We love Thanksgiving as it is a time to reflect and feel grateful for all the wonderful blessings we have in our lives. Time with family and friends, yummy food and pumpkin spiced anything make us feel all warm and fuzzy inside. We also started thinking that it’s a little sad that we only have Thanksgiving once a year. Here are some of our suggestions to bringing the feeling of gratitude all year long.
Write in a gratitude journal
Writing down the things that you are grateful for every night makes you focus on those things throughout the day. At first you will probably be writing down things like “I am grateful for a roof over my head” or “I am grateful for food”. As you continue to do this every day you will find you are writing down more meaningful things. Maybe you arrived at an appointment early when you thought you were going to be late or got that perfect parking space. Write down a minimum of 5 things and over time try to work up to 10 a day. Do this in front of your children so they can see the process of acknowledging gratitude daily.
Saying thanks at dinner
If your family is anything like ours, sitting down and having family dinners doesn’t happen as often as we would like. When it does however, go around the table and have everyone say one thing that they were thankful for that day.
Create a gratitude jar
Decorate a mason jar or any other container and put notes of things that your family has done that has brought you joy. Have everyone in the house participate. Grateful that the kids went off to school without a fight? Put it in the jar. Your child is grateful for a fun day doing a special activity? Have them put it in the jar. Once a month you can take out all the notes and read it together.
Send random texts/emails/notes
Send a message to someone you love and tell them you are grateful to have them in your life. You can do this in anyway you want by sending a text, email or good old fashioned note. How would you feel if you received a note in the mail from someone saying they were grateful you were alive? Probably make your year! You can do this for someone else. Think about putting a hand written note in your child’s or spouses lunch and I’m sure their afternoon will be more enjoyable.
Say thank you ALL THE TIME
Someone open the door for you? Say thank you. Not a quick thank you that you almost say under your breath but a full on “Thank you very much”. Get into the habit of saying thank you for all the little things that people do for you throughout the day. It’s not just about good manners, it’s about having the opportunity to make someone feel appreciated in a small way.
Living life in a place of gratitude tends to expand the good things that happen to you in your life. We know it has in our lives. Let us know some of the ways you live thanksgiving everyday and thank you for being in our community. We are grateful to have you in our lives.
No Comments