 HAPPY 2026! A new year, a new breath, and a warm welcome to each of you—especially those who’ve recently joined. I’m deeply thankful for this growing gratitude community. . If you feel moved to share a thought or reflection, my inbox is always open, and I respond lovingly. And my books make wonderful gifts! https://www.graceofgratitude.com/store/c2/Retail_%26_eBooks.html As we enter 2026, I am sharing some superb books by other authors, music & meditations that I have let soak into my heart and soul this past year. I’m always about going forward on my spiritual path, and if you’re like me, you also wish to be inspired and growing and constantly learning. So, I invite you to check them out. For the music and meditations suggested, you can search on YouTube to find them. Each item I’ve listed has helped me to become more illuminated and alive with joy and passion in 2025. Many of the books have inspired my Daily Gratitude Reflections, and have been quoted. Please enjoy an affirmative prayer I wrote for all of us. For so many, 2025 brought extra challenges— opportunities to learn, to accept, and to stand strong in the shared values most of us have—of love, of compassion, of harmony, of peace, of kindness, and of wisdom. I strongly feel we, the people, are more united than we realize. And perhaps all that transpired in 2025 will help us learn this on deeper levels.
NOVEMBER NEWSLETTERThe Benefits of Acceptance Happy November! It is almost hard to believe is 2025 whizzing by so fast. This month’s enews is about ACCEPTANCE. This has been a biggie for me. In the last few years, I have learned to accept the things I cannot change. And then, I discover that I gain much more inner peace and gratitude. So, I will share ways I know about to help you with acceptance in your life. A profound and sacred way to be is to practice saying yes to what is, whatever that looks like. This is challenging, for sure. Yet, it brings blessed peace of mind to me when I engage in acceptance of life. Yes to situations I don’t really prefer. Yes to difficult people. Yes to rain, yes to snow, yes to perfect sunshiny weather. Yes to my emotions even if I wish I didn’t react in anger or hurt. Yes to knowing I don’t under- stand the mysteries we are presented with. Yes to faith. I am deeply grateful for accepting what is in my life’s journey, and for saying yes, not a big NO, when challenges present themselves. I am thankful to be learning what works in my life, to find the gratitude in every situation, and to let all of the other petty stuff go.
 SEPTEMBER 2025 NEWSLETTERGrowing in Gratitude by Loving Yourself Again and again, I return to the truth that self-love is the key to being a truly loving person. I notice how often I can be hard on myself, holding myself to standards I would never expect of someone I cherish. At times, I still get down on myself for mistakes, or try to be “perfect”—something that simply isn’t possible as a human being. When I embrace self-love—when I truly love me—I feel limitless and free. My peace of mind deepens, my prosperity and abundance expand, and both my body and emotions benefit. Loving myself naturally grows into gratitude. Loving myself allows me to love my friends and family more fully and freely. What I know for sure is that the world is hungry for love—everyone needs more of it. And one of the most powerful ways to bring more love into the world is to begin with ourselves. I am grateful to see how, over the years, I have made great strides in this practice of self-love.
Love and Light and Many Blessings to you! Deborah aka Gratitude Gal
 AUGUST 2025 NEWSLETTERGreetings! First of all, welcome to new subscribers. I’m so glad you are receiving my Daily Gratitude Reflections and once-a-month enewsletters. And I am very grateful for all who subscribe. I invite you to send me emails. I love to hear from each of you, and make sure to answer. This enews is about ONENESS, really feeling our connection to Source Energy. Every single day, I enjoy my morning spiritual practice, and shore up my recognition that I am always connected, supported and guided by a Higher Power which I call Spirit or the Divine Beloved. This power is not separate from me (or you). We can always be in connection, feeling our unity, and consciously raise our vibration if we’re just not feelin’ it at times. Here, I will share some tips and tools to permeate yourself with the oneness of the universe. If we are not feeling this, it is we who moved away. Spirit is closer to us than our hands and feet, nearer than the very breath we breathe as a passage in the Bible proclaims. I completely believe that if we feel connected with the Divine, then gratitude comes very naturally. At least, it does for me.
JU LY 2025 NEWSLETTERHi everyone! First of all, welcome to new subscribers. I’m grateful that you are receiving my Daily Gratitude Reflections and Enewsletters. This month’s topic is FREEDOM since Independence Day is right around the corner in the U.S. It seems more important than ever to savor all the freedoms we have at this time in history. Let Freedom Ring is a powerful idea, first spoken in Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech. It symbolizes the pursuit of freedom, equality, and justice for all. What I know for sure is that freedom comes from within. There are people who were held captive and seemingly not free, yet refused to be prisoners in their own minds, and have made monumental contributions to humankind. A few of these heroes come to mind: Nelson Mandala, the Dalai Lama, and Victor Frankl. Ann Frank too, despite the horrors she faced in hiding, is remembered for her enduring optimism and faith in humanity. One of her most poignant quotes include: “In spite of everything, I still believe that people are really good at heart.” All of the people mentioned maintained their optimism and faith and by sharing, give me and others hope too.
