finding gratitude in a pandemic Archives - View from the Front Porch

16 11, 2020

Piglet and Pandemic Gratitude

By judythemorgan|2020-11-12T14:55:09-06:00November 16th, 2020|Make Me Think Monday|0 Comments

Winnie the Pooh was a favorite of my youngest daughter, the older edition, not the Disney character. At nap time we read a chapter from A.A. Milne’s book and then at bedtime we re-read the same chapter.

The stories never got old. Ernest H. Shephard’s illustrations always brought the tales to life.

The wisdom of Pooh and his companions was sometimes beyond her young experience, but Milne’s never failed to impress me with the compassion and insight his characters imparted with humor.

In the midst of this coronavirus pandemic and election mess, I needed something to cheer me up and thought about those Pooh books I’d read to my daughter. I decided to dig out the books.

My daughter’s a grown woman with grown boys herself now. I’m grateful I saved them all these years. I’m also grateful A.A. Milne wrote Winnie the Pooh. Reading it again has sure perked up my attitude.

You know what I discovered?

Piglet’s wise words about gratitude are just as true today as all those years ago.

In fact, in this chaotic world we’re living in right now, I think filling our hearts with gratitude can be key to getting through the days.

9 11, 2020

Creating an Attitude of Gratitude with a Gratitude List

By judythemorgan|2020-10-31T22:25:01-05:00November 9th, 2020|Monday Motivations|1 Comment

Gratitude is not most people’s natural disposition.

I understand.

It’s hard to be thankful when all around us is hurt and pain and disappointment and anger. It is 2020 and finding things to be thankful for seems impossible.

Gratitude doesn’t make sense, but it’s a needed discipline to push off negativity.

Being grateful is a choice. It’s not so simple to change our choices.

Developing an attitude of gratitude can take time and effort. One way to begin that change is to write a daily gratitude list.

I’m not saying it will be easy. On those Judith Viorst terrible, horrible, no good, very bad days, it might seem impossible. A daily gratitude list can help with an attitude adjustment.

How do you start a daily gratitude list? What to put on your list? Here are some suggestions:

Write out a list of things you’re thankful for. The kinesthetic experience of tangibly writing is valuable for two reasons:

The physical act imprints a feeling of gratitude at the cellular level.
Handwriting is a slow process and provides more time for contemplation.

Begin with two or three at first and work your way up to whatever number makes you feel comfortable.
Chose simple things to put on your list. You woke up. In a warm place. The sunrise/sunset. There is so much to be thankful for, if we only have eyes to see.

Most important, you may have to pretend at first. So, fake it, if necessary, until the habit is established.

As your list making becomes habit, you’ll discover two things:

Gratitude is all around.
Gratitude grows the more you use it.