The greatest part of this project for me has been the fact that I sit at the end of each day and think of three things I have to be grateful for. Most days it’s not hard but sometimes it is. I also love that Lori and I picked themes. I use them as my focus for the photos/words cards I create that month. Each theme is not equal for me. Nature was really easy cause I can think of much to be grateful for there and this month’s theme, Body, is exceptionally hard for me. Partly because I have so many issues around that topic. Partly because I don’t appreciate much of anything about my body. Either way, the fact that it’s our theme forces me to look harder, look deeper. And the thing is, with practice it gets easier.
As I did my first two pieces for this month, the last two pieces came a lot more easily. It works the same way with gratitude in general. Because I am doing these everyday, I pay more attention to my day. I notice things. I actually feel the gratitude while it’s happening and not just afterwards. I think it’s common to look at a memory and remember the bliss, the joy of that moment. We’re pretty good at blocking out the bad and remembering the good after the fact. But, often times, I tend to get lost in the moment and not appreciate it a lot while it’s happening. This project has allowed me to be more aware. I am really grateful for that.
This awareness also makes me more joyful and realize how amazing my life is. Of course, I have my challenges, my down days, my issues. But, all in all, life is amazing. I have so much to be grateful for and I take time to revel in that regularly now. I focus on the gratitude. The joy. I really try to. The thing with happiness is that thinking you’re happy makes you feel happy. At least I think so. And the awareness this project has raised in my life allows me to live each moment with more joy, with more gratitude, and with so much more happiness.
Honestly I think this is the best gift I could have ever received.
Thank you, Lori, for asking me to do this with you. And for those of you who are “behind” or who wish you could do this, too, it’s really, truly never too late. I swear. Just start today. You will love every moment of it.
The following is cross-posted from the Weekly Gratitude Blog. I will post there every Tuesday and decided to post those posts here, too. For those of you who read both blogs, I apologize in advance. Some weeks the content might be different and other weeks, exactly the same.
Regardless of what your body might look like to you, it was the vessel for carrying and nourishing those two wonderful boys you have. Your voice comforts and encourages and your hands create . You are beautiful in every way.
you are so kind, thank you. I am trying to think that way too. it’s hard but i am working on it.