What will you give thanks for today?
What’s to be thankful for? You pick up the paper and read the latest disaster story, another murder, more jobs lost. You turn on TV and you get the same news in stereo. Is this what you have to be grateful for? But…
And there is a ‘but’ because every day you have something to be grateful for. It might be the roof over your head, the clothes on your back, the use of electricity, the sunshine, the call from an old friend, the food you have to eat, the love of your family or simply the fact that today you woke and lived.
Life has many issues, some local some global but when you focus on them you are merely adding your energy to them. So does that mean we need to be ignorant of them? No, definitely not. But your primary focus needs to be on the positive. It is in the positive that we can make the biggest changes. If something happens that devastates your community think of positive ways you can help; give someone a room, take food to the local shelter, donate time or money and be thankful that you can.
And for those that suffer, they too can and often do find ways to be thankful; for being alive, for having the chance to live differently. It’s not easy but it is possible. Have you noticed how people in huge disasters who are fortunate enough to be rescued always give thanks for being alive? Even though they have lost their homes and possessions, loved ones and a way of life, they still express joy at being here. Think about that…
So this week I want you to log reasons for you to be thankful every day, either at the start of the day or the end of it (or both!) Think about the hug you get from your child or partner, the card delivered by the postman, whatever it is express gratitude and see how much better you start to feel about life…
Live Blissfully!
Good post! None of us are guaranteed to see another dawn. It’s a miracle that we are even alive – every single day. People forget how short life is and how fragile we are. I wish people could just appreciate the simple things and lose the sense of entitlement.
Hi Bernie – you are so right, it is a miracle that we are even alive. It is a gift and we need to remember that…
In my opinion, if you have good health, you have a lot to be thankful for. Few people appreciate it until they are told they have cancer, need emergency heart surgery or some similar catastrophic illness. For some people, that’s when they really start to live.
Hi Larry, great comment. It is too easy to take wellbeing for granted. We tend to have an expectation to wake up the next day and everything be as it was. But everything can change in the blnk of an eye… Gratitude is key.