All this month folks have been posting daily on Facebook the things they are grateful for. I am grateful that I have adopted such an attitude all the time. It took a pretty shitty occurence to reframe my world. In the end, I'm grateful for that as well. Reframing my world with gratitude at the forefront has made a HUGE impact. Keep the habit up all year round and you will find yourself smiling more often than not, sighing with contentment often, and appreciative of so very much.
Every time I have written this out I feel like I come across as preachy. That is not my intent at all. I just feel so flipping good, and I want everyone to experience this! If something has me down I just flip that shit! Yes, I have even said that to my kids when they are not happy with something. Look at what you have, not what you lack. Turn it around.
Example: It is a damn dreary day. Sun and warmth are lacking? Time to catch up on a project, movie cuddle time with a kid, a nap in a warm bed are what I do have! And I am so damn grateful for those.
I didn't do as well as I hoped on a test. I am still grateful that I am in school and for the fire it lights under my ass to do better the next time.
I find gratitude in many many moments in my day. Some are small. But they are still a conscious action of gratitude. I am grateful I remembered to pack my favorite purple pen. I am grateful I was running late this morning because I got extra hugs from Jack.
I am grateful for some of the hardest shit I’ve faced in my life to date. The one thing I can say about a completely shitty situation being the impetus for this faith in gratitude is that I do appreciate the small things. I note them in my head, in my heart, in my journal, in my blog and to the dude standing next to me that thinks I’m a mighty creeper for pointing out an opportunity for gratitude. I am not ridiculously positive. I am just grateful. I suppose that breeds a certain positivity. I think it is also purely practical. For instance, today I feel a bit lousy. My throat hurts. I’m tired. I have some wicked exams coming up. Sooo… let’s flip that shit. I am grateful I was running late this morning, yet again, because it meant I caught a ride from a friend part of the way to school. I am grateful I have the opportunity to go back to school. I am grateful I am not feeling worse. I am grateful I have folks I can whine to about it.
Again, I am not wagging my finger and lecturing on gratitude (at least I really don't want anyone to feel that way). I am sprinkling light and love and hoping everyone can feel how grateful I am.