Amanda Gee (RCAT, RP)
Lower Sackville, NS

Spring has sprung, and summer is on the horizon. This time of year growth is everywhere – in the leaves appearing, the sprouts pushing up, the birds nesting and baby animals being born. Its such a refreshing time of year. There is glistening green all around, the air is fresh, and I am grateful to be able to experience it.  

In this past year I have been more focused on gratitude than ever before. The world can be a difficult place, so many terrible things have happened and are happening locally and globally, and while I know that gratitude can not make all of the negativity go away it has helped me to focus more on the positives around me and to not get stuck in the darkness.

I have been working on my gratitude practice, being mindful to take the time to build it in to everyday, being in the moment. I am grateful for what I have in my life, the simple things, grateful for being able to help others, grateful to be able to share what I have. I am grateful for my family and friends, for my work, for art making. I am grateful to be a part of this organization, to be doing this work, to be moving CATA - ACAT forward. I am grateful for all of CATA – ACAT’s amazing volunteers, all of the hard-working staff, all of the incredible membership.

As spring continues to grow and bloom, I challenge you to stop and smell the spring flowers, and to take a moment to consider what you are grateful for.

Take good care.