How We Express Gratitude

Happy Monday morning!

We just came off of a BUSY weekend, and I’m still recovering! I’ll share more later, but our school just hosted our 4th annual craft fair, and I was a part of the planning committee this year. The DETAILS, y’all! A lot of work goes into running an event of this scale- we had over 100 vendors, and almost 1000 people came through our building on Saturday.

Anyways- today’s post is not about that, actually. It is about how we show gratitude. So I thought I would take this opportunity to share our “big win” for the week. Well, for the YEAR, actually. I alluded to this last Wednesday in my post, and sure enough- it did happen! Theo, as head of school, finally- finally- signed the papers to purchase the school property!! This has been over a year in the making, and it was an extremely challenging process. One of the hardest parts about it was a personal relationship that was broken as a result of how everything went down. It was not easy or straightforward and Theo fought HARD for the school for the past 7 months especially. It was stressful for him, stressful for his wonderful staff, and very stressful for our family.

All that to say- I am SO GRATEFUL that it’s done. There were many times during the process that we were not sure it was actually going to happen, so it feels so surreal that it’s done.

As far as how I express gratitude- it’s something that I’m always wanting to do better at! I tend to be a complainer, so gratitude is something that I have to truly work at. Is everyone like this, or is this a struggle unique to me?

Here are some little ways that I work to bring gratitude into our lives:

• Writing thank you notes. If someone does something that blesses me- be it big or small- I try to write a thank you note! It’s so easy and the impact is pretty great. I write thank you notes when someone brings a meal, or gives us a bag of hand me downs, or sends one of my kids a gift. I find it’s just a sweet way to connect with someone and express gratefulness. Now…to work on actually mailing and/or handing out the thank you notes hahaha. After my Dad’s surgery, my Mom was sitting in the hospital with him and writing thank you notes to people who have brought them meals or supported them in this difficult trial. Seeing her doing that during such a stressful time was so impactful for me!
• Looking for *glimmers*. Have you guys ever heard of this concept? Looking for “glimmers” is just looking for tiny little things that you see throughout the day that bring you joy. It might be the way a ray of sunshine falls on a plant, or the way a kid laughs really loud, or the way an outfit just fits perfectly. None of those things are life-changing, but if we take the time to notice them- they are everywhere! One podcast I listen to even recommends saying “GLIMMER” out loud when you notice one, so it becomes even more monumental instead of just a passing thought.
• Journaling. As a writer, journaling is one of the best ways I can express gratitude! Sometimes I’m not even making a gratitude list, I’m just journaling some thoughts and prayers, and it often makes me feel so much better that I’m able to take on more of a posture of gratitude. Of course, an on-going gratitude list is also a great thing to have!
• Bring it up in conversation. Sometimes when I’m safe with friends, it’s easier to gripe than it is to express gratitude. Instead of focusing on all the things that we have to complain about, express gratitude in a conversation with friends. Or ask someone what is good in their life right now. Let it be a part of normal conversation!
• Tell someone what you appreciate about them. There is something about giving a compliment out loud that takes the focus off of ourselves and onto someone else- and brings joy in the process! If you think a good thought about someone- say it- text it- tell them!! It uplifts everyone around me (and myself!) when I pass out compliments 🙂
• Watch how you think about comparisons. It’s often easy to find ways that we don’t have enough. I don’t have as much money as that person. Or, if only I had a bigger kitchen. Instead, think of what you DO have- a nice kitchen with all the necessary items to function and survive- and thrive! A bank account that allows for a dinner out or a gift for the kids here and there, even if we aren’t going on some luxurious vacation. It’s easy to compare ourselves to others, it’s harder to flip the script and acknowledge what we DO have. I love that trend that was going around for a while where people would say how they were “rich in life”, and it had nothing to do with money.
• Get outside! Honestly, any time spent outside in fresh air changes my perspective. Bonus points if it also involves moving my body. It resets the nervous system and does wonders for my attitude!

What would you add to this list? I’d love to hear how you cultivate a practice of gratitude!