Fall has arrived here in the Midwestern United States. Leaves have turned their brilliant colors and then have fallen, creating a leaf blanket on the hills. The air is chilly and crisp. This is the month that we celebrate Thanksgiving.
During this important season, I encourage each of you to join me in entering into a place of thankfulness and gratitude within your heart. Honor and give thanks for all the blessings in your life, including those things that could have been presented as challenges. Be in gratitude for the power of choice in your life.
As you gather with family and friends this holiday season, gather in the thankfulness of hope and in the gratitude of grace. Give thanks to the people in your life that nurture your spirit and support your dreams. Give thanks for challenges in your life that have invited you to discover your own strength and truth and the magnificent person that you are. Give thanks for the ability to be a blessing in the lives of others.
And as you gather, be reminded that Thanksgiving is not about being full, but about being fulfilled.
Abundant Blessings to you during this season of Thanksgiving.
The purpose of gratitude is to remember the things we have to be thankful for. This season is our special time to give thanks… not just for the obvious, like food, but for the thousands of fortunate moments, and the multitude of blessings that we receive each year.
Think about people you’ve known that have made you thankful for their existence. They can be family, friends, or simply people that you’ve read about or seen on television. Imagine how many other people there are who might be equally as wonderful. You just haven’t met them yet.
Think about people who have made life hard for you. Now think about the things you accomplished because of them. Did you finish something because they said that you couldn’t? Did you get better at something because they made fun of you when you did it badly? Did their cruel actions make you vow never to treat others that way? Even the negative forces in your life can be hidden blessings, worthy of your gratitude.
Think about the animals that have given you joy: Dogs that love you with every inch of their hearts, cats that think your lap is the best place to nap in the whole world, birds whose songs uplift your spirit, squirrels whose antics put a grin on your face and so on.
Think about the places that make you smile: A favorite hangout, a wooded trail, an exciting city, a great spot from which to view the sky, or a hill that you once rolled down. Give thanks for all these things.
Now pass it on. True gratitude involves action. Lend a hand. Pitch in. Make a gift. Give your time. Listen. Give back as often as you can. Even a friendly greeting can make all the difference in the world.
Create your own opportunities for gratitude. Do you know someone who never seems happy? Be ready with a smile and a kind word each time you see them. It may require patience, but eventually, they’ll smile first when they see you. Your interactions with them will be much more pleasant. Guess what? You’ll have a new reason to be thankful!
Let others know when they’ve done something that you’re thankful for. For example, “I’ll never forget how you stuck up for me. It meant a lot.” “That email you sent really made my day.” “You make shopping here a pleasure.” An attitude of gratitude spreads like ripples from a tossed pebble, benefiting all it touches.
Remember that hard times make good times sweeter. Also, keep in mind that obstacles and challenges not only make you stronger, but they force you to explore outside of the comfortable routine that you’ve settled into. Without challenges, there can be no progress. Without obstacles, there can be no achievement. Be thankful for the opportunities that they provide.
In conclusion, giving thanks is a powerful tool that can dramatically improve your life and the lives of those around you. Start by embracing gratitude’s special day, then make it a habit!
Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash
