If it is ever wondered just how “much gratitude” came to be… I can say that there have been many seeds. I am personally coming out of a year that by all accounts could be characterized by “much loss”… but through it all, I keep finding a spirit of gratitude coming through me.

But if any one thing pushed me to action, it may have been this image of this great african lion kissing and hugging a woman that took care of him some five or so years earlier…

I came across this video* from this news article one day recently… and was really moved by the raw expression of gratitude from this beautiful animal.

In the days that followed, I invariably found myself stumbling over many things for which I am grateful… and somewhat surprisingly… some were things from long ago that I am just now seeing in a new light.

I am sure I will find plenty of opportunities to thank the many many people that have guided me to this point in my life… but I wanted to first and foremost recognize the power and beauty of gratitude itself, so beautifully expressed in the relationship between this lion and this woman.

It is my deepest hope that through the stories that will be told on this site, anyone in need will easily find hope and inspiration when they need it the most. I also look forward to seeing the many acts of kindness that will shine through as we begin to give time and space to the flowering of all of the gratitude that follows.

* if anyone has any information on how I might be able to acquire a legal & downloadable version of this video, please email me!