Taking a Moment to be Thankful

How often do you pause and take a moment to be thankful? I'll admit I don't do this often enough. Sometimes I let my life get overrun with seemingly important things, that at the end of the day are not all that important. I find myself busy, too busy in fact to step back and be thankful. Luckily for me, I always seem to realize the error in my ways, and come back to a place of gratitude.

The other day I was taking a stroll with my daughter and stumbled upon the scene pictured above. It made me thankful. Thankful that I live in a nice neighborhood that's relatively safe with beautiful gardens. In Baltimore, there are many people living in neighborhoods that look like this

And here I was walking around my neighborhood so many times, not remembering to thankful for my surroundings.

Later in the day I began to notice other things to be thankful for. It was amazing how one moment of gratitude could become contagious and begin to illuminate all the other things I had to be grateful for, that often go unnoticed. Do you take out time to be thankful? What have you been thankful for lately? Please share.

"It is only with gratitude that life becomes rich." ~Deitrich Bonheiffer

Work as a Gift

Many of us hate our work. Whether it be our 9 to 5 (or more like 9 to 9 for some of us), or household duties, work is something many people resent. I must admit, I used to be in the aforementioned camp, particularly when it came to running errands and cleaning up around the house. I felt like housework was tedious and never ending, not to mention thankless. I mean how often do you hear your spouse or kid say, "Thanks so much for scrubbing the toilet spotless, or I really appreciate you paying that medical bill on time"?

Recently,  I've begun to look at work differently. I recognize the importance of housework in maintaining an efficient, safe, and peaceful household. Now instead of resenting doing work around the house, I am thankful for it.

I use the time I do chores to be consciously grateful. I remember to be thankful for the financial ability to pay bills, for the physical ability to clean up, for a great family to clean up after, and for the mental capacity to organize.

On days when I am particularly fortunate, I get a moment to quietly sit back and enjoy the fruits of my labor. Like the other day when I had a chance to stop and look at my first ever homegrown floral arrangement. It's amazing how something so small, can feel so big. Hard work and gratitude will do that for ya.

What about you do you enjoy your work?

"In everything, give thanks." ~1 Thessalonians 5:17

Window Shopping.....

Lately, I've been making an effort to practice gratitude, i.e. being thankful for what I have. I've been amazed at the difference it's making in my life. I've spent a lot less time shopping, feeling discontent, and comparing myself to others.

I really noticed improvement a few weeks ago when the hubs and I went to a fancy open house. The home we visited was large and beautiful--easily magazine worthy. The old me would have hounded and pestered the hubs all weekend about how we need a new bigger house, and how we need to make more money. The new content  me was able to admire the beautiful home we visited, then joyfully go back to our little humble abode. I'm proud of the changes I'm making, they are leading to true peace of mind, which I'm finding to be priceless. What about you? Can you window shop without envy? Are you content with what you have?

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you are not content today, there is nothing you can buy tomorrow to change that.” ~Joshua Becker