As I scrolled Facebook recently, a pumpkin caught my eye. It was white and boasted a black and white striped bow that would offset my outdoor seating pillows nicely. What caught my eye, though, were the black scribblings on the pumpkin, made by what I can only assume was a permanent marker. The words included phrases such as “sunshine,” “a nice school,” and “coffee.” Without even reading the caption of the post, it was clear this pumpkin was a family’s gratitude pumpkin, put on display throughout autumn to be added to and act as a reminder of how much they have to be thankful for. I love this seasonal variation of the gratitude journal I write in a few times a week.
Curiously, I paused my scrolling to read the legible phrases and what stood out to me was how the pumpkin was covered with simple things that are so often taken for granted – “my bunny, Angel,” “football,” “our family.” It hit me that we tend to moan and grown about the responsibility of caring for such things in our lives (pet poop, being a taxi driver for our kids’ extracurriculars, having to clean up others’ messes, etc.), and yet those are the very things that are truly blessings in our lives, things we should be ultimately grateful for because they make life fulfilling. What I didn’t see on that pumpkin were expensive gaming systems, fancy cars, beach houses, Ivy league degrees, designer clothes, tons of followers, plastic surgery, or other things social media would lead you to believe are super important to society these days. Those things can be great, sure, but I’d argue that they don’t enhance your life nearly as much as the simple pleasures in life or the people in your life.
The world might be on fire these days and your pocketbook suffering because of it, but there will always be plenty to be thankful for. As we inch closer to Thanksgiving and the holiday season, I encourage you to do some reflection and think about what you don’t want to live without or perhaps what you could not live without. Maybe it’s your spouse, your home, your dog, your kids, or your job. You might not have a fancy car, Ivy league degree, or a huge social media following, but you definitely have a lot to be thankful for. And when you focus on the positive blessings instead of the negatives in your own life and around the world, you’re inviting contentment and happiness in while shutting anxiety and despair out.
Here’s a simple exercise to help you practice more gratitude this season:
Every evening as you’re brushing your teeth, start thinking back on the day and everything that occurred. What went well? What did not go well? What could you do better tomorrow? Next, focus on what you are thankful for. It could be something as simple as the beautiful sunset or as particular as a contract negotiation going far better than expected. Make note of those things, perhaps in a journal by your bedside. Repeat this ritual every night of reflecting on your day and writing down what you’re thankful for. Over time, your mindset will shift and you’ll notice you have far fewer things to think about that “did not go well” and far more things that “went well” as you’ll be seeing your day though a different, more appreciative and grateful lens.
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