Do we really need a national holiday to remind us to be thankful? With the flood of emails and other communications I receive this time of year, it would seem so.
Why do we let the busy-ness of life interfere with our ability to stop and notice the million and ten things we’re really grateful for every day? Many things that we take for granted.
I started a practice a while ago called the 10/10 exercise. Each day I write down 10 things I’m grateful for. Just writing those things down improves my mood so that when I follow the exercise with writing down 10 goals for the day, week or life, I have a better chance of meeting them because I feel good about them. Simple, yet powerful.
When I write down my list of things I’m grateful for, I try to write something different each day to make me notice every little awesome thing in my life.
The big things I’m grateful for are:
- My family, as a group and the love and support I receive from each member
- My children individually and all of their unique beauties and gifts
- My husband and all of his unique traits and quirks that I love and sometimes hate but that combined, make him who he is
- My health
- My home and all the dreams that I’ve realized by living where I do
- Being able to be home with my family every day
Some of the smaller things I notice and am very grateful for are:
- The kindness of people during my day
- Snuggling up with my kids each night as they go to sleep
- The ability to see the Milky Way and the billions and billions of stars at night
- The smell of a wood stove when I’m outside at night enjoying the night sky
- The warmth from that fire inside
- Hot coffee and tea
- Fresh water
- An abundance of wonderful food
- The luxury of choice in how I spend my day and the freedom to choose
- My computer and the wonderful connections it allows me to make and the new worlds it has allowed me to explore
- My reliable car and the places it takes me
- Realizing I have too much and being able to give my things to others with no attachments
- A warm, comfy bed with a down comforter
I could go on forever. And that’s one of the points.
If we stop for just a moment and start to really notice, we realize how blessed we are every day of our lives.
Being mindful of these things is the first step. The second is showing your gratitude.
After writing down all the little things you love about the people close to you, tell those people what you wrote. Not for validation or to prove your love but simply to bring joy to their day. It’s the best payoff.
Perform random acts of kindness each day to show how you feel.
Take nothing for granted unless you want it taken away. It can happen in a heartbeat.
Tell and show everyone and everything you’re grateful for exactly how you feel each day of the year. It will transform your life and your relationships.
What are 4 things you’re grateful for that you haven’t really noticed before?
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The Mindful Living Guide
Hi Paige,
Gratitude is a state of mind and a way of life. Each and every one of us have something to be thankful for in every moment of our life. Even if it is for the very next breath we take.
Cultivating the mindset of gratitude takes time and concious effort. Like you mentioned we need to “stop” and “notice”. We need to be willing to make time. Everyone is too busy going from one thing to the next. However being grateful starts with the decision to pause.
I am greatful for many things in my life. Most importantly for my health, my family, and my work as a mental health and addictions nurse. I also love writing and I’m thankful for freedom of speech. I’m grateful to be living in a free country, for clean water, food and shelter.
I am originally from East Africa, Ethiopia and left my country because of a civil war. I lived in a refugee camp for two years prior to finding sponsors and moving to Canada. I was one of the lucky ones who escaped the life of poverty and deprivation.
My experience has helped me keep perspective on what matters. It has also helped me to never take for granted the little things in life.
Thank you for sharing this post. It is a wonderful reminder.
Peace, Love & Gratitude,
Neseret
This is beautiful, Neseret! You have obviously fully embraced gratitude in your life. It’s usually those who have had difficult experiences that take it to heart. The world would be transformed if more were like you.
Thank you!
Hi Paige,
I don’t think we need a Holiday to remind us to be grateful nor do we need a Holiday to remind us to love and respect others as well (Christmas). These should be things that become who we are year round and not just on select days of the year.
I love doing gratitude exercises. I take time out during the day and say out loud 5 things that I am grateful for. It’s even more fun to take a pad and paper and write a list until I can’t think of anything else to write at the moment.
Justin,
I love your ideas! While I give myself a goal of at least 10 things to be grateful for each day, I usually do what you mentioned – write a list until I can’t think of anything else to write. There have been days where I’ve written pages!
The world would be a much happier place if many more people took on this daily practice.