Gratitude
8
11, 2023
18
11, 2019
Two Ways to Cultivate Gratitude
Ralph Waldo Emerson once said that in order to achieve contentment, we should “cultivate the habit of being grateful for every good thing that comes to you, and to give thanks continuously.”
Blogging about thankfulness and gratitude in November is cliché. But this is the time of year when we pause to focus our thoughts on being thankful.
Most of us will have a thankful attitude on Thanksgiving Day. Too often, though, our thankful attitude wanes for the rest of the year.
I’d like to suggest two ways to focus an attitude of thankfulness beyond one Thursday in November.
Use social media
Create posts, pictures, videos, and tweets that cultivate thankfulness on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Heaven knows we get enough of wars, earthquakes, floods, fires, sick children, murdered spouses and, lately, politics.
Research shows good news spreads faster and farther than disasters and sob stories. Why not counter the suffering and mayhem of mass media coverage and sharing positive, uplifting posts, memes, and videos to encourage attitudes of thankfulness in yourself and others?
Keep a gratitude list
Writing down what you’re thankful for everyday reinforces positive thoughts and grateful feelings.
Can you think of other ways to foster gratitude?
15
04, 2015
Grateful for Today
Today federal income taxes are due. Most of us are probably not feeling particularly grateful.
But today is more. Brother David Steindl-Rast, a Benedictine monk, describes today this way:
You think this is just another day in your life. It’s not just another day. It’s the one day that is given to you today…. It’s the only gift that you have right now. And the only appropriate response is gratefulness.
Instead of dwelling on taxes, we should recognize the precious gift of today and observe and experience what we’ve been given to enjoy.
~the natural beauty surrounding us
~the interesting people we encounter
~the sound of laughter
~the simple beating of our heart
So many miracles — if we only pause to appreciate and be grateful.
25
11, 2013
Counting Thanksgiving Treasures
It’s three days until Turkey Day.
Time for family reunions, food, fun,
travel, football games, Black Friday
and being thankful.
Not necessarily in that order.
Family reunions may be iffy this year with a major storm wreaking havoc over the entire U.S.
Off-topic here, but I found this interesting blog about a similar weather pattern fifty years ago. Read November 1963 vs November 2013. Is Weather History Repeating Itself? for the full comparison of weather history.
Even Black Friday shopping will be difficult. I do worry about all those people camped outside stores to be first in line for the extra savings items. It’s got to be cold and wet in their tents. Are the savings really worth all the effort and discomfort?
This year things are different than they were for that first Pilgrim Thanksgiving feast. What hasn’t changed is the basis for Thanksgiving.
The celebration became an annual tradition with Abraham Lincoln’s 1863 proclamation of a national day of “Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens.”
As early as 1607, the inhabitants of the Commonwealth of Virginia held Thanksgiving services. Celebrations rooted in their religious beliefs and to show gratitude to their Heavenly Father.
Pilgrims were Puritan Separatists. Their journey to America began with a desire to escape religious persecution under Elizabeth I and the Church of England or Anglican Church.
Personally, I believe being thankful shouldn’t be limited to one holiday. An attitude of gratitude should be an everyday occurrence. Check my blog.
Because it is the season, I want to acknowledge my Thanksgiving treasures today:
my loving husband (who’s the hero model for my novels)
my family and friends (far and near)
my pets (who brighten every day)
my church (which is my anchor)
and
most especially you, my readers.
As you go about the preparations for your celebration, spend some time thinking about the origins of the holiday and say a special thank you for your Thanksgiving treasures.
And, if you are traveling, Godspeed.