Reflecting on Gratitude and Embracing Change

Finding Joy in Life’s Small Moments Amid Big Changes

I want to start by saying that I’ve been in a really sweet spot lately.  There are so many bitter-sweet things happening in life and I find myself trying to be mindful of how precious things are right now, in this moment/time of life.  

The Journey to Becoming Empty Nesters: Embracing a New Adventure

Come January, my husband and I will officially be empty nesters. We’ve decided to move out of our lovely three-bedroom apartment and downsize into a 60 square ft. trailer that we can pull to travel the country.  This will be our new home for the foreseeable future! 

The process of unloading everything we’ve accumulated for the past 13 years has been emotional to say the least and I’m so sad to leave this home behind.  But don’t worry, our wonderful team is still here to help you, and Austin Lymphatic will continue to provide the same care and services you know and trust.

We moved here shortly after we got married and raised the kids in this home.  We build Austin Lymphatic while living in this home. We went through Covid and snowpocalypse and had countless get-togethers, laughs and sweet sweet memories. I’ve found so much strength, humor, and power while living here.  

We’re on the 3rd floor and I wake up every morning to birds chirping in the giant Crepe Myrtle trees as far as I can see.  You can even hear Bull Creek running below us after a rain. We have over 100 potted plants that I consider my babies and our precious cat, Mookie made our home complete.  I can say without hesitation that this is my favorite place I’ve ever lived.

Reflecting on Gratitude During Life’s Transitions

I say all this cause it’s easy to take these things for granted when life is so busy, stressful, and chaotic. With Thanksgiving just around the corner, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on the profound gratitude I’m feeling these days in hopes it will inspire you to feel the same. Life changes so quickly and it’s hard to appreciate the “Here & Now” sometimes. With my home, and all of its comforts going away soon, little things like dinner with the family, warm showers, or even a dishwasher, have become an excellent source for me to express unrelenting gratitude. This has trickled out into every aspect of my life and I know I’m a better, more pleasant, present, and healthier person for it.

The Power of a Gratitude Practice: Rewiring the Brain for Joy

I’ve had a Gratitude practice for decades (I’ll get to that). But with all these changes, I’ve been experiencing it through a new lens and it’s infiltrated deeper into my life.  Just walking into the grocery store earlier today (which I normally despise cause It can be so overwhelming, chaotic, and stressful) was such a treat.  “Look at all this incredible food at my fingertips!!” “How the hell am I so lucky?”

Sometimes you don’t appreciate things fully until they are gone.  It’s a sad truth of life.  I just want to send a sweet reminder that sometimes, things are better than we think.  Let’s unpack the science behind this shall we!? 

How Anxiety and Gratitude Intersect in the Brain

Neuroscience of Happiness: A couple of fun facts: Did you know that we are inherently wired to be unhappy? Humans are wired to look for problems. This isn’t a flaw—it’s how our ancestors survived. Imagine living in prehistoric times. Spotting a predator or avoiding poisonous plants wasn’t just useful; it was essential. Our brains evolved to prioritize potential dangers over positive experiences. A really beautiful book that I highly recommend on this subject is called Buddha Brain: The Neuroscience of Happiness. It’s truly life-changing!

This “negativity bias” ensured survival, but it came at a cost. Even today, our brains automatically scan for threats, whether it’s a harsh email from a boss, a minor argument, or bad news in the media. Left unchecked, this survival instinct leaves us dissatisfied about 66% of the time, even when life is objectively fine. The truth is, once your basic needs are met (the majority of us living in this country), the rest is up to your perspective.

The good news is, that knowledge is power, and now that we know this, we can reprogram ourselves to be happier simply by acknowledging all the things there are to be grateful for and really analyzing if this perceived threat deserves the attention we’re giving it at the moment (probably not).

Secondly:
Did you know that we experience both anxiety and gratitude in the same parts of the brain? Read that again and think of the implications. This is so cool! Studies show that you can’t experience anxiety and gratitude at the same time and that by stopping to hold space for gratitude, it can override anxiety.

