The thing is, I’m not really a mushy-gushy kind of person. I’m a realist. I see the good and the bad. I can usually help my friends find the good in their lives, but in my own life, I have a tendency to worry about the bad, if left alone with my thoughts. Bluh.
Every night before bed, as a part of our night time prayers, we talk with Hailey about our favorite parts of the day. It’s a real simple way to help a three year old reflect a bit about how great her life is…to appreciate a beautiful moment here and there…and to share it, and give thanks for it.
This simple process has taught me that it’s not a practice only helpful to a three year old. Spending those few moments of reflection each day helps me too! (Big shock, right? I think Oprah’s been telling me this for years.) The cool thing is that once you know you are going to talk about your favorite moments, you start to look for them as they’re happening, and appreciate everything a little more.
Enter my Gushing With Gratitude idea.
Here’s what I’m going to do:
Every Sunday, I’m going to sit down and share a few little moments I am particularly thankful for from the previous week. Simple.
The great part is, I want you to join me. Come on, get excited! Get pumped! Get on board! (Is it working? Are you in yet?... I can keep going...)
How wonderful would it be to sit down at the end of each week, and read happy moments from other people’s lives, while reflecting on your own? We’re gonna get some free therapy on over here! Happy people…I’m gonna help you all be happy people! (Okay, maybe that's a big, broad goal, but hey, we can try!)
I'm still working on the logistics, but hopefully by next Sunday, you'll be able to visit my site and grab a little button to put on your own blog that will link back to me. Then you can enter your Gushing URL for the week on mine using Mister Linky, and we'll have a nice little list (hopefully one that will grow with time as your own readers join in) of other Gushing blogs to read. If you don't have a blog, I will gladly accept notes of gratitude in my comments section...and for now, if you want to share your entry for this week (or until Mister Linky becomes my friend), you can enter your URL in my comments too...the URL for that specific entry, please.
Questions or suggestions as I'm ironing things out here are welcome. For now, I hope you'll give this a try as a commitment to yourself to note all the wonderful things around you...at least on a weekly basis!
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Gushing with Gratitude
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So, I'll start things off now...This week, I am thankful for:
1. The opportunity to sit in my driveway watching my littlest one quietly sleep in her car seat. There's nothing more peaceful than a sleeping baby.
2. Helping Hailey with a puzzle during some much needed Mommy-Big Girl Time, thanks to a special little gift from Uncle Cooper.
3. Sharing a visit with my grandmother...and watching her make my daughters laugh.
4. Having Andrew home by dinner on Friday night.
5. Sitting here on a rainy Sunday, listening to the sounds of my family fill my house. I hear laughter. Squealing laughter.
Posted by Mama Cass at 9:24 AM
Labels: gushing with gratitude, pure deliciousness
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4 comments:
I've actually started doing this myself -- I find it helps me not only calm down, but find the silver linings in crappy, stressful weeks. I'm glad you're teaching your girls optimism and the beauty of everyday things from an early age. It's a great thing to know how to do as life gets more complicated as you get older :o)
1. Carolina loss.
2. Aunt D just generally being silly and rambunctious (sp?)
3. Watching grandma bring Hailey chips on back-to-back-to back trips to the kitchen.
4. Brackets.
5. Mom says she'll join eHarmony.
Reflecting in thankfulness is always a good way to end the day or week or month! As a matter of fact, in Scripture, it is often what the authors do... They will cry out to God and then praise Him for what He has done and His goodness and faithfulness (Read any of the Psalms for an example). Whenever I am in a situation where it would be easy to grumble or fret, this practice has kept my eyes on the right focus! It is a great idea to keep a record of it on your blog as well! I look forward to checking back every week:)
This week, I am thankful for:
- Healthy kids who love to play together
- A husband who works hard to provide for our family
- Family nearby that we get to see often
- And the blessing of being a stay at home mom!
Here is the address for mine. Like this idea...
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