I guess most Americans have meandered through Thanksgiving. Many of you participated in a family gathering that highlighted the uniqueness of your family (code word for dysfunctional!). There is no Norman Rockwell setting – if there is I want to be invited. Then some of you jumped fully into the frantic of shopping for Christmas and the hectic pace of parties, gatherings and over-eating. Why are you buying all those gifts anyway and attending EVERY event you are invited to?
But wait, where was Thanksgiving? Where was the thankfulness that is suppose to last longer than one day? I received an email talking about our need for an attitude of gratitude. I agree, it needs to be longer than one day, yet for middle America, with all that we have, continual thankfulness can be challenging. I have food, clothes, heat, health, a dependable car, etc. I think I become numb or forget and thankfulness isn’t at my core. In some ways, maybe I expect the very things I am thankful for. I have challenged myself to express more gratitude, BUT how? I can say I am going to do it, think and say 10 things each day that I am thankful for, but that isn’t really changing the core of me into a more thankful person. I have created my own challenge (not surprising since I am easily motivated by a challenge!). I want to express more gratitude by GIVING. Giving without expecting to get. Here are some ways I want to give:
- Give a helping hand to my neighbor in the care of their elderly mother
- Give permission for more laughter and fun
- Give insights to friends thereby using my gifts of wisdom and discernment
- Give more of my heart, not only my hands
- Give more evidence of my changed life
- Give away more and make do with less
- Give more . . .
Instead of an attitude of gratitude, I will be working toward an action of giving.
Warmly,
Jan Hinton
Stone Soup Coaching
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on Monday, November 26th, 2007 at 9:00 pm and is filed under Servings in Life.
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