Do You Have A Gratitude List?
Turkey.
Mashed Potatoes.
Green Beans.
Rolls.
Cranberry Sauce. (eh, no thanks)
The Thanksgiving menu list goes on and on, doesn't it?
We're hosting Thanksgiving out at our shop and I'm pretty sure we're going to have waaaay more food than we are people - but what's Thanksgiving without leftovers?
Around this time we see that our guest list grows, the items in our grocery cart grow, and the black Friday deals grow.
But, let's not forget about a super important list that should also grow.
Our gratitude list. Or as Ellie calls it, our “Thank Yous”.
I mean it is "Thanks"giving, right?
We're going on a year and a half of a really interesting time of life and I feel when things are tough, it's even more of a time to be grateful. Add family, traveling, and kids fighting their holiday sweaters...woof.
Taking the time to pause and reflect on the day can really do something for the mood that may start to turn sour.
In studies and research performed by super smart people, t’s said that our brains can’t focus on both positive and negative information at the same time (all the sciency stuff that explains this - https://positivepsychology.com/neuroscience-of-gratitude/) so making time each day to find gratitude can really start to shift your mindset for the better - and who doesn’t want that?!
If you’re wanting to try this fun activity out, know that .it doesn’t has to be complicated...
Get a notebook (a new one or dust off one that you used the first two pages on)
Decide if you want to start the day or end the day.
Write 1-10
Fill them in with things you are thankful for
Boom. Done!
Ellie and I both write out 10 "thank you's" each night before bed. For Ellie we do the same first 5 (mom, dad, nugget, snuggles, puppy) and then she comes up with 5 from that day. Since I’m not 6, I push myself to come up with 10 from that day.
And yes, sometimes it's difficult to think of 10. Maybe it was just kind of a crappy day or we just didn’t do a whole lot. It may take our brains a little longer to come up with them, but we can find 10.
The sunshine.
Having a good conversation.
Someone holding the door open.
They don’t have to be crazy big, it’s the little things that make the big things, right?!
So - do you have a gratitude list or is this all brand new and something you feel you’ll try out?!