Gratitude is Gateway to Developing Abundance Mindset

“Abundance is not something we acquire. It is something we tune into.”

– Wayne Dyer

Do you have an abundance mindset? 

I met a lovely couple on a cruise ship a few years ago. Truth be told, I only chatted with them a few times. But during one of those chats, my friend, Lynne (who I was traveling with), happened to mention to them that I love dog-sitting. This was news to me. I mean, I like dog-sitting but it’s not something I go out of my way to make happen 🙂

“Oh yes,” said Lynne to the nice couple. “Maryanne loves to travel and stay at people’s homes and look after their dogs. She’s a writer and travels all over the world doing this!”

Now to be fair, I didn’t correct Lynne by telling the lovely couple that although I do travel all over the world, writing…the number of times I have stayed in people’s homes, looking after their dog/s while doing so was…well, never.

Instead, I just smiled and nodded. I mean, if I could get travel/writing/dog-sitting gigs at cool locations around the globe, I wouldn’t say no.

So perhaps you can guess what happened next?

Sure enough, a few months later, the lovely couple from the cruise ship reached out to me and asked if they could book me – eighteen months in advance – to look after the puppy they would soon be getting. By the time my dog-sitting gig rolled around, the puppy would be just over a year and fully trained.

Heck yeah, I said!

And sure enough, eighteen months later, I found myself on a plane to Tucson, AZ to look after a well-behaved little dog by the name of Izzy. And get this: not only did Izzy’s mom & dad (the lovely couple from the cruise) treat me to a yummy dinner out, they also took me to Costco the next day and filled up the grocery cart with everything a gal could possibly want to eat for the next two weeks…on their dime!

And so it came to pass that I had a delightful (and VERY productive) two weeks at their beautiful home in Tucson…writing to my heart’s content, taking uber-cute Izzy on plenty of walks, and exploring the stunning Sonoran Desert.

The total cost to me? My airfare.

But even that was negated because what the lovely couple ALSO gave me – as a thank you for flying to Tucson & looking after Izzy – was six nights at a hotel in Vegas.

Wait, what? Yes, you read correctly.

Except that if you’re thinking they put me up in a typical Vegas hotel room, you’d be wrong. I stayed in a suite…and a stunning one at that! It was so swanky, I didn’t even want to leave it to go wander around Vegas. But I did (after getting my writing done in the mornings).

All this to say…I am profoundly grateful for all that I have – because I am truly blessed to have so much. And what I’ve noticed is that the more grateful I am for all that comes my way, the more that keeps coming my way!

“You simply will not be the same person two months from now after consciously giving thanks each day for the abundance that exists in your life. And you will have set in motion an ancient spiritual law: the more you have and are grateful for, the more will be given you.” 

– Sarah Ban Breathnach, Simple Abundance; A Daybook of Comfort & Joy

I really do think gratitude is the gateway to an abundance mindset. Being grateful and expressing our gratitude – out loud – absolutely seems to set even more good things into motion.

And to bring this little story full circle, Lynne joined me in Tucson for the last few days of my writing/dog-sitting gig at Jeanne & Gary’s place. And then the two of us drove to Vegas…road trip!

Here are a few more fun photos from Tucson & Vegas: 

Maryanne Pope is the author of “A Widow’s Awakening.” She also writes screenplays, playscripts & blogs. Maryanne is the CEO of Pink Gazelle Productions and Co-Founder of the John Petropoulos Memorial Fund. To receive her blog, “Weekly Words of Wisdom,” please subscribe here. And be sure to visit our PinkGazelleCards Etsy shop.