Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow. ~ Melody Beattie
This is one of my favorite quotes, and it fits so nicely with the holiday season. As we celebrate Thanksgiving, great football, warm fires, family get-togethers, volunteering, traveling, or making pumpkin pies, remember to find the many small blessings that truly make life wonderful.
Say “Thank you!” when you wake up in a warm bed (someone somewhere did not); say “thank you” when you hug your loved ones (someone somewhere is missing their family terribly); say “thank you” when your car starts (someone somewhere was not as fortunate); and say “thank you” when you bundle up to go out into chilly weather (someone somewhere has no warm coat to wear). If you are moved into action during the holiday season, thank you for your time, energy and effort – whether you are volunteering at a homeless shelter or purchasing toys for a gift donation – the small acts of kindness come back to you many times over.
Remember to practice gratitude on a daily basis and make it last November to November. This week, I am grateful for a loving family, excellent health, supportive friends, active schedules, new connections, and good food! Happy Thanksgiving!
