Blog

The journey to the wedding day may be a winding one. I’m happy to share some tips and tricks along the way. I continually offer ways to strengthen your relationship, and provide additional resources & tools. Scroll on down, and click on a post that interests you. The comments are always open, and I would love to know what you think!

Gratituesday 3.9.21 - Long Day Gratitudes
Gratitudes Hope Mirlis Gratitudes Hope Mirlis

Gratituesday 3.9.21 - Long Day Gratitudes

I am in the middle of a long day. I should have been more mindful about my energy level and my calendar, and my desire to say ‘yes.’ So, my brain is not functioning at its optimal capacity. I don’t have wise words to share this week, but I DO have my Weekly Lists. So here they are. Care to join me?

Read More
Gratituesday 2.23.21 - Just Vent, Just Listen
Gratitudes Hope Mirlis Gratitudes Hope Mirlis

Gratituesday 2.23.21 - Just Vent, Just Listen

This afternoon I had another no-show for an intro call with a colleague. So I called my mother because I just needed to vent. I am really trying to complain less, however we need to let our disappointments go. So it’s nice from time to time, to just share without an expectation of solving any problems. Just vent and let it go.

Read More
Gratituesday 1.26.21 - Normalcy & Forgiveness
Gratitudes Hope Mirlis Gratitudes Hope Mirlis

Gratituesday 1.26.21 - Normalcy & Forgiveness

When the world started shutting down last March, there was a pause in a sense of normalcy. In November, I realized that I still needed to I update my driver’s license, however I could not get an appointment until today. Since I was headed down to the Penn Station area, I planned a day. A bit of normalcy.

Read More
Gratituesday 1.19.21 - A New Day
Gratitudes Hope Mirlis Gratitudes Hope Mirlis

Gratituesday 1.19.21 - A New Day

I really hate how divided we are, and I truly do not understand how anyone could have supported the current President. However, with the changing of the guard, I am optimistic. With Kamala Harris, we have lots of firsts. First woman, first Black and first South Asian VP. It does feel like a new day dawning.

Read More
Gratituesday 1.12.21 - Accountability
Gratitudes Hope Mirlis Gratitudes Hope Mirlis

Gratituesday 1.12.21 - Accountability

Accountability has been on my mind recently. After the insurrection at the US Capitol last week, many politicians who supported the president or who let it happen just want everyone to move forward. They’re calling for unity. And I’m calling for accountability.

Read More
Gratituesday 12.29.20 - Farewell, 2020
Gratitudes Hope Mirlis Gratitudes Hope Mirlis

Gratituesday 12.29.20 - Farewell, 2020

I really wanted to say “Good Riddance, 2020. Don’t let the door hit you on the way out!” However, this amazingly challenging year, was a huge year for growth. Yes, there was a ton of really crappy things, but also lots of good, as well. And so I just say “Farewell, 2020.”

Read More
Gratituesday 12.15.20 - Unconditional Giving
Gratitudes Hope Mirlis Gratitudes Hope Mirlis

Gratituesday 12.15.20 - Unconditional Giving

It’s the season of GIVING. I watched One Night Only The Best of Broadway on NBC.com. One of the songs included was “When You’re Good to Mama” from Chicago. I really am a giving person, and I don’t need validation about that. However, in the back of my head, I think “what’s in it for me?”

Read More
Gratituesday 11.24.20 - Thank you!
Gratitudes Hope Mirlis Gratitudes Hope Mirlis

Gratituesday 11.24.20 - Thank you!

I’ve been dinged for saying ‘thank you’ too much. When I was a manager at a restaurant in Berkeley, CA one of my staff members from Ireland used to repeat “thanks” every time I said it. It was if to say, ‘gosh, you say thanks, a lot!’ This week all bets are off, as it’s THANKSGIVING on Thursday.

Read More
Gratituesday 11.3.20 - One Nation Indivisible
Gratitudes Hope Mirlis Gratitudes Hope Mirlis

Gratituesday 11.3.20 - One Nation Indivisible

Welcome to Election Day. A day we we’ve been waiting for, dreading, anxious. It’s hard to believe how far our nation has come, and how far it has fallen. And as I reflect on the current state of our nation, it’s hard to believe how great the divide actually is. Our pledge of allegiance talks about “one nation, under God indivisible,” however we’re severely fractured as a country.

Read More
Gratitudesday 10.6.20 - Two Truths & a Lie
Gratitudes Hope Mirlis Gratitudes Hope Mirlis

Gratitudesday 10.6.20 - Two Truths & a Lie

You know that game two truths and a lie? It’s where you offer 3 statements and those playing with you have to guess which is the lie. Well, I feel we are in an extended match with our current administration. We read the news to understand what’s going on in our country, and we cannot tell truth from fiction. It’s as if leadership and honesty don’t matter anymore. It’s not only frustrating, but perplexing.

Read More
Gratituesday 9.1.20 - Embracing Fear
Gratitudes Hope Mirlis Gratitudes Hope Mirlis

Gratituesday 9.1.20 - Embracing Fear

I speak a lot about embracing calm. However the the idea of embracing fear is equally important. I felt the RNC lead their convention last week from a place of fear, and in a recent premarital counseling session, one of the pair was surprised how much fear affected their life and their decisions.

Read More
Gratituesday 8.18.20 - Mood Swings
Gratitudes Hope Mirlis Gratitudes Hope Mirlis

Gratituesday 8.18.20 - Mood Swings

Over the weekend, my father gave me a mood ring. It started off as dark blue, and then turned brown and then green. Talk about mood swings! Since I’ve been home it’s just been black. Which I just looked up. Black is ‘stressed and very tense.’ Really?!? I started laughing. This surprises me, actually. Am I stressed and tense? Not really.

Read More
Gratituesday 8.4.20 - In Limbo
Gratitudes Hope Mirlis Gratitudes Hope Mirlis

Gratituesday 8.4.20 - In Limbo

There have been so many times in my life when I have not felt settled. Over the past 4 years, I’ve worked hard to create a stable home and career, but now due to COVID and a renovation project that’s STILL not complete, I’m back in limbo.

Read More
Gratituesday 7.28.20 - How We Recover
Gratitudes Hope Mirlis Gratitudes Hope Mirlis

Gratituesday 7.28.20 - How We Recover

I’ve been tired lately. It could be the summer heat, it could be my irregular sleeping habit or it could be something else. While I could complain about the shut down of the event industry, I am thankful for little work I do have, and the flexibility to take the time I need. I am able to nap in the middle of the day if I need to rest and recover.

Read More
Gratituesday 6.23.20 - The New Normal
Gratitudes Hope Mirlis Gratitudes Hope Mirlis

Gratituesday 6.23.20 - The New Normal

I can easily go a few days without leaving my apartment. With COVID-19, as we sheltered in place, we were forced to stay inside weeks if we didn’t need to leave. I am proud to say that I’ve finally entered the new normal. Automatically grabbing my mask, and heading out into the world without fear.

Read More
Gratituesday 6.9.20 - Listening is Difficult
Gratitudes Hope Mirlis Gratitudes Hope Mirlis

Gratituesday 6.9.20 - Listening is Difficult

A quote from Seth Godin which begins, “Listening is difficult,” is very timely for a number of reasons. The white community failing to truly hear the struggles of the BIPOC communities. For many of us being tone-deaf to the situations around us – be it the pandemic or racial inequality. And for all the fear – of sharing experiences or failures.

Read More