I have not always been great at noticing things that I’m thankful for. Recently, however, I have started making gratitude a regular practice. Each night before bed, I write down one thing I was grateful for that day. I am not always consistent with this, so I hope to get better at it in the new year! It’s all about the baby steps!
“Thank you God for another day.” This is a phrase that I’ve been hearing a lot over the last few weeks. I think a lot of us take life for granted and don’t realize how lucky we are to see another day. As hard as life can be sometimes, I try to remind myself how blessed I am to be where I am and be able to live another day. Since thinking about this simple phrase, I have begun to have more gratitude for the little things in life.
Five Things I Am Grateful For
- Living in a beautiful and safe town
- Attending a wonderful school with an excellent education
- Being able to see a doctor and get proper medical treatment
- Never having to worry about money, and always having a roof over my head and food on the table
- The ability to start this blogging journey
These are five big things that I have gratitude for everyday. Aside from this list, I have so much gratitude for the men and women in this world that do the hard things that I cannot. These are people like doctors, scientists, veterans, police officers, fire fighters, and so many more. I think these individuals don’t always receive the respect that they deserve for the hard and courageous jobs that they perform. On another note, while life is not always easy, I try to remind myself that I am in a much better position than a lot of people. I have a ton of support and resources whenever I need help, that I realize a lot of people may not have.
The Little Things I Have Gratitude For
On the other hand, there are little things in my day-to-day life that I am grateful for, as well. Some of the little things that I notice everyday, include having access to a car to go to work or get off campus for a while and having central air conditioning, especially on the really hot summer days. Other things include beautiful and breezy fall days, having a kitchen in my dorm, turtleneck sweaters, my blue eyes, and being a peer tutor. All of these things came out of my gratitude journal. While some of them may seem a little silly, they brought me a sense of joy and gratitude that day. It’s all about noticing the little things.
Wherever you are in life, try and find the small things that keep you going. Try and show more gratitude, not only to the people in your life, but also to yourself. As we move into the holiday season and the new year, I challenge you to take 5 minutes each day and write down one thing you are grateful for. I like adding this into my nighttime routine, but you could also do it as part of your morning routine.
I love using the stabilo pens in my gratitude journal! They are so colorful and make me happy! Every time I write in my gratitude journal, I blindly pick a new color. It brings me so much joy to open up my gratitude journal and see all the color and everything I am grateful for!
Endnote
I love reflecting on things that I have gratitude for. I think it helps to give me some perspective and hope. This new practice is forcing me to push my comfort zone and really begin to reflect on my days. If you want to learn more, check out my post all about Three Reasons to Push Your Comfort Zone: Seek the Uncomfortable. What are some things you are grateful for? Let me know in the comments down below! I hope you have a wonderful and restful Thanksgiving, whether you are by yourself or surrounded by family and friends! I will see you here next week, friend!