For many people, winter is a bleak time of year. The chilly weather, barren trees, and short days often get the best of us. During this season, it can become increasingly difficult to find inspiration in day-to-day life. For this reason, it is even more important to actively stay connected with the earth. It’s during winter that nature reveals the bones of her landscape; offering up a beautiful foundation upon which to find insight, imagination and inspiration.

Weddings can be stressful and overwhelming. There are lots of choices to make and several elements to organize; opinions can clash, and at times it can be difficult to compromise. But it’s important to remember the significance of this momentous event. You and your fiancé have made a conscious choice to unite in love and life, and your wedding should be a celebration of that choice.

How do we do it? How do we strengthen our gratitude muscle? There are some evidence-based practices, such as journal writing, that can help cultivate a grateful mindset, but the best way is to start is by setting the intention — making a choice — to be open to and notice opportunities that you can be thankful for. In this way, the practice of gratitude can be integrated into everyday life and become a disposition rather than a response.