Gratitude | Michelle Cromer

A Box of Joy: How the Smallest Surprises Reveal What We Value

Michelle Cromer November 10, 2025 Leave a Comment

My son August came down from Brooklyn for a visit. He was going through his old closet and asked me to mail back some things that wouldn’t fit in his suitcase. I had no idea what was in the bag he left until I dumped out the contents at a shipping company. To my delight, I discovered dudgeon and dragon dice, playing cards, baby arm props, bull whips, and costumes.

It was a box full of creativity and, to me, a box full of joy.

Joy walks alongside all of us. You don’t have to hunt for joy, manufacture it, or live a stress-free, perfect life. Joy arrives when you welcome it into the messiness of our crazy lives. She sneaks up when you least expect it. You cannot invite her, you can only be ready when she shows up, and hug her with all your mite when she does. Joy slithers through the cracks of the imperfect life. That’s how joy works.

Every moment in our lives offers each of us a choice. Look at your life, and it will show you what you value. Are you choosing stress, conflict, and unhappiness? Joy provides the perfect barometer for navigating life. All you need to do is determine and recognize what brings you joy. Do that.

Are you wearing the best colors for you? Each of us has a power color based on the five elements and the day we were born. Sign up for my email list and provide me with the day, month, and year of your birth, and I will send you your birth element and power color!
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The Precious Stone: A Thanksgiving Reflection on Gratitude and Letting Go

Michelle Cromer November 3, 2025 Leave a Comment

A wise woman was traveling in the mountains. As she crossed a stream, she looked down and found a precious stone. She picked it up and tucked it away in her bag. The following day, the wise woman met another hungry traveler. When she opened her bag to share her food, the hungry traveler saw the precious stone and asked the woman to give it to him. She did so without hesitation. The traveler left, rejoicing in his good fortune. He knew the stone was worth enough to give him security for a lifetime. But a few days later, he returned to give the stone back to the wise woman.

“I’ve been thinking,” he said, “I know how valuable the stone is, but I give it back in the hope that you can give me something even more precious.”

“What could that possibly be?” asked the wise woman.

“Give me what you have within you that enabled you to give me the stone,” the hungry man replied.

***

I have heard many versions of this beautiful Zen story, and there are so many lessons to learn from this one simple tale. I interpret the river to be symbolic of the journey of life, and the precious stones to be the people in my life. We find many precious stones during this journey. They may not look precious. They may seem to be plain old pebbles. But if we look closely – if we pay attention and take the time to pick up the stones and shine them, and look after them – we can see that they are precious beyond all measure. But they do not belong to us. We just look after them for a while. They come and go as life takes all kinds of twists and turns. All we can do is enjoy the beauty when it is in our hands and in our lives, and let it go when the time comes to do so. These are moments of grace. Moments of gratitude. As we focus on them, we manifest more of the same.

In this month of thanksgiving, I want to give thanks for the precious stones that I have been honored to hold in my arms and in my life: my steadfast family, my incredible friends, my astonishing colleagues, and my amazing clients. Oftentimes, these precious stones stay with me for months or years, but always, the time spent seems fleeting. They are the greatest and most humble teachers, the most inspiring and heart-warming support.

My wish for you this season is that you hold the precious stones in your life close. You never know when the time will come when you must let them go.

Be Thankful

Be thankful that you don’t already have everything you desire. If you did, what would there be to look forward to?
Be thankful when you don’t know something, for it gives you the opportunity to learn.
Be thankful for the difficult times; during those times, you grow.
Be thankful for your limitations,
because they give you opportunities for improvement.
Be thankful for each new challenge,
because it will build your strength and character.
Be thankful for your mistakes.
They will teach you valuable lessons.
Be thankful when you’re tired and weary because it means you’ve made a difference.
It is easy to be thankful for the good things.
A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who are
also thankful for the setbacks.
GRATITUDE can turn a negative into a positive. Find a way to be thankful for your troubles,
and they can become your blessings. ~ Author Unknown

Developing Nightly Rituals

Michelle Cromer July 20, 2025 Leave a Comment

At the end of the day, as the sweet, dark stillness of night beckons us to lay down our bones and rest, we find ourselves at a clear transition point: Behind us lies the previous day and all that has come before; ahead of us, dawn heralds the unfolding of all that is yet to be. While many of us have morning rituals that connect us with our center and help us to set intentions, we may want to explore the magic and power of nighttime rituals as well. It holds for us a beautiful chance for self-appreciation and blessing. Before you go to bed each night, you can send gratitude, compassion, and healing to the being you have been up until this moment. And you can send lightness and love into the future for the one you are in the process of becoming.

Though simple, this action honors the journey you have taken thus far while opening you to the wonderful possibilities still ahead. When you consciously engage with your own evolution this way, you may find that your sleep gets sweeter, filling your night with a deeper sense of trust and relaxation. As you rest, you can surrender to these peaceful hours, knowing that the road behind you has been seen and acknowledged with respect and kindness, while the path ahead now holds your own benevolence and well wishes.

