Think Thankful Thoughts This Christmas
Photo Credit: Caitlyn Regan. License: CC BY 2.0
It’s Christmas Eve, and we couldn’t be more excited! The day we’ve been anticipating all year is almost here! I’m sure tomorrow morning you all will be thrilled to see what prezzies Santa brought for you and your family. After the wrapping paper settles and your gifts are stacked in glorious piles, consider taking a moment to reflect on all that you have to be grateful for.
“Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.”
–William Arthur Ward
And I don’t mean the presents that you’ve unwrapped (although, certainly be grateful for those, too!), but rather the intangible things and the “small” things that we can often take for granted. This includes things such as expressing love and appreciation to your family or acknowledging the support of a special friend.
“Keep your eyes open and try to catch people in your company doing something right, then praise them for it.”
–Tom Hopkins
I have heard of gratitude being compared to a muscle. When not used often, it’s weak, and it might feel a bit awkward when you try to use it. But when exercised, it grows, and over time it becomes easier to flex that gratitude bicep. Plus, when we become more grateful for what we already have (or for people as they already are), we also become happier and have more joy!
“In ordinary life, we hardly realize that we receive a great deal more than we give, and that it is only with gratitude that life becomes rich.”
–Dietrich Bonhoeffer
All this talk about gratitude makes me want to start a gratitude journal—or better yet, I’m thinking I might write Christmas or New Year’s gratitude notes. Are you feeling inspired, too? I hope so, but if you still need a little nudge, here are a few prompts to get your gratitude juices flowing:
- Reflect on the past year’s events. Does anyone come to mind? Is there a friend or mentor who has been there for you during a tough time?
- Think back over this past month. Has a friend or neighbor extended a helping hand this holiday season?
- Consider this past week. Has your significant other or a coworker been especially supportive as the holiday week mounts?
- Write a thank you card, leave a note on a chalkboard, or send a text message and let someone know how much they mean to you.
Do you have any other suggestions for spreading gratitude? Let us know in the comments below!
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