start monday with gratitude

There was an Irish band in the 1970s and ‘80s, led by Bob Geldof of Live Aid fame, called The Boomtown Rats and they had a famous song in the UK called “I don’t like Mondays”. 

Today I invite you to epitomise the meaning behind that song which is, quite simply, “I don’t like Mondays”.

Today I invite you to be a right old grump, moaning and groaning at anything and everything.

Watch how people react to you.

Do they want to be around you, or do they keep their distance?

How do you feel by the end of the day?

Are you tired and fed up and can’t wait for the day to come to an end or are you full of energy?

Some people make being grumpy look easy, but it expends a lot of energy and is a really low vibration which has the tendency to repel people.

Enough of the grump. One day of that was enough don’t you think?

Today I invite you to express your gratitude in a completely different way, in a very silent way.

I invite you to smile your way through today.

Smile at a stranger and see if they smile back (they may even look pleasantly surprised).

Smile at friends and family (that should be easy).

Smile as you’re simply walking around and see what reaction you receive from people.

And especially if someone is annoying you or being rude or hurtful or expressing any kind of negative emotion towards you, just smile at them. Don’t grimace, genuinely smile.

There’s a word I use every time I receive or give money.

And that word is “arigato”.

It means “thank you” in Japanese.

However, unless you are Japanese or fluent in Japanese, it has a magical quality about it because it feels different to simply saying “thank you”.

Today I invite you to use arigato as much as you can.

You don’t have to say it out loud, you can say it quietly in your head.

What’s important is the intention is there and you’re consciously walking through your day expressing your gratitude.

Also, you don’t have to only say it when you’re giving or receiving money, say it when you’re giving or receiving anything. Arigato.

There’s no better way to bring joy and laughter into your life than being childlike.

Children have this amazing sense of freedom about them. They have few or no responsibilities and a curiosity and inquisitiveness to life.

So, today, I invite you to embrace your inner child.

When you’re walking down the street, randomly start skipping for a moment, or play hopscotch on a paved street.

Walking through a revolving door, do a full revolution.

Go to a park and swing on the swings or get dizzy on a roundabout.

Find something childlike, something carefree that you enjoyed as a child and embrace it today.

Be grateful for the joyous fun you got to enjoy today.

How do you get to work? Do you take the bus, train or tram? Do you drive?

Whatever mode of transport you take, I encourage you to start laughing.

On the bus, train or tram, simply start to giggle and let it build up a little. Then look around to see who else has started to laugh or can’t help but smile.

If you drive to work, when stopped at traffic lights, start giggling and laughing in your car. Then look across at other drivers and see if your laughter has become contagious.

Be grateful for spreading a little bit of happiness and laughter.

No matter the weather, today I invite you to go outside for a walk. It doesn’t have to be a long walk.

When you begin your walk, I invite you to do so with your head down and your eyes looking at the ground. All you can see is the ground beneath your feet.

And walk slowly.

Perhaps even slide your feet along.

Get a feel for how that feels.

After a few minutes, I invite you to start singing a bright, happy, upbeat song. You can sing it in your head, you can hum it quietly, or you can sing it out loud. Whatever you choose.

After singing this song for a few minutes, check in with yourself.

Are you still walking with your head held down, eyes looking only at the ground?

Are you still walking slowly or has your pace quickened, in time to the upbeat song in your head?

How do you feel in general after singing this song for a while? Are you, perhaps, naturally smiling as people pass you by and are they smiling back at you in return?

Something as simple, as easy as music can bring such joy and happiness into our lives and completely change our energy and vibration.

Be grateful for all the wonderful music in your life.

When was the last time you had a real laugh with a friend, partner or family member?

I don’t mean you had a laugh, ha-ha, I mean a real deep, can’t help snorting, “my sides are aching” type of laugh?

Well, today’s the day.

Find a willing volunteer (someone you know will join in with you) and just start giggling and laughing in their company.

When they can’t help but join in, take your laughing up a notch until it becomes a full-blown genuine belly-laugh.

Keep laughing until it hurts, until your cheeks are burning, and your sides are sore. Keep laughing until, after you stop, neither of you know why either of you was laughing.

Isn’t it great to let go and just enjoy one of life’s greatest pleasures?