Imagine one day a year, where millions of people all over the world pause to think of what they are grateful for. To thank someone in their lives. To perform one small act of kindness.
It would be a hard thing for many people - those in war zones, those starving, those in captivity, those ailing, those who are fleeing so that they may live free one day.
I am not one of those people. I live in a comfortable home in an area of the world that is at peace. That is exactly why something like World Gratitude Day - today, September 21, is so necessary.
I thought of some things that happened to me recently.
The other day, my spouse complained that there was too much food in the refrigerator. There was produce from our garden, and leftovers from previous meals. We were running out of room.
Can you imagine anyone complaining about having too much food?
Every day for the past few years, I wake up thankful that I am alive.
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| Canandaigua, New York, August 31 |
I am grateful for beautiful sunrises and sunsets, and the health to be able to travel to see them.
Having been raised in a New York City housing project, I am grateful for the ability to step right outside my door and find, in season, beautiful, colorful plants.
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| Tiffany Lamp and Stained Glass, Willard Memorial Chapel, Auburn, New York |
But, then what else can I do with today's blog post, to show gratitude and improve the world in just a tiny way? Many things.
I can blog quotes about gratitude.
I can thank you, each and everyone of my readers, for reading my blog. Thank you - I am grateful for each and every one of you.
I can thank my relatives.
I can thank those few I consider close friends. Friendship doesn't come easy to me.
I've been married to the same spouse for 42 years. Thank you for putting up with me, dear one, and for all the good food and companionship you provide. Among other things (even if you don't read my blog. Which you should, because you missed this shoutout. But I digress).
Thank you to my son, who helps my spouse and I more and more.
Are you an employer? Today would be a good time to show gratitude to those who help in your success. Why not? Who would it hurt?
But most of all, I hope I inspire some of my readers to spread gratitude. To feel gratitude. To live in gratitude. Why? Our world is terribly broken. In some way, even a small way, each of us has a responsibility to help fix it.
The fixing can begin with one small act. Say thank you today to someone. Try to reconnect with someone you've missed, but you hadn't talked to for too long. Perform one small act of kindness.
Who is with me?
Will you join in a day of gratitude?
Wonderful post. Thanks for the important reminder to be grateful for what we have. We are so lucky in so many ways.
ReplyDeleteAlana, I love love love this post! How we should be eternally thankful for the comfortable lifestyle we have been bestowed with. Thank you, for sharing this! <3
ReplyDeleteGratitude is such a vital part of our lives - I don't think I had appreciated it until the last few years, but it changes your worldview and makes you appreciate how blessed we really are.
ReplyDeleteBeing grateful for the things we have makes us feel lucky. We need to learn to look on the brighter side.
ReplyDeleteReading gratitude posts gives me as much pleasure as writing one. There is so much in our lives to be grateful for! Even the small things in our everyday life are enough to make us smile, if only we choose to see them. I've joined in the gratitude circle, Alana. :)
ReplyDeletehttp://dashyspeaks.blogspot.in/2016/09/i-am-grateful.html?m=0
I so agree with you. Our world is terribly broken and each of us absolutely has a responsibility to each other and to ourselves to figure out a way to fix it. I too am joining in #worldgratitudeday
ReplyDeleteFirst off, Thank you for giving me this post and reminding me that I need to thank a lot of people. Yes, I am grateful for a lot of things and to a lot of people. Ultimately who I am today, is all because of them. Will be taking a leaf out of your book and doing my thanksgiving soon.
ReplyDeleteI read somewhere that while brushing one's teeth at night, one could list three things that one is grateful for. (Or it might have been makes them happy. I think it'll apply here, too.) And they could be new things each night. That's a good way to practice gratitude daily.
ReplyDeletelove your attitude yes it blessing enough for me to wake up each day. I know that whatever comes our way as long as He is by my side we can face it
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Amazing post, Alana. I am grateful for being in a atate of thankfulness for all good and bad things happened in my life .....
ReplyDeleteThanks for the beautiful and important reminder.
ReplyDeleteTruly a great read. I find it hard to express my gratitude and honestly THANK YOU is just adequate enough . I feel like giving the Universe a big tight squeeze cuddle hug to really convey my sentiments of gratitude.
ReplyDeleteI am a little late but I will celebrate it today. Thanks for the reminder.
ReplyDeleteAn important reminder indeed. I think my tough upbringing has been the most influencing factor of my everyday gratefulness. Sometimes people wonder why I find such beauty in the mundane. You respect it more having known what it's like to not be permitted to laugh or play. I'm grateful even for troubles because they make the good times even that much better. Thanks for sharing! :)
ReplyDeleteIt's funny that International Day of Peace and World Gratitude Day are celebrated together. For me there cannot be one without another.
ReplyDeletePS:I commented on this post but it seems to have disappeared.