I first met Lori at a workshop in the fall of 2008 in Miami, Florida. The moment she introduced herself you could FEEL her essence fill the room. She filled the room with gratitude as she briefly shared her vision of Zen Rabbit and Gratitude Cookies. I instantly knew that her approach to living life in gratitude was something that everyone should hear about.
It is my great pleasure to feature Lori this week as she shares how she is living life like never before.
You may be familiar with the importance of feeling gratitude for all you have in your life. Equally important and less discussed is the idea of expressing that appreciation; letting the people for whom you are grateful know how you feel.
Mother Teresa said, “There is more hunger in the world for love and appreciation than for bread.”
Most people are silently and internally begging for someone to recognize their achievements. They are desperate for a pat on the back, for someone to validate how they spend day in and day out is of some value. Have you ever been there? Sitting alone, having the crappiest day ever, wondering who even cares?
What if on one of those days, you received something that said “thanks, I appreciate your efforts; I value what you do and who you are”? How could that change your outlook?
Through Zen Rabbit and with The Gratitude Cookie™, I help people strengthen relationships – with clients, vendors, employees, friends, family, anyone – by helping them satisfy that hunger. Spreading joy in a way that everyone can relate to, this is my mission.
And while my mission is noble and my purpose clear, there have still been plenty of bumps in the road. Every entrepreneur, (geez, if we’re being real, everyone with a life!), faces challenges that seem insurmountable. Finding support through others who can offer advice or just hold you while you cry is essential. So is connecting to your inner guidance, spirit, the universe, God, whatever term resonates with you. Taking time to sit quietly, clearing your mind of the tangled web of thoughts running rampant, even for just five minutes a day, to connect with this higher power, makes all the difference. Here’s the funny thing. I’ve known the benefit of making this connection for years, but I never took time to do it! I was “too busy.”
Then my life reached a point of critical chaos and I felt like there was nothing else I could do. I finally made time to connect with my soul, and continue to do so regularly, and I’m living life like never before. So much more calm, grounded and in the present moment, and opportunities come so much easier. Yes, really, it is that easy.
Lori Saitz is founder of Zen Rabbit Baking Company. She helps people show appreciation for and give recognition to others. The main (delicious!) tool her team uses to help accomplish this important feat is through The Gratitude Cookie™. A thin, crunchy cross between a butter and a sugar cookie, The Gratitude Cookie is so named because if you’re eating the cookies, you’re encouraged to think about something you are grateful for as you munch on each one. The web site is www.ZenRabbitCookies.com and you can reach her by phone at 561.889.8195.