Still Thankful?

Now, that Thanksgiving day has passed and the calendar is moving forward toward Christmas, have you maintained your gratefulness or did it go away at 12:01 a.m. on November 24 when the holiday ended?

For many, Thanksgiving is a day to reflect upon all of the things that you have had and taken for granted, but realize that you have so much to be thankful for. Often times, when we look at our circumstances we get caught up in what is not right, or things that we wish we had done differently. For some, it’s a day of remembrance and reflection of the loved ones that are no longer with them. Thanksgiving can be filled with sad memories as well as happy memories. It is all about how we choose to view our situations.

If you woke up today and are reading this blog, you should feel thankful. Why? Because you are alive today (Some people did not wake up to see this day). On the other hand, you have eyes to see words and the ability to read. It may sound trivial, but look around where you are right now. What do you take for granted whereas others would be thankful to have?

Thanksgiving is just one day out of the year, but there are still 364 days where you can continue to count your blessings and have an attitude of gratitude. Here are some suggestions to help you remain thankful year round.

1. Keep a grateful journal – Take time out to write about all of the things that you have experienced each day that you are thankful for. See how much good you have in your life.

2. Write a thank-you note – Yes, the optimal word here is “write.” Handwritten notes are becoming very rare these days. But when people receive them, it really shows them how thankful you are because you took the time to write the note instead of emailing it.

3. Focus on giving back to yourself – If you are like a lot of women, you tend to focus on everyone else’s needs and put yourself last. Reverse that order and show how thankful you are for you! Start eating healthier, incorporate more exercise into your daily routine and don’t ignore signs that you may need to go see the doctor if you’ve been putting your health off for a while.

4. Stop focusing on just the big life event celebrations – Yes, buying a new home, car, or getting a promotion at work are all wonderful life events. But what about the small wins that you receive in life? Did you help someone who was in need recently? Did you give away something that was no longer of value to you, but it was to someone else? Think about the blessings that you receive on a regular basis, but take for granted.

5. Give yourself permission to acknowledge your feelings – In order to stay in the mindset of being thankful, sometimes you have to be in the right frame of mind. Acknowledge how you feel by checking in with yourself and asking yourself what do you need to do in order to stay in a positive frame of mind in order to consistently remain thankful.

Thanksgiving may be over, but the attitude of gratitude and thankfulness should never end. Happy Holidays!