It’s easy, you know.
To complain and whine and focus on all that’s gone wrong.
I could never understand when people told me that you can experience joy in the midst of suffering. When something goes wrong, or I feel like things aren’t going my way, I can wallow deep. And the longer I stay there, the harder it is for me to climb back out.
A few years ago I read Ann Voskamp’s book “One Thousand Gifts” (available on Amazon) and it opened my eyes to not only practicing gratitude, but finding small things to be grateful for.
Sure, I was grateful for my husband, my family, my home, etc., but that’s where it stopped. When I began to notice the little things in life my moods began to change.
I could be grateful for the clean, cold water out of the tap.
I could be grateful for the way the sun shimmered on the wet grass.
All of a sudden, even though I was struggling with my health and infertility, and grieving a baby lost to miscarriage, I could find small little things in my day that, now noticing them, brought peace and contentment.
This doesn’t mean of course that life is now a field of flowers.
I wish it did, but life still sucks sometimes. And I forget to practice gratitude.
I can still find myself wallowing in self-pity.
So this challenge is as much for me as it is for you! I need to reminder to work at this everyday.
Over the next week (and beyond), write down at least three things you’re grateful for each day.
If you tend to wake up grumpy, write them down before you start your day. If you have trouble resting at night, grab a piece of paper and write it down then!
Donielle Baker
Summer breakfast smoothie