Gratitude. Play. Self care: A new definition for GPS
Picture this: it’s late summer, 2001. An 18-year-old girl sets off from Maryland to Virginia in a slightly questionable (but lovable) 1982 Toyota Cressida. On the passenger seat is a Atlas map and handwritten directions pulled from MapQuest.
A few wrong turns. A couple “hmm…this doesn’t feel right” pit stops. And somehow, by a mix of luck, intuition, and sheer determination, she makes it to her destination.
That girl was me…heading to freshman year of college. And wow…what a time to be alive!
This was long before the calm, reassuring voice of GPS telling us to “recalculate.” Before we could reroute with a tap. Before we had any idea how much we’d come to rely on being guided.
Fast forward 25 years and now I use GPS every single day. Even when I know where I’m going, I still turn it on to avoid traffic, tolls and accidents.
GPS stands for Global Positioning System (I'm embarrassed to tell you I had to look that up) It was created in 1973 by the Department of Defense and really took off in the mid-00s for civilian use. Using GPS is no longer just a tactic from the DOD, it's an essential piece of our lives. It gets us where we need to go safely. So knowing that we use GPS every day, I'd love to offer an alternative to "Global Positioning System". It’s a new meaning, one that helps guide not just our direction, but our lives.
My enhanced definition of GPS is:
Gratitude
Play
Self-Care
But where are we going? Well that certainly depends on each of our goals, values and plans. For me, I'm heading to a place that is compassionate and kind. It's fun and joyful. It's the place where curiosity is the most important value and mindfulness is practiced daily. This place where I'm going doesn't require a map on my phone because I can feel it in my heart.
And this is how I get there:
Gratitude
Simple. Free. Transformational.
Before dinner each night, my partner and I share three things we’re grateful for. I close every yoga class with a moment of gratitude. It’s a small practice that creates a big shift.
Because when we focus on what’s good, we start to see more good. Even in the messy moments, heck, especially in the messy moments. Gratitude gently redirects us toward joy and reminds us to be compassionate to ourselves and others.
Play
When did we decide play was just for kids?
Somewhere along the way, we traded in curiosity and silliness for productivity and “being serious” so we could money to pay bills and jump through the societal hoops we have created for ourselves. When we cut the expectations, it helps us to follow our bliss, which is exactly what kids do.
Play is where we find the flow state, that magical state where time disappears and we feel fully alive. This is a big part of why I host yoga & wellness retreats. Play orients us to that part that feels joyful, it’s points us in the direction of fun.
Self-Care
More than a massage (which I do love!) self-care looks like different things to different folks. It leaves us nourished rather than depleted. I
f we make self-care something we "should" do rather than something we love to do then it's not actually self-care. I don't love to get a mani or pedi, so that's not self-care for me. Laying in a hammock reading a book at the park is more my speed.
Self-care involves deliberate actions (physical, mental, emotional, social, and spiritual) taken to maintain health, prevent burnout, and manage stress. It is crucial for restoring balance and improving quality of life, not just luxury pampering. Self-care for me is rooted in what sparks joy
So, where do you want to go? What kind of life are you navigating toward?
Set your destination. Get clear on what matters. And then let your inner GPS guide the way.
Gratitude. Play. Self-Care.
A roadmap not just for getting somewhere, but for actually enjoying the journey.
I’d love to hear from you! H ow does this version of GPS land in your world?
What does your path look like when you follow your inner guidance?