A Study in Gratitude

Glowin Girl from Sugar Tails introduced me to the Gratitude Community and I knew instantly  it was something I wanted to be a part of. The Gratitude Community is a HUGE group of bloggers cataloging 1000 gifts they have received in their daily lives and sharing as the process changes them along the way.

Sounds lovely doesn’t it? I’m anxious to get started … call it a study in gratitude if you will. The more gifts I open my mind to, the more I will continue to receive. My Daddy has a saying, You say it. You create it. Meaning if you talk negatively and focus on negative things you will only compound the negativity in your life. But, if you speak positively and think positively then positive things are bound to happen to you. It’s a great mantra but I usually only think about it … when I’m being overly negative. Time to turn those tables. My Dad will be so proud.

Here’s a couple more facts to feed my argument:

Did you know Grateful people are happier, less depressed, less stressed, and more satisfied with their lives and social relationships? Grateful people also have more control over their environments, a better understanding of their purpose in life, and deeper level of self acceptance. <- Sounds good to me.

Learning to be grateful gives you positive ways of coping with difficult situations, makes you more likely to seek support from other people, and a better chance of growing from life experiences. (Wikipedia)

More good stuff, maybe we should all try it. What do you say?

Things I’m hoping to gain from this exercise – being more in the moment, enjoying the small things that make my life wonderful, becoming more positive and getting more in touch with my spiritual side.

Well, let’s get started. Here are a few things I am Thankful for today:

1. So Many I Love You’s – Sweet must have told me she loved me 100 times today. Not her typical MO (mode of operating) but one I’m hoping sticks around for at least a few days. I love being told my children love me, it warms my heart and even after the 85th time she told me this afternoon I was still responding in kind to each declaration. It went a little something like this -> Mom, I Luuuuv you soooo much! And I would say, Oh Sweet, I Love you sooooo much too. Then she would go on to tell me how cute I was or how nice my hair looked or how she wanted to kiss me (kisses don’t come easy with this one). Yes, it was an all around perfect sort of day.

Note: Hmm, I’ve only catalogued 1 of life’s small gifts and I’m already feeling all warm & fuzzy on the inside.

2. A couple of Sweetie Pie’s – Happy was also doling out the love today. His in the form of Sweetie Pie’s. As in, “Brother … can I have you Mr. the King car?” (his most beloved possession in the entire world) Happy: “Sure you can Sweetie Pie“. Which of course invoked lots of screaming and whining because who on Earth would want to play with their brothers favorite toy AND be referred to as a Sweetie Pie? She says she doesn’t like Sweetie Pie, and doesn’t want to be one. This of course made Happy pretty “happy” with himself causing this whole shenanigan to be repeated frequently throughout the day.

3. Open Mouth Kisses – From a certain irresistible chunky monkey I like to call Little. Little will hand out kisses like candy to EVERYONE in the house … except me. He takes great pleasure in making sure I see him give kisses to every other member of the family and will even toddle my way, mouth wide open for a little smooch action and then just before he gets to me, he’ll peel away making the most incredibly cheesy sideways grin you have ever seen – knowing he has denied me something of great value and then rushes off to start the whole charade again. Other family members will get 4 or 5 kisses and I will get a big fat ZILCH. Everyone laughs prolonging the inevitable and making the game that much more HILARIOUS to him. But today … “gratefully” I was the proud recipient of 4 ginormous open mouth kisses from that special Little someone. (Thanks sweetie pie, I loooooove you sooooo much)

4. Race Car Bodies – We have a new favorite past time in the house and it has officially been dubbed, Race Car Bodies. Race Cars are all the rage in our house for the time being and nothing could be more fun than drawing race cars. It goes a little something like this – a favorite car is chosen, Mom is asked to draw the outline of said car, the kids color the car, next they go over the outline with glue and then we pour glitter all over the image. We’ve got a pretty nice collection of sparkle cars going on and the kids could do this for hours, beaming with pride when they finish each one. I have a feeling there will be some very happy family members soon when they receive their very own Race Car Bodies. They may have to wait a few weeks though … until our art gallery fills up with something new.

5. Muffins in the Morning – I wish I was the type of Mom who woke up early, took some time for myself and baked something wholesome and delicious for my family each morning. Most days the story doesn’t quite play out like that but on the days that it does. I am thankful. And happy. Who knows maybe my talking to you about how much I love to wake up and bake stuff will help me to actually … wake up and bake more stuff. Maybe something yummy & delicious like this Whole Wheat Applesauce Cake.

Yep, that made me feel better about my life already 5 down, 995 to go …

What are you thankful for today?