2021: Be Grateful

Sometimes it’s difficult to step back and see the many blessings that are in our lives. We are normally too busy focusing on what we don’t have and what we need. We are so focused on more, more, more that we never see what we already have. I believe we should practice kindness and gratitude year-round, but I understand how hard it is to be mindful-- so with Thanksgiving and Christmas coming up, it’s the perfect time to start being more aware of the hidden blessings that fill our lives.

I’ve been thinking about one thing that’s kind of ironic. Most people begin preparing for Christmas as soon as Halloween is over-- making Christmas lists of presents they want and things they have to give because it's the holidays, sometimes out of obligation… And I feel a lot of us skip over the ‘gratitude’ that comes with Thanksgiving, which almost defeats the true spirit of the holidays. We should be feeling grateful for what we have. We never give ourselves a small pause to reflect on the blessings that we are too blind to see. Every single person has something to be grateful for. It doesn’t matter who you are or what you’re going through, there’s always something to be thankful for. And I feel like if we give ourselves a pause between Halloween and Christmas, to really look around-- we would all have a better time during the holidays. Because you see, when you accept your current state and notice the blessings in your life, you will feel contentment-- and that’s where the true spirit of the holidays lies.

I’m not saying I’m a pro at practicing gratitude. In fact, there are many times I catch myself in the more, more, more mentality. And when I’m feeling this way, I always think ‘well, I’ll feel more content once I have this one thing or if I accomplish this one task-- but this obviously isn’t true. Because if I’m constantly needy, I will never feel content.

Joy can only be accessed through contentment.

I know we are all very preoccupied with Thanksgiving and Black Friday coming up(next week!) but remember to keep your eyes open for the small(or big) blessings around you. When I begin to give thanks, a weight lifts off of my shoulders. Being needy can be draining. The moment I stop wanting more, the more I can appreciate the things and people in my life.

I don’t know if any of this makes sense, but hopefully, it does. It’s kind of hard to explain how I think about gratitude. The main reason for this, I think, is because I’m still new to this way of thinking.

If you want to start practicing gratitude, this is the perfect time of year to begin. The easiest way to start is to first list about five things you are currently grateful for. Then tomorrow, add five more. Keep adding on to your list, and eventually, you’ll begin to feel the contentment I’m talking(writing?) about.

Thank you for reading this week’s article. I appreciate you’re interest in my blog more than you can imagine. What are five things you’re grateful for? Share it in the comments below!

Thank you,

Kait The Writer

---P.S. For those who don’t know, I’m doing a Cyber Day sale for my newest work, LOADING. This sale begins November 26th and runs till the 29th. This is a limited-time deal, so don’t miss it! If you order your signed copy next weekend, you’ll get 15% off. This still includes the FREE bookmark that comes with every order!