Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays because it is all about eating and socializing, not about gift giving. While I am on the subject of gifts, and being thankful, Jon had a birthday this past Saturday. He is definitely one of the greatest gifts God ever brought my way!
Back to eating! I love sitting down with a friend over a good meal. My favorite meal time is breakfast (IHOP pumpkin pancakes). I am thankful for all things pumpkin (Marie Calendars) or peanut butter. I love Sees Candy, and Jon was given a box at work. He brought it home and laid it on the counter to share at Thanksgiving. After a day (and a half) of torture, I finally ripped into it! I am thankful that my family can come together on Thursday and sit around a dinner table together. I am thankful that they will understand my impatience that led to opening the Sees Candy box.
Jon came home with an outline on "7 Ways to Give Thanks" by Jon Gordon. It is a great resource to have for anytime a person is feeling low and depressed. Thankfulness and depression can't live together. If you are actively living in a state of thankfulness, it will make a huge impact on your positive approach to life. Here are Jon Gordon's 7 ways to being thankful.
1. Thank you walk - Take a 10 minute walk and say out loud what you are thankful for. Don't make it complicated. Be thankful for daily things, like breathing, and expand to those you love (even if your kid is driving you nuts). This will give you energy, and some physical activity.
2. Gratitude journal - It's a proven fact that journaling has immense benefit in helping you clear your mind, focus your thoughts and create positive change in your life.
3. Meal time thank you's - Go around the table and let each person say what they are thankful for.
4. Thank you prayer - If the only prayer you ever prayed was one of thanks, it would suffice. Instead of asking, make your prayers thankful.
5. Gratitude visit - Write a letter of gratitude to someone, then visit them and read them the letter.
6. Everyday thanks - Don't forget to thank the people closest to you! Thank your children, and spouse, and the grocery clerk!
7. Thank you gifts - Don't make it expensive! Make it meaningful. A flower from your garden can lift someone up.
I pray that all who read this can find a way to feel deep joy and thankfulness this week, and beyond. We are a society that has more than most people outside of the USA. If you have ever been out of our country, you see that we waste more food in a day than what others get all week. We should also be deeply thankful for our servicemen and women, who are sacrificing each day for our freedom and protection.
God Bless,
Sandy
