Gratitude #2

Let’s give THANKS - part II

Taken from: http://www.garlandvance.com/14-ways-to-practice-gratitude-every-day/

Thanksgiving is next week.  Here are some ideas to practice gratitude every day!!  Today we continue from the link above

#6 Make gratitude part of your shutdown at work.  

As a professor, I could have picked up my book bag and at the door of my office just say “Thank you God for a great day”   (But, I didn’t)

Like we have written about many times, GIGO - Garbage in, Garbage Out.  Practicing gratitude like this article suggests is a way of programming our brains to focus on the good, to be thankful for what we have.

I don’t like comparing myself to others, but it might be okay to think of conditions in some third world countries that we don’t even think about.  I have a place, with heat, air conditioning, running water, a toilet, a bathtub/shower, a comfortable bed, electricity, a refrigerator full of food, and a computer.  I’m not sure of the statistics, but that puts me in the top 20% of the world.  And, like most Americans, I take those things for granted.  

#7 Express gratitude to your boss

(For KB).  I can only suggest “try it”.  We do have toxic people in our lives, but we really don’t know what is going on in their brains.  Does a loved one of theirs have cancer?  Do they have cancer - or aches and pains?  Maybe their crabbiness comes from inside them.  In the past six months, I have become good friends with two different women who had been abused by their father when they were girls.  How can they (or we) possibly be grateful for an abusive parent, spouse, neighbor, coach, teacher, or other?  It can only be a supernatural act to give thanks for a toxic or abusive boss, or parent.  On my own, on your own, how can you forgive and give thanks for the jerks in your life?  It is very tough!!!

#8 Write a thank you note.

Okay, “Karen failure time” (again).  Two weeks ago, I got several thank you cards at the local dollar store, with the intent to thank some special people in my life.  Those notes, still unwritten are on my desk.  What is holding me back?  Inertia?  C’mon Karen!!  Send the notes TODAY!!!

And I will end this post and this series with the last point in the article

#9 Take a gratitude picture every day.  Yesterday, this started with a suggestion to have a “gratitude journal”.  If we are to be grateful for EVERYTHING why not take pictures of things and put the picture with your daily journal.  Today, I could take a picture of my crockpot who has two Chicken Breasts cooking (with some peppers, potatoes, tomatoes, and onions - no, I didn’t follow a recipe). At dinner time tonight, I will be grateful for cooked food.  And, even through the day, I will be grateful for the aroma filling my apartment.

So, this article suggests we “Practice an attitude of gratitude”.  I sure can do more of that!!!

Hugs - and wishes for a great Thanksgiving!!!

Karen

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