My favourite thing to talk about(besides numbers) is gratitude. Lights up my whole face. And world.
Many Many Many favourite aspects about gratitude but none exemplifies it more than Winnie the Pooh’s friend created by A.A. Milne who in the house at Pooh Corner(circa 1928);
Piglet noticed that even though he had a very small heart, it could hold a rather large amount of gratitude.
God, someone give this girl a G. Of Gratitude, Grit, Grace.
Giant lived experience lesson on gratitude; When you begin with gratitude, lo and behold; you will always end up with greatness.
A Golden Yod in a Palindrome.
The Finger of God. Bet.
Because, in this upside-down world where memes are monetised and madness is mainstream, maybe the real rebellion is to simply… be grateful. Not preformative gratitude. Not Instagram-captioned, dopamine-drenched, algorithm-approved affirmations. But soul-deep, spine-strong, sit-in-the-mess-and-say-“thank you anyway” gratitude. The kind that whispers “thank you” when your voice is hoarse from heartbreak. Or despair. Or loss. The kind that glistens through ugly tears and sticky resilience. Last mile delivery stuff.
You see, gratitude; in its purest form; is the language of the universe. It’s not merely a virtue. It’s a vibration. And it doesn’t just change your attitude; it changes your altitude.
The Gratitude Trinity: Think. Plan. Execute.
Think: Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It’s the key to transforming a house into a home, a job into a joy, a meal into a feast; a stranger into a friend. It reminds us that we are not owed a thing; yet we are blessed with everything. It reframes the ordinary as sacred. A morning cup of tea? Alchemy. A text from a friend? Divine intervention. That magically timed saving grace olive branch just when you were about to give up? A miracle on loop.
Plan: To live in gratitude is to live next to God. When we align with thankfulness, we move in rhythm with abundance. The universe; people; business…doesn’t respond to strategy alone; it responds to sincerity. So plan your days like you’re already blessed. Because, spoiler alert: you kinda already are if we are going by everywhere you are; there you are.
Execute: How to force the universe to bless you? I found a trick. It works. Really. Guaranteed. And it’s quite simple. Just walk and talk like you’ve already received it. Talk like you already know. Gratitude magnetises miracles. Not because you’ve manipulated the universe, but because you’ve opened yourself up to receive what was already yours. I see it in winning pitches in Shark Tank ALL the time(yes all 16 seasons—I am a reality buff)
Gratitude is how we decentralise power too. Not by force, but by frequency. It's how we step boldly into this Age of Aquarius(Awareness is key), into soul-led innovation and truth-based leadership. This is the era of ground-up creation, where we don’t just build businesses(and/or feign innovation) but we also build conscious community. Alkebulan wisdom teaches us that the Power of Nine is the number of abundance and completion. Blessings Galore. So here are nine ways Gratitude grants you grace essence in your decisions during major energetic turning points in humanity’s evolution. Gratitude creates;
Gratefulness which is the cornerstone of growth.
Genuineness which is the filter-less appreciation that transforms connections.
Graciousness which is the posture of receiving and giving with softness.
Guidance which is the Inner GPS rerouted to divine purpose.
Gravitas which is Rootedness. Depth. Power wrapped in peace.
Growth which is Evolving even when it hurts. The obstacle is the way.
A Glistening which is the unexpected sparkle of quiet blessing.
Glory which is Celebrating the powerful moments in the mundane.
Grounding which is Returning to yourself in a chaotic world. The ultimate reasoning behind Gratitude is returning to source
Gratitude, ironically, is not for the faint of heart.
It demands presence in a world of performance. It asks you to bow while bleeding. To bless what broke you. To sit in the aftermath and say: “Thank you for the storm. I see the soil that it softened.”
My first encounter gratitude was through Melody Beattie who is a pioneering voice in self-help literature. She had been quoted by Carol Mandi in a True Love Magazine foreword(a definitive moment that raised my teenage self). She(They) wrote:
Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more… Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.
I find this thought on gratitude to be just beautiful and has always been a constant reminder to inspire a daily practice of gratitude in my life. As a privileged in many ways African Woman there is never a shortage of things to be thankful. A sacred scroll of sorts. I’ve never forgotten it. Actually it’s never forgotten me. Because in three different instances in three different countries this quote found me(stories for another lifetime). I’m a sucker for cute synchronicities. It’s why, even now; in seasons where everything feels cracked; I like to encourage myself and others a return to that fullness. To let the scars speak. To let the story(ies) soften.
