Some time ago while reading One Thousand Gifts, a book wherein the author embraces everyday blessings, I thought to start my own list. At first, it was a piece of cake, but once I was done listing the obviously important big stuff like health, family, faith, friends, etc., it became progressively difficult because I didn’t want my list to take a shallow tone as I started to pen down things like dark chocolate, daisies, sun block, café Cubano….But truth is, I am thankful for those things too! Ironically, it’s been precisely the small stuff that’s often made me realize that even on days when I feel anger, anxiety, exhaustion, pain, unforgiveness, disappointment, fear, or what have you, there’s always, always, always something to be thankful for.
What’s great about this exercise is that it prompts me to reflect on more than the obvious. It opens my eyes, especially on days when my sight is blurred by discontent, to a slew of gifts that show me that in the succession of frames my life is, there are indeed many snapshots of happy. And because I find it difficult to be both genuinely grateful and grumpy at the same time, I end up choosing to antidote my toxic emotions with gratitude, and consequently make peace with what’s on my plate.
On that note, I’ll be posting “Thankful Thursdays.” Please join me every week and share your “gifts” too (here or on the blog’s Facebook or Twitter pages). Don’t miss the chance to deliberately contemplate and share your blessings, big or small, and trigger someone else’s snapshot of happy.
I’ll kick off today’s with a biggie: I’m thankful for my children…they are my oxygen; and Cuban coffee…it helps me keep up with them.
Your turn.
“In daily life we must see that it is not happiness that makes us grateful, but gratefulness that makes us happy.“
~ Steindl-Rast
God woke me up this morning and for that I am grateful. After giving Him [GOD] his due Praise and Worship and Thanking Him in advance for all the prayer request I was about to make. I was blessed with the chance to speak with my precious daughter, my wonderful mother and my dearest and closest friend to wish them all a blessed day and for that I am truly grateful.
Love this Con! Thanks for sharing it with me. I have to say, I’m very thankful to God for you!!
I’m so happy we have kept our friendship. I’m truly blessed.
Love you Mim!
: )
xoxoxo
Beautiful. Thanks for sharing.
I am sooo truly thankful today for not having had to drive in to work; and for friends that listen and understand me, the things that happen to [only] me, and just me in general! Did I mention the new delicious hot chocolate machine in the Law Library? Yummmm
I’m very thankful because after suffering the recent loss of both my father and middle brother, my oldest brother and are closer now than we ever were and I’ve been able to be forgiving of prior issues we had. It’s been a difficult task but with God anything is possible.
With God anything IS. I’m glad for you, this is a great blessing. Thanks for sharing it.
Thanks for sharing my friend. And please, don’t forget your shoes on the way to the Law Library… 😉
I am thankful for the most amazing mother that any daughter could ask for! <3
Listen to this:
Music to a mother’s ears baby girl…you make me so proud. Just heard the song…loved it! Love you from here to the moon and back. ♥
Love, love, love this blog. Love, love, love this post. I am thankful for true friends that are in it for the long haul, for friends who have amazing blogs, for daughters of friends who are proof there still are wonderful friendships between mothers and daughters out there. Loved the song and your comment, Lauren! You made me think of my Mom and me. I am thankful for the faith my parents and grandparents instilled in me from the moment I first breathed. For rainy nights at home while enjoying a big bowl of Campbell’s cream of tomato soup and a grilled cheese sandwich (see, I can cook!), yummmm! For having had truly amazing parents and grandparents around me and a childhood that lasted decades. I am thankful for that sudden burst of sunshine that brightened one very dark and scary day, when I was standing in a doorway seeing my world crumble and suddenly the sun came out and there was this beautiful light shining down on me and I knew everything would be okay. And for cafe con leche, pan con lechon, Nochebuena, Midnight Mass, Christmas Day, Thanksgiving, the Rose Parade, champagne with orange juice (do love my mimosas!), birthdays, roses and orchids, holidays and everydays, pets that nuzzle you when you are blue and make you laugh at their silly antics. For guys that are brave enough to stand up for what they believe and know to be right, who ride to your rescue no matter how far away you are and how hard it is raining. For people that stand up for themselves (and for others that are unable to stand up for themselves) and fight for morals and ethics that some would have you think do not exist any more. It can be a scary world, but there is still joy and beauty to be found in it. And absolutely, I am thankful for chocolate!
Beautifully said. And I am thankful for you my old friend…and your example of unwavering hope.