It's Thanksgiving this weekend for Canadians!! One of my very favourite holidays of the year. To me, it signals the end of summer and the beginning of beautiful fall and all the holidays we have ahead. This Thankgiving, we are so blessed and thankful to also have my parents visiting and spending the weekend with us.
We try to cultivate grateful hearts around here. Thankfulness has been proven to increase physiological and physical health, self esteem and empathy. When going through tough times, as hard as it is, that's when I make it my mission to be even more thankful than ever. Put those good vibes out there to attract that positive energy, right?
One of my neighbours, one of the most grounded people I know shared two gratititude practices she practises every day. When she gets up, she writes down ten things she's grateful for from the night before. Then when she is on her way to work, she also thinks of ten things she is happy for in general. I've also started to do my version of this.
The night before I go to sleep, or the first thing in the am before I get out of bed, I think of ten things from the day (before) that I'm grateful for. It's a mix of big and small things. Sometimes, it might be bigger things like an outstanding report for a kid but it's also smaller things like the softness of the sheets or my facewash. I don't wrtie it down. Too much pressure for me. Then after, I drop the kids off, in my mind, I rattle off ten things I'm thankful for in general. It doesn't always pertain to me, just stuff around us that we should be thankful for. Basically, less than five minutes of my day with the two exercises combined and such long lasting effects.
Honestly, since I've started these practices, I feel a definite difference. I'm happier, more selfless and more positive in my everyday activities. I'm also trying to get my family to do it as well.
Instead of thinking of all the things that are due to us, what about focusing on all the things we do have?
What are you most grateful for? Any gratitude practices to share with me?
Have a wonderful weekend, everyone and Happy Thanksgiving, Canadians!!
Happy Thanksgiving to you, sweet friend! I hope you enjoy a wonderful celebration and have a great time with your parents while they're visiting! I love what you do to cultivate a heart of thanksgiving year round. :) I like keeping a gratitude journal and writing down 5 things I'm thankful for right before heading to bed. It really ends the day is such a joyful way. I don't always find the time to do it, but when I do I definitely notice a difference too. :)
ReplyDeleteI am working on my gratitude practice, as you know! I've been writing down the things that happen each day and hoping to gain from that a collection of things I'm thankful for. I also picked up a book at the library called The Gratitude Diaries, which I'm hoping will be insightful and helpful as well.
ReplyDeleteWishing you a very wonderful Thanksgiving!!
ReplyDeleteHappy Thanksgiving!! I've always eschewed gratitude journals because I don't think I could keep up the habit; I prefer your method of just saying them to yourself. Have a great weekend!
ReplyDeleteHappy Thanksgiving to you! I hope you have a wonderful time with your family. There's something so special about a thankful and grateful heart. I love the beautiful quotes and inspiration you shared.
ReplyDeleteI love Thanksgiving! We won't have it here in the state for another 6 weeks but it is by far my favorite holiday. I love the focus on gratitude and being thankful for what we have.
ReplyDeleteHappy Thanksgiving to you! :)I write a gratitude list in a notebook, sometimes more regularly than others. I also write a monthly gratitude list on my blog.
ReplyDeleteZania
Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend, and love that gratitude idea.
ReplyDeleteGreen Fashionista