Gratitude asks us to stretch beyond what feels comfort.

As I sit writing Thank You notes, surrounded by beautiful gifts and their wrappings, I’m transported back to the magnified joy of my wedding days. From the shower to city hall, the spiritual ceremony and after-party, there were 4-days of being recognized for trusting love.

So many heartfelt toasts, stirred memories shared, and unexpected guests celebrated us. Anthony and I felt our chests—our heart centers—stretched wide open! So open, that our hearts ached. Similar to a smile, making your cheeks ache!

We mini-mooned at a spa, basking in the feeling of so much shared affection, hope for the future, and belief that love is the centerpiece to a happy, whole, healthy life. Naming our feelings, I felt chosen and Anthony felt lucky. Feelings we continue to nurture as we return to life’s mundane routines.

I could only write a few Thank You notes at a time. Ten was a lot! I would get tired! But why was I getting tired of feeling happy, whole, and healthy?

I realized that being happy, whole, and healthy, without doubts, fears, or anger was so expansive that it was actually hard to hold onto. Like stretching a muscle, you gradually expand the soft tissues to permit, own, and become flexible. It doesn’t happen in a day!

Choosing to trust love asks for daily practice. To stretch into being happy, whole, and healthy requires due diligence and consideration. Consciousness is a muscle we choose to exercise. And, what we focus on, in our consciousness, is our choice… an important choice.

This parallel between mind and body—consciousness and muscular flexibility—illustrates how important practice is. To practice alignment, flexibility, strength, coordination and love, in mind and body, to self and others, for our lives and the world, is to permit, own, and become it.

For love to be a centerpiece in the world, to override impatience, mistrust, and jealousy, we all need to exercise it daily. Being grateful—writing Thank You notes—was one way to practice aligned, flexible, strong, coordinated love, consciously.

I thank you all again, for the lesson on how-to expand my capacity to love.

Through your trust in us, I stretched from the inside out. You’ve made me understand that love requires fitness. Fitness in a whole new light. A light that chooses patience, trust, and joy, on purpose and with purpose.

This light is the lubricant for love, that builds trust in our own capacity to expand into being love.