Gratitude. Confessions From My Personal List.

Rating: 5 after 6 votes

I write this with a humble heart.

Times are tough.
We all have less.
Which means, we all have more.

The secret to having more, to experiencing happiness, is gratitude.

grat·i·tude  n. The state of being grateful; thankfulness

Looking at life though gratitude's lens often humbles me, and always inspires me to give and to do more. To pay it forward.

This week I thought I'd share confessions of gratitude from my personal list.

• I’m grateful that my family was far from perfect because it taught me how to love and be loved unconditionally.
• I’m grateful that I lived in 32 homes by the age of 18 and experienced the heartache of losing many friends along the way. It allows me now to successfully lead others through change and to cherish the friendships that I have.
• I’m grateful to have grown up with spiritual confusion because it pushes me to always seek for a higher purpose.
• I’m grateful that I went broke when I started TR because it taught me that I could live on less money, and that true career fulfillment doesn’t come in the form of a big salary.
• I’m grateful that, at a young age, I learned I would never be able to have children. It made me love and appreciate the children in my life so much deeper than I ever would have. It's opened doors and planted a passion inside of me that will end up making a bigger difference in lives of more young people than just my own.
• I’m grateful that I was ridiculed when I was growing up. It taught me to stand up for the underdog. And it's allowed me to be a first friend to many very special people.
• I’m grateful to have met and cried with a teenager girl who was on the brink of suicide, and to be there to watch her transition from self-hate to self-love. The memory of her reminds me to love myself unapologetically and embrace my authenticity. Every day.
• I’m grateful for having such a strict and conservative upbringing because it inspired me to rebel, have some crazy fun times, end up with a few tattoos and a wild piercing.
• I’m grateful that I have experienced oppression and have been denied equal, basic rights. It makes me acutely aware of when others are denied their own freedoms, and gives me the passion, conviction and the strength to fight for them.
• I’m grateful that I can no longer make grand materialistic gestures. It made me realize that my time is the ultimate gift I have to give and it challenges me to find more meaningful ways to demonstrate my gratitude towards others.

At this moment, I am grateful that all that I have is all I need...

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend. I appreciate you.
hal⋅le⋅lu⋅jah: a shout of joy, praise, or gratitude.
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Tags: amanda, appreciative, grateful, gratitude, hite, list, revolution, talent, thanksgiving

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Comment by Bill Boorman on November 7, 2010 at 4:19pm: Im grateful for all that has made you, and grateful for our friendship. stay #tru

Comment by Amanda Hite on November 26, 2009 at 12:34pm: @Matt I'd love to peak into your favorite quote book
@Jennifer thank you lovely lady. it was so great seeing you again in long beach!
@Laurie Me too. I can't wait until next time.
@Ken wow, I hadn't seen that thank you for sharing.
@Arie Thank you I will I'm with my wonderful grandparents now. I look forward to meeting again, and again.
@Lindsay I miss seeing you too .. I'm looking forward to meeting your new little guy. I still carry his gift in my car. I'm sure it doesn't fit anymore. happy T day...
@Paul Ahhh.. We could've went to the dance together! You're great.

Comment by Paul Paz on November 26, 2009 at 4:54am: Thank you!
From the mixed race high school junior who dressed up and went to the school Christmas dance alone... because he didn't want to be alone.
Paul

Comment by Lindsay Kirk on November 26, 2009 at 1:26am: Man- I really miss seeing you every day and working with you! What an inspiration you are...

Comment by Arie Ball on November 25, 2009 at 8:23pm: Amanda, I was moved by your blog post. Thank YOU for giving me the spur to reflect on my own blessings so often overlooked. I look forward to the opportunity to get to know you even beter one day. I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Comment by Ken Moir on November 25, 2009 at 6:26pm: Thanks for the rich, deep reminders that our biggest gifts often come wrapped in pain and disappointment. That's a hard lesson to learn, and live, but you set a great example. I'm grateful for your openness and honesty.

But I'm partial to the Jeff Buckley "Hallelujah" -- one of very few cases where the cover lives up to the original: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KK1UjkXDAJA

Comment by laurie ruettimann on November 25, 2009 at 5:53pm: I'm so grateful we've connected. Honestly.

Comment by Jennifer Bowles on November 25, 2009 at 5:46pm: Amanda- you are so RAD! I love your relevence and thank you for sharing how powerful our persepctives are. We have choices, no matter what our circumstance. And I am grateful to you for making such inspiring statements. When you lose- don't lose the lesson. This is so empowering. You are a gift. Truly. Thank you.

Comment by Matt on November 25, 2009 at 5:44pm: It made me realize that my time is the ultimate gift I have to give and it challenges me to find more meaningful ways to demonstrate my gratitude towards others. -Amanda Hite

This one's going in the favorite quote book!!

Comment by Amanda Hite on November 25, 2009 at 3:29pm: @Maren I think that you are 100% awesome. I'm so glad we met.
@Tina Thank you for that. I've learned that it's easier to just be honest and just be me. If you do a list I'd love to read it. Happy Thanksgiving.