Tag: No Whining

Day 1 Gratitude Challenge

“Don’t seek for everything to happen as you wish it would, but rather wish that everything happens as it actually will – then your life will flow well.” -Epictetus

I borrowed this quote from the November 1st entry of The Daily Stoic: 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living. I have enjoyed this book over the past couple of years. It offers short daily guides on stoicism and life.

The entry also sets the stage for Day 1 of the Gratitude Challenge. Often we spend much of our day hoping everything will go our way. Often it doesn’t go as planned. It’s easy to complain. It’s easy to whine. It’s easy to blame others. Yet, we ALWAYS have the choice to choose our attitude. So today, make the choice to not whine or complain. Do this all day.

When tempted by the negative, turn it into a positive. Use positive words over negative words. Thrive rather than survive. Be aware of your internal (and external) dialogue. Does this make a difference? Share your thoughts here, on Facebook, in your journal, with a friend.

Ultimately, work on feeling gratitude for what has happened to you. It made you who you are.

“Don’t be overheard complaining…Not even to yourself.”  

— Marcus Aurelius, 8.9

Mostly, I hope you have a great day.

November Gratitude Day 1

Today is November 1. In the United States, most people are recovering from the masquerade ball called Halloween. In many Christian cultures, today is known as All Saints Day. While the specifics vary based on denomination, this is a day to honor and remember those who have died and are enjoying eternal happiness through union with God.

On November 1, 2020, as the pandemic impacted my state, I was not in a good place. I was a little over a month from the burial of my oldest brother. He was COVID death 200 in my state. The most recent count is 3059 lives lost. Though I no longer harbor the anger I once did, I remain sad that my brother fell victim to this virus and is no longer with us.

In an effort to boost my spirits, my wife provided me with a gratitude challenge. If I told you I was reluctant, this would be an egregious understatement. The challenge called me to think, act, and live with a gratitude mindset for 21 days. To appease my wife and to demonstrate this was an exercise in futility, I did it. I posted each day on Facebook. Doing this each day and posting about it each day, began a transformation of my mind, body, and spirit.

Last year, I dedicated all 30 days of November to gratitude. This year, I will do the same. It seems fitting that this gratituted exercise begins on the day in which are to honor and remember those who have died. My brother’s picture is part of this post. Throughout this challenge, I will post every day. Each post will discuss how I am focusing my gratitude that day. Whether you take the challenge is up to you. Here is what I know is certain, at the end of the month, I will be in a better place than I am now.

Day 1 – the challenge is no whining or complaining all day at all..none. Speak only positive words. When I first did this challenge, this day fell on the day my beloved Minnesota Vikings played the Green Bay Packers. I should have filmed myself watching that game. It was made easier because my Vikings won…but it was difficult. So are you ready? Positive words all day!