I think it was my daughter who recommended a blog that talked about being thankful. I don't remember exactly what it said but I think it suggested writing about what you're thankful for each day. I thought it would be an interesting exercise. I'm now on day 5 and it is doing more good for me than I expected!
Day one, I wrote about the joy I feel, just because I am lucky enough to get to walk this magnificent planet. Then I jotted down a list of 21 topics I could write about in the coming days. I decided to commit to this and I would make my posts each day on facebook. So they had to be fairly short and to the point. I hoped I wouldn't annoy anyone!
Next I wrote about being grateful to have been born an American. Especially since I'm female and not every country is as progressive as the USA when it comes to women and their rights!
Those were pretty easy topics. I was pondering my list the next day. I was grumpy. My dog Bruiser had given me a bit of a circus the night before and had been harassing me all day long. Following me around, barking at me for attention. He was one of the items on my list and I decided that this would be a good moment to think about why I was grateful to have Bruiser in my life. It helped me focus on the positives he has brought to me! I was able to be more forgiving of his annoying behaviors after. I also gave myself the reminder that he is getting senile, he is deaf and I'm his only social outlet most of the time. I have remembered to be patient and to think more of him than myself when he seems to be getting in the way. I'm also trying to figure out how to stop him from barking whenever I get on the phone! That behavior is driving me nuts!
Last night I decided to write about my love of books since I'd been fretting about my lack of them lately and then when I bought one, it turned out to be rather lame. I'm still wading thru it because, hey, it's a book! There are some point of view issues and it's a rather stuffy period piece but I'm determined to get thru it.
Today I was trying to think of what to write and realized tonight it would be about my Dad. My daughter pointed out that maybe I should share what I wrote with him. I think she's right. I think I'll copy what I wrote and then flesh it out a bit. We all love to hear good things that our loved ones think of us!
One of the unexpected side effects to this is that now my head is busy considering what I'll write about the other items on my gratitude list. It's creating a lot of positive energy in me that hasn't been there for a while! I've been struggling with some changes at work, struggling with my own sense of worth. Stressing about getting my house to market. Stressing about what will happen after it's sold! I've been in a fairly negative place for a while now. This exercise has turned out to be just what the imaginary doctor ordered as far as turning my attitude around! I'm now focused on thinking about people I love and things that I value and how I'm going to share them with my friends and family.
You'll be seeing something from me on my facebook each day. Something I'm grateful for. All the way to Thanksgiving! I think this is good for me!
