remember, it's okay if some days it feels forced or mechanical; persistence is key.

Dear reader, in the ever-evolving journey of life, it's easy to get ensnared by the pitfalls of negativity, doubt, and discontent. We often look outside, seeking more, chasing after the next big thing, hoping it will bring us happiness. But what if the key to genuine contentment lies not in the relentless chase, but in pausing, reflecting, and appreciating? Gratitude, my friend, is that profound shift in perspective. It's the gentle reminder that amidst the storms and chaos, there are countless blessings, big and small, to be grateful for. Every sunrise, every smile, every challenge that shapes us - they're all pieces of a beautiful mosaic that is uniquely yours.

Now, I challenge you, starting today, to take a moment each evening to identify three things you're grateful for. They can be as monumental as a life-changing event or as simple as the feel of your favorite blanket. But acknowledge them. In doing so, you're not just counting your blessings; you're rewiring your brain, cultivating a mindset of abundance over scarcity. Let gratitude be your anchor, grounding you during turbulent times, lifting your spirits when the weight of the world feels heavy. Remember, in your hands lies the power to shape your outlook on life. Choose gratitude, choose abundance, choose joy. And in this choice, you'll discover a wellspring of contentment that's been within you all along.

I'll leave you with this thought: Life invariably presents its fair share of challenges and heartaches. But it also offers countless moments of joy, love, and wonder. The power to choose where your attention goes, and thus, your mindset and attitude towards life, lies in your hands. Cultivate proactive positivity. Seek gratitude. Your heart, mind, and soul will thank you.

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