Besides the traffic, LA seems a little bit happier these days.
Thanksgiving and gratitude are at the forefront of our minds. Families are traveling from all over to share some hugs, laughs, and the last piece pie (or arm wrestle for it). By taking a step back to realize all the good things that surround us, it’s tough to feel incomplete or unsatisfied.
My challenge to you is to treat every day as Thanksgiving. My advice is not to overindulge (all that stuffing isn’t recommended on an everyday basis), but realize all the good things we have every day.
As a chronic optimist and glass-half-full individual, I try to find 3 things I am thankful for each day. Some days I’m grateful for my fancy $7 latte, other days I’m grateful to live in a country with running, drinkable water.
Try to list 3 things for which you are grateful each day this upcoming week. You can think of them in the morning, or reflect on the day before closing your eyes and pulling up the covers. In my experience, it slows my heart rate and my mind’s spinning thoughts.
Don’t judge yourself for only being able to come up with 2 things. Nor should you judge yourself for being thankful for your Mercedes, Toyota, bike, or bus. The point is to be grateful for what you have. The benefit comes from being grateful, not from the things for which you are thankful.
We have so much in this life and what is the point of experiencing it, if we are not grateful? After this week, see if your attitude has changed. Evaluate your mood overall and reactions to situations.
I hope you carry Thanksgiving into this week, the rest of the year, and throughout your life.
