Gratitude Begins Within

November Newsletter 2025

Happy November, Bear River Family

This month, we often focus on gratitude and while that’s a beautiful practice, I’d like to invite you to shift your focus inward this month.

Have you ever paused to show gratitude for yourself, for all your hard work, your perseverance, your growth? Have you ever thanked your body for carrying you through each day or taken a moment to truly admire your own accomplishments?

When I quiet my mind and look inward, I study some of my challenges. I feel grateful that I’m even aware enough to do that , to pause and observe what’s happening inside instead of projecting it outward or assuming it’s coming from somewhere external. That’s a huge win for me! I can’t say I do it all the time, (just ask my mom haha) but probably 70 to 80% of the time, I can. Twenty years ago, it might have been only 20% at best! So I’m deeply grateful that I can now make more of an effort to pause, look inward, and simply be aware of all I have accomplished.

So often, we express gratitude outwardly, yet we forget that self-gratitude is just as powerful. This isn’t about inflating your ego or boasting, it’s about self-recognition, about becoming your own best cheerleader. It’s about acknowledging the quiet ways you continue to grow like when you choose water over soda, offer a smile to a stranger, or respond with patience when it’s not easy.

Take a few moments this month to thank yourself, not for perfection, but for progress! Because every small, mindful choice is a step closer to aligning yourself with the best version of you! And guess what happens when you do that.... You experience more things to be grateful for!

And, when we each practice gratitude for who we genuinely are and the light we bring into the world, we raise the collective energy around us. Together, we create a community that lives in true gratitude , inside and out.

Bottom line… it’s not about being perfect; it’s about being aware of all the good you’ve done and feeling grateful for your own effort!

Sending you lots of love this month,

Mama Bear Linda : )

PS this is your affirmation for the month:

I am thankful for my awareness. Each moment I pause and look within, I strengthen my connection to peace, growth, and my higher self.