Being grateful is a huge part of my philosophy on living life to the fullest and being all we were created to be.
Simply Nourished, Purely Balanced, Fully Alive! That is my motto!
The Simple Swap lifestyle is looking at the simple things in life and truly recognizing the blessings we have.
As I was reflecting on being grateful I ended up having a very bad day where nothing seemed to go right. Have you ever had one of those?
The toast burned. Caleb forgot his lunch. I was feeling run down with a bit of a flu. My kids were running in several directions and I was taking them there!
After a crazy day I finally headed out the door an hour or so before everyone was all going to be home from school so I could get a quick workout in. I had to fight crazy traffic with major road construction, took gravel roads for part of the way to avoid traffic only to get to the gym and realize they were CLOSED as they were prepping for an open house!
What? Really? Are you kidding me? - were the words coming into my head!
As I was reflecting on being grateful I ended up having a very bad day where nothing seemed to go right. Have you ever had one of those?
The toast burned. Caleb forgot his lunch. I was feeling run down with a bit of a flu. My kids were running in several directions and I was taking them there!
After a crazy day I finally headed out the door an hour or so before everyone was all going to be home from school so I could get a quick workout in. I had to fight crazy traffic with major road construction, took gravel roads for part of the way to avoid traffic only to get to the gym and realize they were CLOSED as they were prepping for an open house!
What? Really? Are you kidding me? - were the words coming into my head!
Then I remembered YOU and the message of gratitude I wanted to share with you.
I dejectedly walked back to my dirty, worn out van and said to myself, "Ok what can I be thankful for?"
Surprisingly a flood of things came to mind...
I love how warm and beautiful it is outside. I love that I am in shorts and not my winter parka, and in Canada that is a always a good thing! Hey! I love how the sun is shining in my window. I love that I am able to drive and have the freedom to come and go. I love that my kids will be coming through the door soon after I get home. I love that they will hang their backpacks up nicely and say "Mom what’s for snack?" I love that they are healthy enough to eat a snack. I love that I have a fridge full of good food to nourish my family. I love that my husband will be home soon and this free time would give us time to go for a walk together before the sun sets.
I couldn’t believe just how filled with joy I felt!
Surprisingly a flood of things came to mind...
I love how warm and beautiful it is outside. I love that I am in shorts and not my winter parka, and in Canada that is a always a good thing! Hey! I love how the sun is shining in my window. I love that I am able to drive and have the freedom to come and go. I love that my kids will be coming through the door soon after I get home. I love that they will hang their backpacks up nicely and say "Mom what’s for snack?" I love that they are healthy enough to eat a snack. I love that I have a fridge full of good food to nourish my family. I love that my husband will be home soon and this free time would give us time to go for a walk together before the sun sets.
I couldn’t believe just how filled with joy I felt!
Practicing gratitude is like practicing a sport in the gym - it takes practice to get good at it.
It also takes people who are already good at it to show you what to do - like our personal trainers, mentors and coaches.
Be easy on yourself if you are just learning and then be the example of someone living a life full of gratitude to the people around you. It is contagious! If you want the best health and life ever practice a life of gratitude.
Studies have shown that when we feel grateful it lifts our spirits from depression and boosts our immunity. Gratitude is good medicine!
A tradition in our family is to tuck the kids in and say out loud what we're grateful for and reflect on the day before going to sleep. We have always taught the kids that when we use positive affirmations in our daily lives it is a good idea to start with thanksgiving before we ask for something that is in our heart. It is so nice to hear what the kids are grateful for.
Over and over again it makes me realize it is the small stuff that matters most. The small kind gestures are the ones the kids notice and are so thankful for. Living a life of simplicity is so key to a happy and healthy home.
To cultivate a grateful heart I recommend starting a Gratitude Journal. Each day make a list of 5 things you are thankful for. It will change your life!
I really love reading Kristin Lamb's blog, and a blog post of hers comes to mind when I think about gratitude.
I'll end this blog post with a list of things Kristin is grateful for that hopefully you can reflect upon and see all the things that you also have in your life to be grateful for.
Be easy on yourself if you are just learning and then be the example of someone living a life full of gratitude to the people around you. It is contagious! If you want the best health and life ever practice a life of gratitude.
Studies have shown that when we feel grateful it lifts our spirits from depression and boosts our immunity. Gratitude is good medicine!
A tradition in our family is to tuck the kids in and say out loud what we're grateful for and reflect on the day before going to sleep. We have always taught the kids that when we use positive affirmations in our daily lives it is a good idea to start with thanksgiving before we ask for something that is in our heart. It is so nice to hear what the kids are grateful for.
Over and over again it makes me realize it is the small stuff that matters most. The small kind gestures are the ones the kids notice and are so thankful for. Living a life of simplicity is so key to a happy and healthy home.
To cultivate a grateful heart I recommend starting a Gratitude Journal. Each day make a list of 5 things you are thankful for. It will change your life!
I really love reading Kristin Lamb's blog, and a blog post of hers comes to mind when I think about gratitude.
I'll end this blog post with a list of things Kristin is grateful for that hopefully you can reflect upon and see all the things that you also have in your life to be grateful for.
- I am thankful for all the laundry I have to do, because it means I have clothes to wear.
- I am thankful for the dishes that need washing, because it means I didn’t go hungry.
- I am thankful for the big electric bill, because it means my home has lights and heat.
- I am thankful for the sheets that need to be changed, because it means I own a bed.
- I am thankful for all the reading I have to do, because it means I’m literate.
- I am thankful for the car that needs all new tires because it means I don’t have to walk miles and miles to get what I need.
- I am thankful for that parking space waaaaayyyy out in the back, because it means I don’t have to park in a handicapped space. I can walk.
- I am thankful for the garage that needs to be cleaned out, because it means I am blessed with plenty.
- I am thankful for the chores to be done, because it means I have family who love me enough to travel to see me.
- I am thankful for the litter-box that needs cleaning and the dog blankets that need washing because it means I have pets who love me unconditionally.
- I am thankful for the split ends I have, because it means I haven’t lost all my hair to chemo.
- I am thankful for the Christmas cards I need to send, because they could as easily be funeral announcements.
- I am thankful for the traffic snarls that catch me, because the body the firemen pulled out of the fatality accident could have been me.
- I am thankful for the gutters I need to clean, because it means that I have a home.
- I am thankful for all the Christmas shopping I have to do, because it means I’m not alone.
- I am thankful for my less than perfect thighs. It means I didn’t lose my legs in a car accident or to diabetes or an IED.
- I am thankful that I sometimes have doubts and confusion about my future and my purpose when I think of the lives cut short before they ever had a future.
- I’m thankful for the government I like to gripe about, because I don’t fear going to prison or being shot if I disagree with my country’s leadership.
- I am thankful for my freedom and the amazing men and women who put their lives on the line to protect it.