November is the month we pause and give thanks. But, something I have been working on is gratitude throughout the year.
I first got my inspiration from reading Ann Voskamp’s One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Life Fully Right Where You Are. The book is one of my favorites, and its whole premise is to be thankful daily for the little things.
It is easy to be thankful when you get that big job promotion or you finally get your toddler potty trained – those big milestones. But what about the ordinary, everyday gems?
Ways to be Thankful Every Day
Some people keep a gratitude journal and write down things they are grateful for. You could also write things on bits of paper and put them in a mason jar and read them on December 31 to celebrate all the good things that have happened throughout the year. Some people go around the table and say what they are thankful for at Thanksgiving. Others talk about the ‘pits’ and ‘peaks’ of their day at dinner each night, and there can be some gratitude in those talks.
I like to keep a mental list and be grateful as the day goes. Today (as I write this) I am going to keep a list of things I am grateful for.
- Heat – It was a cold morning. I have lived places without central heat and air, and I am so glad to have it now.
- Eggs that I did not have to cook for breakfast – And they were still warm when I got to them.
- The opportunity to mentor college students daily – Someone just asked me a question about transferring prescriptions to a pharmacy. It is the little ways everyday that I can help them grow into productive citizens of the world.
- Craisins on the salad bar – Seriously, they made me smile.
- Clean water to drink – So many people in the world do not have it or have to walk miles each day to fetch it.
- Amazon Prime – Free shipping and I do not have to leave the house? Yes, please!
- Fried pickles as a side – I know, this is not the most healthy thing to eat, but I like them. When I see them as an option somewhere, I appreciate it.
- Good customer service – I had to call a company, and the lady on the other side of the line legitimately seemed to care about helping me. It was refreshing!
- Warm chocolate chip cookies – Fresh out of the oven.
- Comfy, fuzzy pants at the end of the day – So cozy and comforting.