JUNE 2025 NEWSLETTERHi everyone! First of all, welcome to new subscribers. I’m so glad you are receiving my Daily Gratitude Reflections and once-a-month enewsletters. This enews is about JOY. (Yes, for those who are really paying attention, April’s topic was also about Joy. I believe we can’t ever have enough.) And I know Gratitude and Joy are soul sisters! Joy and gratitude are so closely related. If I feel joy, I am grateful for whatever prompted it. If I feel gratitude, I am most likely feeling happy. And Joy is an inside job. If you are feeling sadness instead of joy, please reply and let me know. We can have a chat, and I might have some answers and suggestions to help and guide you. I would love to hear from you. Recently, I finished facilitating a Book Study Group using a deep and wonderful book Living with Joy by Sanaya Roman. We all found ways to expand joy in our lives. I’ll share some of my favorite delightful affirmations from the book. I highly recommend her book. Also, in May, I attended a lovely workshop by Lara Brezezinski, another CSL practitioner. Her workshop was called Igniting Deep Joy from Within, How to Cultivate a Life of Joy. She is a joy enthusiast, dedicated to spreading more joy in the world. I noticed that the rest of the day, I felt light, airy and filled with more joy and happiness.
M AY 2025 NEWSLETTERActing As If..A few years back, I discovered another powerful gratitude practice. This goes above and beyond being grateful for what IS in your life, in the present moment. For several years, I have been applying this new idea in my life with great results. What it involves is writing a letter to Spirit or Your Higher Power, not only expressing thankfulness for the blessings in your life right now, also making sure to include writing about what you are thankful for in the future, as if it has already happened. It is affirming to know that Spirit is listening, and watching things come to pass as imagined and written down. This gratitude practice definitely works! Recently, I shared this practice with a friend who was fretting in advance about a future move to another place. She listened to me, and tried it, and feels much more peace about the move. And thanked me. I have told many others about writing about future things to be thankful for, and she is the one person I know about who tried it and feels completely grateful to have learned about it. Give it a try.
|  “Look closely at the present you are constructing; it should look like the future you are dreaming.” Alice Walker How completely grateful I am to watch what I am dreaming come to fruition. There is such power in knowing we can manifest what we desire, if we don’t hang it up with conflicting thoughts, or a belief that we don’t deserve. I firmly believe in the potential of visualizing and visioning, and I delight in watching as Life says an enthusiastic YES! Deborah Perdue from Daily Gratitude Reflections Vol. 2 “Thank the past for all the lessons it taught you; anticipate the future for all the blessings it has in store for you,” |
 JOY PRACTICES:Keep a gratitude journal: Regularly reflect on the things you are grateful for. https://www.graceofgratitude.com/store/c2/ Retail_%26_eBooks.html Share your gratitude: Express your appreciation to others. Use affirmations: These are from a book by Sanaya Roman titled Living in Joy. You can also create your own. I choose to live joyfully. The joy of my innermost being shines through me. I am free to be around joyful people, and I am! Remember to play! Dance and move your bod! Play with kids or your dog or kitty, they are always up for it. Sing in the shower! Sing in a choir! Laugh for no reason! Listen to your favorite music. Here is a song by Karen Drucker on Joy you may enjoy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5i_CT- Dc2kM&list=PL8qLMZTl40ueRy58yjlwO- QL7DoN7AKvtH&index=11 Listen to positive meditations: Here is an all-time favorite by Gabby Bernstein https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S- gjpZuGvNuA Happy April to my Gratitude Tribe. Remember, joy is an inside job. Let’s create it for ourselves and shine it out to the world. Keep the faith! Love and Light, Deborah, Gratitude Gal | “The root of joy is gratefulness... It is not joy that makes us grateful; it is gratitude that makes us joyful.” David Steindl-RastBlissed and Blessed I just can’t be in a bad mood when feeling grateful. It’s impossible, really. I’ve had someone challenge me in a Gratitude Workshop I facilitated when I stated that one can’t be unhappy or mad when thankful. She disagreed emphatically. In retrospect, I wish I had handed her my Grace of Gratitude Journal for her to write in regularly, and then checked in with her later. :) For me, gratitude transforms my life in amazing, beneficial ways! I started this practice in 2012 and have been going strong ever since. I am grateful for my happy, joyful heart! And for sharing the superpower of gratitude with others. May it transform your life as it has mine. Thank you, Universe, for providing infinite opportunities to appreciate! Deborah Perdue, 6/26/24 Note: I will be offering a 2 hour zoom workshop on Jumpstarting Your Joy. It wil be on a Saturday in late April or early May. Let me know if you are interested. Would love to have you join us.  |
MARCH 2025 NEWSLETTER
Happy Spring to those in the Western Hemisphere!
The skies have been grey with lots of rain this winter here in Oregon. We even had some late snow in Feburary too. Now, I’m SO grateful to hear frogs croaking and singing each night in our pond. I am in love with the frogs in our pond! They are the happy announcers of Spring almost here! To see signs of Spring everywhere, to feel more warmth, and enjoy the sunshine is bliss.
