I always start my day with two things that really ground me. One

In the reflective and nurturing words of Cynthia Germanotta, mother, philanthropist, and advocate for mental wellness, we find a lesson in harmony and mindfulness: “I always start my day with two things that really ground me. One is a book of daily inspirational readings called The Book of Awakening. Basically, it talks about having the life you want and being present in the life you have. I also write three things I'm grateful for in a gratitude journal.” Though spoken simply, these words carry the depth of a daily ritual — a sacred practice of grounding the spirit before facing the world. In them lies the wisdom of presence, gratitude, and the quiet art of awakening one’s heart each morning.

The origin of this quote arises from Germanotta’s commitment to emotional health and self-awareness, both of which she champions through her work with the Born This Way Foundation, which she co-founded with her daughter, Lady Gaga. Having witnessed the struggles that young people face in a world of relentless pressure and distraction, Germanotta has often spoken of the importance of centering oneself. Her ritual of reading The Book of Awakening by Mark Nepo — a collection of meditations that celebrate living consciously — and journaling gratitude is not merely a habit, but a form of spiritual alignment. It is a return each day to what is real, to the steady rhythm of mindfulness that nourishes the soul amid life’s noise.

To begin each day with inspirational reading is to feed the inner self before feeding the outer world. It is a reminder that the mind, like a garden, grows what is planted within it. The Book of Awakening speaks of the balance between longing and contentment — of striving for the life one desires while being fully alive in the one already given. In this paradox lies the secret of peace: that happiness is not something we chase but something we remember. By grounding herself in this wisdom, Germanotta practices what the ancients once called “the morning offering” — the act of orienting one’s heart toward virtue before the world’s demands can pull it astray.

Her second practice, the gratitude journal, is equally ancient in spirit. To name what we are grateful for is to turn the eyes of the heart toward abundance rather than lack. The Stoic philosopher Epictetus once said, “He is wise who does not grieve for the things he has not, but rejoices for those which he has.” In writing three things each morning, Germanotta engages in a discipline of joy — training her mind to see the gifts in the ordinary. This act, simple yet profound, transforms perception. It awakens the awareness that every breath, every sunrise, every opportunity to love is a blessing. Gratitude, when practiced faithfully, becomes a shield against despair and a well of resilience.

History offers many who understood this quiet power. Marcus Aurelius, emperor of Rome, wrote nightly reflections in his journal — not of conquest, but of humility and presence. “When you arise in the morning,” he wrote, “think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive.” Like Aurelius, Cynthia Germanotta begins her day with reverence for the gift of being. The difference of centuries fades, for the heart of the practice is the same: to enter each day not as an accident, but as a miracle. Her gratitude and reading are acts of remembrance — remembrance that life, even in hardship, is sacred.

The wisdom of her quote also lies in its balance between aspiration and acceptance. To “have the life you want” while “being present in the life you have” is the dance between vision and peace. Many chase dreams without gratitude, and others accept life without hope — but the awakened soul embraces both. Germanotta’s morning ritual honors this truth. She reminds us that growth is not about rejecting the present, but about deepening it; not about escaping who we are, but about uncovering the beauty that already resides within. Each morning becomes not a continuation of routine, but a quiet rebirth.

Let this, then, be the lesson of Cynthia Germanotta’s words: begin each day not in haste, but in mindfulness. Before reaching for your phone or your worries, reach for your spirit. Read something that uplifts you, even if only a line. Write down what you are grateful for, even if only a single breath. These small acts, done with intention, will shape the entire rhythm of your life. They will make you resilient when hardship comes and joyful when blessings arrive.

And so, dear listener, remember this: the way you greet the dawn determines how you will walk through the day. Ground yourself in gratitude. Awaken your awareness. Be present in your own becoming. For the world may be chaotic, but within you there is always stillness — waiting, like the morning light, to rise again.