This bedtime ritual empowers you as the only one who can determine the meaning of your own past and the hopefulness of your future. By setting this special time aside each night, you can begin to orient yourself on your path of growth. It allows you to let the past have its place, to trust that the future is taken care of, and to simply rest yourself in the graceful arms of the present moment.

Are you wearing the best colors for you? Each of us has a power color based on the five elements and the day we were born. Sign up for my email list and provide me the day, month, and year of your birth, and I will send you your birth element and power color!
Want more tips on creating a meaningful life? Subscribe to my podcast, Creating a Meaningful Life, and follow for more inspiration!

Are You Looking for Peace and Transformation?

Michelle Cromer February 24, 2025 Leave a Comment

The peace I feel at a sacred site is unlike anything else. It begins with a stillness that’s almost palpable, as if the very air carries a silent reverence. It wraps around me like a gentle embrace, inviting me to pause, breathe, and simply be. In that moment, the noise of the world falls away, replaced by a profound awareness of the present.

The peace I feel at a sacred site is unlike anything else. It begins with an almost palpable stillness as if the very air carries a silent reverence. It wraps around me like a gentle embrace, inviting me to pause, breathe, and simply be. In that moment, the noise of the world falls away, replaced by a profound awareness of the present.

Standing in such a place, I feel both humbled and uplifted. The ancient energy that lingers there seems to whisper stories of those who came before—of prayers offered, steps taken, and connections forged between the earthly and the divine. Time seems to dissolve, and I am no longer just myself but a part of something much greater. I feel rooted in the earth and expanded by the sky, a thread in the vast tapestry of existence.

This sacred stillness quiets my racing thoughts and slows my breath, creating space for calm to settle deeply within me. It’s not just a peace that exists there; it’s a peace that I carry with me long after I leave. Sacred sites are more than destinations—they are experiences that leave imprints on the soul.

There’s also a deep sense of gratitude in these moments. To stand in such a place feels like a divine gift, an opportunity to touch the sacred and carry its essence back into the world. These sites remind us of the simplicity and stillness that are often forgotten in the chaos of daily life. They teach us that peace is not something we need to find but something we already hold within us—a truth revealed when we open ourselves to connection.

In a world so often marked by noise and distraction, sacred sites offer a powerful refuge. Places like the ancient temples of Angkor Wat, the misty mountains of Machu Picchu, or the tranquil monasteries of Bhutan are more than geographic wonders; they are spiritual beacons. Each one calls us to journey inward, to rediscover the harmony within ourselves, and to awaken to the interconnectedness of all things.

Visiting these spaces isn’t just about travel—it’s about transformation. It’s an invitation to embark on a sacred pilgrimage of self-discovery, where every step brings us closer to our own essence and to the divine presence that flows through everything. The peace we find at these sites isn’t left behind; it becomes a part of us, a quiet flame we carry into the world, illuminating our path with simplicity, stillness, and connection.

3 Ways to Have a Harmonious Feng Shui Thanksgiving

Michelle Cromer November 21, 2021 Leave a Comment

Have a Feng Shui Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is the kick-off to the holiday season and it can be stressful and demanding because of all the work involved in planning the meal, the logistics of getting the family together, and making sure everyone has a wonderful day. Here are 3 harmonious tips for your Thanksgiving celebration:

Harmonious seating
The dining room is considered to be the place of wealth in your home, so use it. Honor this day and your guests and bring out your good stuff, such as your china, crystal, and silver.
Round tables are best for flow and conversation but if you are like me and have a rectangle table that’s ok. Try to avoid seating your guests near the corners, which can cause an uneasy feeling. Use a tablecloth to blunt the edges.
Harmonious décor
If you think your guests might argue then invite an even number of people for that balance.
In Feng Shui, we divide everything into the balance yin (dark) and yang (light). So, decorate with soothing earth colors like pumpkin, evergreen, and chocolate. Orange is the element of fire, which encourages conversation. Yellow wakes up the room just like the sun.
Harmonious Food
If there was ever a time to make your guests, “eat, drink and be merry” it’s Thanksgiving. Have plenty of food and all of your family’s favorites. In Texas, we have cornbread dressing, sweet potato casserole, broccoli cheese casserole and yes that is made with Velveeta cheese, tamales, and of course lemon Jell-O. I love pie so I have half of a pie per person and I normally have around 26 people. Pumpkin, pecan, apple, cherry, sweet potato, buttermilk, coconut cream pie, and chocolate – we have it all.

Harmonious Food As we are eating, my family and friends take turns and tell everyone the main thing that they are grateful for this year.

There are three great blessings in Feng Shui- health, happiness, and prosperity. We eat pears after sundown, which symbolically is blessing everyone with those three things. This is what I am wishing for all of y’all. I hope you have a healthy, happy, and prosperous holiday filled with good food, great family and friends who surround you with love, harmony, joy, and of course tons of gratitude.

Have any Feng Shui questions? Feel free to contact me at michelle@michellecromer.com and sign up for your Power Color or visit me on Facebook at Michelle Cromer Feng Shui.

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