Thanksgiving.

“Be thankful for what you have and you’ll end up having more.” -Oprah

Thanksgiving is the day when (almost) everyone in America takes a moment to practice gratitude. Surely that shift in collective consciousness reverberates across the US. It’s a frequency that can be felt and is much needed.

Gratitude.

It’s a powerful practice.

Cultivating a habit of gratitude is something that I always encourage students to do, regardless of what course I happen to be teaching that semester.

There is research that shows the impact that gratitude has on the brain to help us shift away from the spiral of negative thinking. A gratitude journal and reciting things we are thankful for can help us to live happier lives.

I believe gratitude is the way out of every negative situation or circumstance.

I learned this once when I was backing out of my driveway in a convertible mini cooper and plowed into someone. My car’s drop-top was creating a serious blind spot, and I did not even see the person coming. Ugh. I was on my way to try out a new reformer Pilates studio in Redondo Beach, and this experience killed the vibe and stole my peace of mind.

I spoke with a wise sage who said,

I know you’re not gonna want to hear this, but what you need right now is gratitude.”

And he was right. It worked. I quickly shifted into being grateful that no one was hurt, that I could still catch the class without getting a late fee, and would soon be able to upgrade the mini cooper. Rather than focusing on the worst feelings that were coming up for me, I was able to shift my attention and emotions to another perspective that was also very real.

That lesson has always stayed with me.

Gratitude is a habit that I try to cultivate every time a negative situation shows up in life… because it’s a virtue that becomes fused into character over time, with lots of practice.

It’s worth the investment as gratitude can lead to a life well lived.

On this day of Thanksgiving, I’m reminded to be grateful for how far I’ve come and how much life I’ve lived.

As we approach the last few weeks of 2025, I’m beyond grateful for the life I get to live, the love that I feel every day, and the clarity that I now have when it comes to alignment and integration.

Oprah said:

Be thankful for what you have and you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever, have enough.

Gratitude has a compounding effect 🫶

I can only imagine what’s possible if we all come together to cultivate this virtue of character — and commit to sustaining it for the greater good of humanity 🌎🚀💫

Imagine if, together, we chose a sustained commitment to practicing the habit of gratitude. Go team 🎉

Happy Thanksgiving 🌟

Big love,

♥️ Cissna