As the saying goes, ‘You don’t know what you got ’til it’s gone‘. Be thankful for your life today, even if it doesn’t look like you thought it would.
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With Thanksgiving coming up in the states, I knew I needed to do a post about what being thankful means. It’s been done over and over again, to be sure, but it’s really what is up for me right now in my own life.
I’m a pretty brass tacks kind of person. Like if something is purely decorative I can appreciate it but I’ll never use it. I think it’s a waste of time and money usually.
So when talking in terms of thankfulness I relate life to the brass tacks. It’s about love, respect, honesty, and appreciation. That’s like my holy grail of the important things in life, and I think American culture is missing the mark.
Being thankful isn’t a one-day-a-year kind of thing.
It’s just not. America has the mindset of go-go-go all the time and races from one thing to the next without savoring the moment. Especially in the Northeast where I’m from. I get dizzy watching some of my loved ones sprint around like the world is going to end tomorrow and they don’t even appreciate all that they’re able to do.
I never wanted a normal life, and life saw fit to give me an out-of-the-box experience. So on the outside looking in, I see these wonderful human beings stripped of joy because they just can never get enough. It’s always more, bigger, more expensive, more elaborate, and the feelings that accompany it is gone as quickly as it came.
I’m alluding to more than the Big Mac or the expensive car, but to the baby showers and the weddings as well. Women getting married that are so miserable because the flower arrangement is missing one element. Children feel they need to be the best so they can soothe their parent’s own struggles with insignificance.
I don’t see anyone being thankful.
That’s a gross over-exaggeration but so often I ask myself, does this really matter? The flower arrangement pales in comparison to the gift that life gave you in another human being loving you so much they decided they wanted to spend their life with you. Being surrounded by friends, family, and loved ones that could be gone in a flash.
Children are extraordinary, especially your own ones. With their unique talents, looks, ways of thinking, why not just love them as they are, not as you wish for them to be?
People complaining about their cars being old or outdated forget the novelty it is that we have a vehicle that can transport us in 5 minutes to a place that would have taken you an hour to walk to.
It’s disrespectful to what you do have.
Being thankful for what you do have is honoring the amazing things that surround you every day. When you choose to look at what you do have without respect, it’s not a wonder that you might lose it.
The law of attraction is like attracts like, so when you feel good you’ll get more good. Respecting and honoring the abundance you have available to you this very second will increase the chances of more abundance. The universe appreciates that you appreciate it.
You only have this moment, try to find happiness. Start being more thankful for the things and people in your life and notice how it continues to improve. Negative thinking only reinforces the negative thinking pattern because you’re strengthening the neurons in your brain.
Peace of mind comes piece by piece. Being thankful can too.
I was depressed, angry, and anxious for a large part of my life. And guess what? I still am a lot!
That’s not because things aren’t perfect though, things will never be perfect. I feel like that because life can be difficult.
But I no longer dwell in those feelings for as long as I used to. I have taught myself better ways to handle negative thoughts, behaviors, and patterns, and so can you. I’m simply encouraging you today to be thankful for the opportunity to see the bright side.
Not everyone has the chance.
Happy Thanksgiving. Give and receive thanks and abundance and hope. The world needs you, friend!
Being thankful, especially to the Almighty in heaven (Yahweh), for all our blessings is always good!
Absolutely!
Great post! It is definitely hard sometimes, but reminding ourselves of the simple things to be thankful for can help us all thru the difficult times in life.
Happy Thanksgiving;
Thank you! Very true, Happy Thanksgiving to you as well!
Great post! I really enjoyed all parts of it. I wrote a thankful list as well but it was not as well thought out as this. Happy thanksgiving!
Being thoughtful is the important part! Thank you, Happy Thanksgiving!
Hi Shea, this is a wonderful article about incorporating gratitude as more than a one and done thing. It is something that should be a part of our lives every day. Gratitude can greatly enhance our lives, and even reprogram our minds for happiness.
I agree, it is hard to be thankful sometimes when we see that others aren’t. That can mean sometimes we need to either try to be a positive influence in other’s lives by setting an example, or distance ourselves from people who refuse to take on a positive outlook.
Thank you so much for sharing these tips!
Absolutely Nicole! Thank you so much, I think you said it best. Keep being the light!