The Balanced Life, Huntsville Alabama

Gratitude is a word I’ve heard many times in my life, many of which I brushed aside while feeling like no one understood how I felt.  If they did, they certainly wouldn’t use the word “gratitude”, a word I felt minimized and brushed aside what I was going through.  Those times when I left home early to arrive at the office early only to find road construction slowing me down or when I was mistreated by someone are the times I had difficulty finding gratitude in much of anything.

However, did you know that when we change our attitude from grumpy to grateful, it can change our lives from miserable to genuine deep down daily happiness? It’s true and research proves it time and again that people who practice gratitude in their daily lives live longer and lead fulfilling lives. Now, instead of feeling angry when I get stopped in a long line of road construction, I feel gratitude that we have roads to drive on and the means to repair those roads. If I feel mistreated by someone, I brush it off and am grateful I don’t treat people that way.

So often life throws us curve balls that are difficult to handle and can send us into a life of despair, those deep dark places that diminish hope. Gratitude can bring hope, meaning, and purpose in dark and sad times. I know from experience it changes a person’s outlook from darkness to light.

With this being the week of Thanksgiving, I’d like to pass along a few ideas and ways to get started on your path of gratitude.

• Gratitude Jar- Each day, write one thing you are grateful for on a small piece of paper and place in a jar. It’s amazing how quickly your jar gets full!
• Reverse Bucket List- Instead of writing down all the things you haven’t done, but want to, how about writing down all the things you have accomplished? No matter how small or large, if it means something to you, write it down. Watch your list grow- I was amazed at my own list and I bet you will be amazed by yours.
• Random Act of Kindness- Do something nice for someone or someplace. Some examples might include pay the tab for the person behind you, send a nice thank you note to someone who was kind to you, donate used books to a library, help an elderly person with yard work, and/or hold the door for someone.
• Gratitude Puzzle- At your next gathering of friends and/ or family, turn over a child’s puzzle to the blank cardboard side. Each person takes a puzzle piece and decorates it with the things they are most grateful for. Once complete, go around the room and share your pieces with the group. Put the completed puzzle in a frame and hang on the wall.

I hope you take the time to implement at least one of the ideas above. Try it and see how it might change your life for the better. I know it did mine!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!