The focus for this March newsletter is Recharging Our Gratitude Practices. When the outside world is getting me down, there is no better cure than to start recounting what I am thankful for in my life.
Actually, I do this every single morning, in my prayer and meditation time, and in the evening before I go to bed too. Being grateful always sets a positive, uplifting tone in my heart and soul. I’ve listed some ways we can amplify gratitude in our lives, to let it be a Superpower.
The skies have been grey with lots of rain this winter here in Oregon. We even had some late snow in Feburary too. Now, I’m SO grateful to hear frogs croaking and singing each night in our pond. I am in love with the frogs in our pond! They are the happy announcers of Spring almost here! To see signs of Spring everywhere, to feel more warmth, and enjoy the sunshine is bliss.
The focus for this March newsletter is Recharging Our Gratitude Practices. When the outside world is getting me down, there is no better cure than to start recounting what I am thankful for in my life.
Actually, I do this every single morning, in my prayer and meditation time, and in the evening before I go to bed too. Being grateful always sets a positive, uplifting tone in my heart and soul. I’ve listed some ways we can amplify gratitude in our lives, to let it be a Superpower.
 BASK IN NATURE!I am blessed to be living in the forest in Oregon. It gives me a chance to walk in nature, to immerse myself in it every single day. Taking a Gratitude Stroll is highly recommended. Be quiet and with every step, feel the gratitude for beautiful nature and for life in general! And if you aren’t blessed to live right in nature, go to a city park to enjoy the beauty all around. MEDITATIONThere are some beautiful gratitude meditations: Here are a couple I highly recommend: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2UdK96JpnU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfD4HaBBc0I GRATITUDE PRACTICEWrite in a Gratitude Journal – www.graceofgratitude.com (truly gorgeous journals!) Beginners: start out by listing 5 things you are grateful for every day. Do this for 40 days and your life will improve dramatically. Then, keep going after the 40 days so it becomes a beneficial habit. If you already write in a journal, consider writing paragraphs about each thing, rather than making a short list. I celebrate and revel in the coming of spring! Nature dances with bright promise as she wakes from winter slumber and begins parading her new green grass and colorful blossoms again. As spring awakens, the flora and the fauna, my heart and spirit awaken to the new-- to whatever is about to come my way, and I dance with joy for all the new beginnings within and all around me. Love and Light, Deborah | RECHARGING |
FEBRUARY 2025 NEWSLETTER
Some of you may have noticed I didn’t send out a newsletter in January. Life definitely got in the way. December landed my husband in the hospital twice, and I’m very grateful to report that he is doing great again. The second time he was able to go home was on my birthday 12-31-24, and I just couldn’t get organized enough to send out a January offering. So, here we are in February!
The focus for this February newsletter is Recharging Our Spiritual Batteries. When the outside world is getting me down, it is so important to refuel my connection with the Divine Beloved. Actually, I do this every single morning, in my prayer and meditation time. I can toss and turn in the night, and then when I spend at least an hour in the morning with practices that replenish my heart and soul, it sets a positive, uplifting tone for the day. Of course, I admit life tends to get in the way and I may forget my connection to All That Is, and then, I have to recalibrate again. I am very grateful for the tools in my spiritual tool box, some which I will share here, with links too.
The focus for this February newsletter is Recharging Our Spiritual Batteries. When the outside world is getting me down, it is so important to refuel my connection with the Divine Beloved. Actually, I do this every single morning, in my prayer and meditation time. I can toss and turn in the night, and then when I spend at least an hour in the morning with practices that replenish my heart and soul, it sets a positive, uplifting tone for the day. Of course, I admit life tends to get in the way and I may forget my connection to All That Is, and then, I have to recalibrate again. I am very grateful for the tools in my spiritual tool box, some which I will share here, with links too.
 COMMUNITYAttend gatherings with like-minded people, whether in person or on zoom. This could be a church or synagogue, a meditation group, or any religion persuasion. I am in love with the community I am a part of, the Centers for Spiritual Living (CSL.org) Every week, I visit on Sundays, and the service always inspires me, and I also get my quota of hugs for the week. Spiritual classes. Take a class on zoom or in person. There you will get to know others on a deep level. I teach classes and this is very fulfilling for me and all who attend. Also, Tai Chi, yoga, dance and other movement classes can uplift us. Social media. Besides connecting with friends, one can find wonderful. spiritual groups to connect with too. GRATITUDE PRACTICEBeing grateful morning, noon and night amplifies the good in your life. Journaling is very potent. Free Grace of Gratitude Journal to first 5 who reply. (U.S. only due to shipping costs overseas)
Ron Marshall, RScP and I are ofering a book study on This Here Flesh by Cole Arthur Riley for 7 weeks. This is a deep and profound work of contemplative storytelling. Email if you are interested, and I’ll send more details. | RECHARGING |
Author
Deborah Perdue
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