“Thanksgiving was never meant to be shut up in a single day.”
~ Robert Caspar Lintner, early 20th-century writer
This quote get bounced around the Internet at this time of year and serves as a reminder that being grateful isn’t something confined to the holiday season. Whether you celebrated a Canadian Thanksgiving last month, or gearing up for the busy season that launches with the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday, you know that this is the time of year when being thankful is a hot topic at the dinner table.
Being thankful is something you can do beyond those 24 hours every fall!
Here are four ways to incorporate gratitude into your life all year round:
- Start a gratitude journal.
On a daily basis, think of something you are appreciative of or thankful for, and write it down. Take five minutes out of your day, either first thing in the morning or before you go to sleep at night, and jot down at least three things you are grateful for that day. - Download a gratitude app (yes, there IS an app for that!)
If you want to skip the pen and paper, download one of the MANY gratitude apps out there today. I use Gratitude 365—and so does my young grandson. It’s so easy to use and I love that he’s thinking about what he’s grateful for, every day. - Write a gratitude letter.
Make it a monthly ritual to reach out to one person who has impacted your life in some way and thank them. Be specific about the ways in which they have enriched your life. It doesn’t have to be fancy—it can be in the form of a card, letter or an email. What matters is the sentiment, not the delivery platform. - Create a gratitude jar.
Go out and get yourself a medium sized-glass jar –or use that old vase you were going to sell in a garage sale. Dress it up with a ribbon or leave it as is. Next to the jar, put a pack of blank notecards, or even sticky notes, and a pen. Every day, write down at least one “gratitude note” and put it in the jar. You can also put things like movie stubs, notes and cards you’ve received, photos, and any other “memory” that will fit in your jar. Start your jar at the first of the year and then on New Year’s Eve, dump out the jar and read through all the awesome moments from the year. It’s a great way to start your year with gratitude!
By making it a habit of practicing gratitude—all year long – your thoughts and words will become more positive. Get rid of the negative things you tell yourself–the “don’ts and “nots” and “should-haves”—and shift your focus on appreciating the little things that make you smile every day.
Happy Thanksgiving to my American friends!
– Margaret
Quote of the Month
“Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough.”
~ Oprah Winfrey