Practicing gratitude is scientifically proven to improve our relationships, make us happier and healthier and has a multitude of other benefits. Why is it so hard then to remember to be thankful sometimes? It’s easy to give thanks for things like dream vacations, completing a big project or a new baby. It’s the little things in life I take for granted.
The stress of preparing for the holidays can easily strip me of feeling grateful. It’s easy to get so focused on all the “to do’s” of the holidays that I forget to be thankful for what I already have. I talked to fellow Blogger and Cancer Survivor Advocate Heather Von St. James about sharing gratitude using the #ThankfulThursday. We would like to encourage others to share what their thankful for on social media.
Heather has faced many challenges and is grateful every day to be alive. She was diagnosed with malignant pleural mesothelioma at age 36 after giving birth to her daughter and given just 15 months to live without treatment. About 3,000 people are diagnosed with malignant pleural mesothelioma every year which is primarily caused by exposure to asbestos. Heather was exposed to asbestos fibers as a young girl which were carried home one her father’s construction work jacket. She is now a 9 year survivor, writer, blogger and advocate for a global ban on asbestos which is still not banned in the US and Canada. You can read more about her inspirational story HERE.
During this month of gratitude my hope for myself and for you is that you give thanks every day for at least one thing. I’m sharing 12 everyday things to be grateful for and hope that you’ll share something you’re grateful for on social media and use the #ThankfulThursday. I love this woman’s daily exercise in gratitude. If these simple ideas don’t inspire you, her twitter feed definitely will.
12 Everyday Things To Be Thankful For
- Your breath.
- Your home. It may not be perfect, but at least you have a roof over your head.
- Your family or friends. We aren’t meant to be alone in this world.
- Blue skies
- Sunshine- I’m especially thankful for this during Kansas winters.
- A friendly SMILE
- A hug
- The last piece of pie, donut or whatever else might be on your comfort food list.
- The smell of fresh laundry which has been folded and put away and an empty laundry basket even if it’s only for one day.
- Chinese takeout or any other take out foods.
- Forgiveness
- A good night’s sleep.
I haven’t shared a lot lately on social media, but I will be challenging myself to share things I’m grateful for on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter until the end of December. Use the #ThankfulThursday and see what others are thankful for as well. Will you join me?
Oh! I am definitely participating in this one. 😊 Sounds like a good challenge to me!
Thanks Anne! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving with your family.
Great post Dawn, a good reminder as we all make our “to do” lists this week. I am thankful for your friendship, have a great Thanksgiving!!
Thanks Kathy! I’m grateful for your friendship as well and hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
I like the idea of sharing things I am grateful for on social media. When you see a post about something someone is grateful for, it makes you stop and think about your own life and what blessings you have. I know that I am a busy person, often rushing around and feeling overwhelmed, but during the holiday season I don’t feel less grateful, I feel more grateful, for the blessings of friends and family I get to spend time with, I get to choose a special gift for, or bake cookies with. This is a time that I am more likely to perform random acts of kindness, something I think goes hand in hand with thankfulness. God Bless and Happy Thanksgiving. I am thankful I have you in my blogging life and look forward to the day we can meet in real life!
Thanks for sharing Chloe. I’m grateful for your blogging friendship as well. One of these day we will meet 🙂 I am blessed in so many ways and have a lot to be thankful for. I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving. I have an upcoming challenge I’ll be posting that I think you might be interested in concerning random acts of kindness.
I was just being thankful for the nice smell of laundry. That’s so funny — it somehow makes me feel that things are “right” to put on clean clothes, to have a shower, to drink a glass of ice water. AT the end of the day, it is the little things that mean the most!
I agree Seana! I feel so much better after I take a shower. It’s hard to imagine that some people don’t even have the privilege of taking a daily shower.
I would love to partcipate in Thankful Thursdays. Currently I’m thankful for pumpkin spice!!!!
Thanks for sharing Keri! I love pumpkin spice as well 🙂 Once we get into December I shift to everything cranberry.