I don’t mean to make it sound that simple. I’m very aware of crippling anxiety disorders and have watched many of my family members (and clients) suffer and overcome these obstacles. So please don’t feel like I’m discounting the severity of how gripping or valid anxiety can be.

What I am saying is that when they study the brain when it’s actively expressing gratitude, anxiety and all the chemical components that come with it, diminish. This isn’t just feel-good advice; it’s science. Studies show that practicing gratitude enhances neuroplasticity—the brain’s ability to rewire itself—making it easier to adopt a more positive outlook over time.

My Personal Gratitude Practice and Its Life-Changing Impact

True story I may have previously shared: I was kinda a badass little gymnast growing up. I had the most incredibly supportive parents who drove me up to Pflugerville (middle of nowhere 30 years ago), sometimes both before and after school. What I know to be true now is that all the determination in the world won’t get you to the level I was shooting for your genetics are not tip-top… and mine are not.

Side note: did you know that Simone Biles is a true genetic freak? They don’t understand how her tendons are strong enough to withstand the amount of force it takes to land her routines. They should study her in a lab (and give me some of what she’s got!!:)

I, on the other hand, suffer from hypermobility, a disorder that is only very recently getting any attention. It seems like it would be great for a gymnast to be hyper-mobile. However, this led to injury after injury, sprain after sprain, and eventually, one that brought my career to a halt. I went from practicing 5-8 hours a day to doing – nothing. My adrenals crashed, I developed chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, and I became horribly depressed. I stayed in bed for years. I did homeschool for several semesters on sick leave…. I was only 12 years old. This lasted for about 3 years, and then I developed a gratitude practice. I’m not saying this is the answer to everyone’s ailments, but it’s changed my life in immeasurable ways and I’m now, to this day, a very happy person.

I read a book that explained many of the things I’ve talked about here and it gave me some great tips on how to gain control over my perspective. And it only takes a few minutes a day!

My Evening and Morning Gratitude Rituals

Okay, this isn’t what I read but it’s what I do: Please don’t laugh at me (I can’t believe I’m telling you guys this): I’m going to start with how I go to sleep cause it’s the most embarrassing. It’s a self-soothing technique I started doing when I was a teenager and now I can’t sleep without it but I swear it settles me down from the day and puts me into a happy place as I drift off to sleep.

You know how babies settle down when they are being rocked and make really sweet cooing noises? Well, that’s what I do. I lay in bed, rock myself gently back and forth, and make little happy noises til I pass out. I start by thinking of positive things that happened to me that day and then dig into the more basic simple things until I eventually fall asleep… it doesn’t usually take me too long cause the rocking and the noises settle me down.

In the morning when I wake up, I combine breathwork with gratitude and visualization for the day.
The things you’re grateful for don’t have to be a big deal. In fact, the smaller the better. This simple act can do wonders for your nervous system and in-turn, your overall health.

The Profound Gratitude for Austin Lymphatic and Our Clients

With all this in mind, I want to share how grateful I am for Austin Lymphatic, the amazing practitioners I work with, and how it has grown beyond my wildest dreams into a beautiful practice. The work we do at this clinic extends far beyond my biggest hopes, dreams, and aspirations. I was responding to some of our Google reviews today and got overwhelmed in the best of ways. The care and dedication these ladies give is truly phenomenal.

But more than anything, I am appreciative of YOU. Our amazing and loyal clients who have benefited from this practice and continue to come see us whenever they are in need. It warms my heart in unimaginable ways to have your trust. Words simply can’t express how humbled and grateful I am that we’ve been able to touch so many lives.

Gratitude as a Daily Practice: Small Acts, Big Changes

I hope you take this with you through the crazy holiday season. Slow down, and set a gratitude practice while you’re sitting in Austin traffic. I promise, if you start doing this just a few minutes a day, it’ll change your life for the better.

So this Thanksgiving, I encourage you to pause, reflect, and give thanks—not just for the big things, but for the small, everyday blessings that make life so rich.

Happy Thanksgiving, and may your gratitude practice bring you peace and happiness throughout the year!

 I love you truly,

Jess