Why was this book created?
To inspire self-care through the practice of gratitude.
What might start as a simple practice of gratitude for the body (encouraging healthy physical habits) can quickly grow into something bigger: a positive life-long mindset of valuing yourself enough to learn, grow, and achieve to your highest potential.
“BE THE PERSON YOU NEEDED WHEN YOU WERE YOUNGER.”
“GRATITUDE IS MAGIC IN REAL LIFE.”
Hi, my name is Elena. As an artist with interest in mindfulness and healing, I’d like to share something special with you: an expression of my art with a purpose.
As a child, I struggled with anxiety, low self-worth, low self-esteem, eating disorders, and a feeling that I did not deserve success. No matter what positive things parents, teachers, and counselors told me, I did not believe them.
I looked for answers in books—in words and pictures—but not many provided the affirming beliefs that I needed to hear.
Negative body image and low self-esteem followed me from elementary school through college. The negative effects on my daily life were painful and affected everything from goal-setting to personal relationships.
It took years of spiritual searching, but I eventually came across the practice of gratitude—a practice so simple that most of us overlook this as obvious and frivolous. However, this simple exercise completely transformed my life, my relationship with myself, my health, and my relationship with others.
I have healed my life, but I see the pain of low self-esteem and low self-worth still prevalent in many people. It’s a pain that takes over lives, but it is not something we need to live with.
I invite you to try the simple practice of gratitude and see the results blossom over time.
To help you start the practice easily, I created the book Thank You, Me. The book is a very simple meditation; in the few minutes it takes to read the book with a child, you have already practiced gratitude and you have introduced it to the next generation.