Gratitude

There are things to be grateful for each day, and I am. Sometimes they are monumental things; other times they are tiny things that might have gone unnoticed. Back in January, I began a gratitude journal. At the end of each day, I write what I’m especially grateful for. 

It makes me remember how much I have and how many times I was blessed that day, even on the “worst” of days. 

Some thoughts from AI - The meaning of gratitude involves a conscious effort to recognize the value of things, people, and experiences, leading to increased happiness and well-being. Regular practice of gratitude can be cultivated through simple habits like keeping a gratitude journal, expressing thanks, and verbally or mentally appreciating the positive things in one’s life. 

That said, despite our circumstances, we all have much to be grateful for. Let’s take this week to look at our blessings, bestow blessings, and find gratitude in each day. 

Some notable women who always expressed gratitude:

Helen Keller: “I thank God for. My handicaps, for through them I have found myself, my work and my God.” She felt so blessed that she had no time to focus on what she was denied. 

Maya Angelou: She embraces each day with wonder, “This is a wonderful day. I’ve never seen this one before.”

Mother Teresa: She expressed deep gratitude for having the opportunity to help others and for small acts of kindness. “We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But the ocean would be less because of missing that drop.”

Oprah Winfrey: She makes a daily practice of keeping a journal for years and believes that grateful people find success and meaning.    

Amelia Earhart: She often expressed gratitude for life’s opportunities and adventures. She co-founded an organization for female pilots, inspiring many with her thankfulness for pursuing her passion of flying. 

Etty Hillesum: She was a holocaust diarist and author whose writings showed deep gratitude despite the horrors of WWII. She reflected that we must always make a commitment to finding meaning and thankfulness even in dark times.

Wishing everyone a Happy Thanksgiving, complete with turkey, squash, and mashed potatoes, and loving friends and family with whom to celebrate. Hopefully a delicious pie to end the meal. 

A thought to leave you with.  

At the end of the day, it’s about the people who are by your side when life gets hard. It’s about the people who are there when you need them the most.

It’s about the people who say “we’ve got this” when you are facing challenges. It’s about the people who notice when you’re not yourself. It’s about the people who check in on you when you have been more quiet than usual.

It’s about the people you’d rather sit in comfortable silence with than make small talk with. It’s about the people who raise an eyebrow and know you’re lying when you say you are okay when you’re not.

It’s about the people who know your coffee order off by heart, and when you need one. It’s about the people who text you to say they are thinking of you on the days that are difficult for you.

Put simply, it’s about the people who think of you. It’s about the people who notice. It’s about the people who show up in the smallest but most meaningful ways. It’s about the people who stay, through it all.

- Unknown