Short post today – Today, the weather forecast for the upper plains is unseasonably warm with no precipitation. I am grateful for this weather today. My youngest son is driving home from college. Additionally, my students will driving home for Thanksgiving break today. With the great weather forecast, my son and my students should have fewer problems getting home. For that, I am grateful. I also hope to take a walk outside and enjoy the weather.
Tag: Gratitude
Day 21 of Gratitude Challenge
I read this quote the other day “When in doubt, just say thank you. There is no downside. Are you honestly worried about showing too much gratitude to the people in your life?” It made me think do I say thank you enough? The answer is no. There is little downside to showing too much gratitude
Today, pay attention to how many times you say thank you. Make an effort to say it more often and see what happens to your mood and those around you.
Thank you to those who read this blog. It probably helps me more than it helps others. But I am grateful to be able to share some of my stories.
Day 20 of the Gratitude Challenge
There is so much I want to say today. Because I keep these Gratitude posts short, I will save many of the ideas for another day.
The picture attached to this post represents so many things. It is 1 of approximately 1200 photos I took at a college volleyball match yesterday. It is 1 of 40 photos I took trying to capture the image you see. It is, perhaps, one of the best photos I’ve taken. We often fail many many times before we succeed. It’s important to enjoy the journey and be grateful for the chances we get.
Yet, this picture is so much more. The facility, the Sanford Pentagon, which hosted this event is absolutely amazing. The event was the first sporting event I’ve been to since before the pandemic that felt like a sporting event. The atmosphere was electric. For these things I am grateful.
But what truly makes the picture special are the people in it. I cannot find adequate word to express my gratitude for this team. So today, I am grateful for many things but mostly I’m grateful for the students and the athletes at my university.
Day 19 of Gratitude Challenge
It’s been one year since I took the picture. One year of change I never thought would happen. One year of steady improvement.
I began this journey alone and unhappy. I began not knowing where to start. But I made the decision to change. My advice – make the decision about why then work on the how.
Over the last year, I have received so much encouragement and support from family and friends. Thank you it made a difference. I haven’t been perfect but I have improved. And more importantly, I could not have done it without the encouragement. I am grateful for all the kindness.
Today’s challenge is for you to thank a friend and family member. Call, text, email, message, Snap, What’s App or snail mail them. Just thank this person for something they did.
Day 18 of Gratitude Challenge
Pay it forward today. Buy somebody else a coffee, meal, or something else. Be the in initiator in the chain of gratitude. You can do this anonymously or not. You can publicize it on social media or remain silent. Just do something to pay it forward today grateful.
Day 15 of Gratitude Challenge
I’m told that when he was born he was not expected to live more than 10 years. He defied the odds and lived almost 60 years.
14 months ago he contracted Covid and died 11 days later. In the first few months after his death, I vacillated between anger and sadness. Overtime, I made efforts to focus on gratitude. Gratitude for the memories I have. Gratitude for the lessons he taught me. Gratitude for the love he gave. Gratitude for the years he was alive. Gratitude for all he gave to me.
I’m still sad and occasionally angry. But mostly I am grateful to have had a brother like him. Today is his birthday. I’ll celebrate by taking some time to bee grateful for his life.
Today’s challenge requires you to think about somebody who has passed on and do so with gratitude for all the gifts they left for you.
Day 13 of the Gratitude Challenge
One of the goals of this challenge is to focus on the little things in life that make a difference. I believe that little changes can make a big difference. You don’t need to make one large change to improve your life. Improve a little each day and see what happens.
The photo in this post is from one of my happiest places in the world. It is near where I grew up. Whenever I visit this place, I have a sense of joy and peace. Today, I am grateful for my hometown and where I grew up. I know it wasn’t perfect but it is home. While I miss the Black Hills, I am grateful I was able to grow up in such a nature wonderland. It shaped who I am am and how I view the word. Take time today to think about something you are grateful about from your hometown.
Day 9 of Gratitude Challenge
Yesterday was an beautiful fall day where I live. The high temperature was 59 degrees. I did not have an opportunity to enjoy it much. Today the forecast is about 5 degrees cooler and still a very nice day for my area of the world. Yet a look forward indicates that we might get some snow on Friday – which may make the gratitude challenge fun for some!
The challenge for today is simply this. Get outside in and around nature. What do you notice? What is special? See any wildlife? What does fall smell like where you are? How about the colors? Just be grateful for the beauty of nature and how it teases your senses. Have a great day!
Day 8 of Gratitude Challenge
I recently read How to Change: The Science of Getting From Where You Are to Where You Want to Be by Katy Milkman. The book is an interesting and insightful look into how we can make change happen. Milkman writes “[I]f you want to change your behavior or someone else’s, you’re at a huge advantage if you begin with a blank slate – a fresh start- and no old habits working against you.” Of course, this is easier said than done. She further writes that “[w]e’re more likely to pursue change on dates that feel like new beginnings because these moments help us overcome a common obstacle to goal initiation: the sense that we’ve failed before and will, thus, fail again…This explains why every Monday, I’m sure the week ahead will be more productive than the last.”
I intentionally started this challenge on the FIRST day of the month which conveniently fell on a Monday. A double fresh start.
The pandemic has created more opportunities for fresh starts and provided a chance to focus on what is important. Remember during the height of the pandemic when everybody was wearing mask? You could see no expression. No compassion. No care. No joy. Just eyes hiding behind a mask.
As the pandemic winds downs and we take our masks off, we can see faces again. So today, give smiles and see what happens. Smile at yourself in the mirror. Smile at strangers. Smile at coworkers. Smile on the phone. Smile on Zoom. I bet at least one person smiles back. Be grateful for gift of human expression and emotion. Happy Monday!
Day 6 of Gratitude Challenge
It has been a challenging and busy week. Yesterday, I battled with my inner voice. I questioned everything. Am I doing my best? Is this challenge impacting anyone? Does being grateful and thankful really help?
We all have off days. I was searching for the my sense of purpose and place. Though I pontificated about the benefits of gratitude, internally I was questioning its efficacy. Yet, I know this challenge works. I did this gratitude challenge last year hoping it would help at least one person. It did. It helped me.
This year, my hope is the gratitude challenge to helps many. But, if it helps just one person, it will have be a success. By that measure, it has been successful because at least one my readers has told me so and because it has helped me.
To be grateful and thankful is a choice. It is a choice that each of us controls. Chose gratitude today. Express gratitude today. Take control today by resisting the urge to purchase something for yourself. Instead, purchase something for someone else or give to a charity. Further, when you purchase something for somebody else, take a moment to reflect about how the action makes you feel. Do you feel better?
I plan to take my dog to a local coffee house and purchase a few coffees for the people behind me in line. I don’t expect or want anything back. I just want them to have a nice part of their day. I challenge all of you to do something similar. Have a great day!
Sireadh Toileachas 