And so here’s a thought: When momentum is on your side, people focus on your strengths. But when it slows? People scrutinise the whole damn thing. So anchor yourself, not in applause, but in appreciation.
Gratitude is rebellion.
A proclamation. A power move. As a counter to Schadenfreude; Gratitude can help individuals focus on their own blessings rather than seeking pleasure from others' misfortune. It can be an antidote to negative emotions like envy, which often fuel the gnarly insidious schadenfreude.
When you wake up, say thank you for what you have. Then say thank you for what you don’t yet have; as if you already do. Set your day in motion with intention. Compliment others genuinely. Compliment yourself shamelessly. (Yes, even in the awful mirror light)
Because guess what? Time will multiply whatever you feed it. Gratitude? Makes time your ally. Bitterness? Makes time your burden. Where energy goes grows.
This year marks the MIT Media Lab turning 40yrs. One of the founding members and pioneering Technologists Nicholas Negroponte reminds us that the Media Lab was created not to organize the known, but to make space for what wasn’t. That spirit; that is interdisciplinary, uncomfortable, and visionary; demands a kind of reverence. And reverence begins with gratitude: not for legacy systems or scale, but for the freedom to think otherwise.
In the context of hology(defined loosely here as the technology and the creation of immersive experiences); where every part reflects the whole, gratitude is the connective tissue that links individual acts of curiosity to the larger unfolding of meaning. It is the recognition that in our freedom to question, to imagine, and to fail, we participate in something larger than ourselves.
Gratitude is a new economic model.
It’s Ubuntu Capital. Soul-led stewardship. It teaches you how to develop a positive relationship with money, power, people, purpose. It’s understanding that you don’t need to play superhero; just stay sovereign. That chasing status without soul will bankrupt you. The wealth of gratitude begins by asking for a Give. Before a take: what feels effortless? Then; and this is important; put maximum effort into it.
We often measure AI by its utility(at least my observation). How many users? How fast is the inference? How good is the ROI? These are fine questions, but they are not the interesting ones. Perhaps the deeper value lies in whether it reminds us to be more grateful: for imagination over inertia, for small groups over grand plans, for incomplete ideas that echo the structure of the universe itself.
The future, then, is not a product to be consumed, but a thank-you waiting to be said; to the margins, to the misfits, to the places and people who dare to wonder aloud.
Gratitude is unreasonable.
It is its defining multiplier effect characteristic. The world will tell you to “do the sensible thing.” But for the life-changing stuff? Gratitude asks that you go all in. Always Risk it all.
I never used to be a person that leads with gratitude. Then I realized from introspection that my oblivion was in my using detachment as a lifestyle not tool. That I wasn't expressing enough gratitude. Gratitude for where I am right now, amidst the troubles and imperfections. I wasn't journaling/noting down the blessings that I already have or was receiving. Only the highlight reel-esque vibe the world has going on was on my mind; so l decided to change that. A half glass full lifestyle.
Wear gratitude like a cloak and it will feed every corner of your life. RUMI
In doing so consciously; I discovered that gratitude increases my happiness and positivity. I love and crave that random wave of gratitude that hits you and reminds you of how blessed you are. That haberdashery for seeking and finding things.
Gratitude for:
epiphanies, nudges, reminders, signs.
May I(we) continuously receive them.
Especially in this special time of intangible gratitude; I offer Gratitude to all who stand in service of justice and protection. May the Divine Mother, She who nurtures, shields, and empowers, continue to guide and strengthen those advocating for truth and liberation. May Her presence flow through all who walk in integrity, ensuring that every voice is heard and every soul is embraced with dignity. Especially because it is time to lead, build, co-create. With clarity. With compassion. With gratitude as your guide.
So whether you’re a policymaker or poet, founder or feeler, artist or analyst; Let your blessings find you already grateful.
Because real gratitude doesn’t demand that you have it all. It reminds you that you already are it all.
The skill of gratitude is the skill of happiness. I'm pretty much convinced they're the same thing at this point. And like any skill, it must be learned and practised regularly.
Recently I learned about a term called a "glimmer". Which is essentially the opposite of a trigger. Glimmers are those micro moments in your day that make you feel joy, happiness, peace, or gratitude. Once you train your brain to be on the lookout for glimmers of gratitude, the more these tiny moments will begin to appear.
Think you’ll be happy.
Have a lovely Sunday ✨🦋
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