EVENTS - Month of Gratitude

“Are you humbly grateful or grumbly hateful?
What’s your attitude?
Do you grumble and groan?
Or let it be known?
Are you grateful for what God’s done for you?”

On this somewhat grumbly afternoon, this annoyingly sweet, seemingly trite, yet profoundly true elementary-school song floods back into my memory. Every November, my extraordinary grade-school music teacher, Mrs. Price, sang and discussed this song with my class. I still think about it every year.

As an adult, it’s very easy to brush off these kinds of simple lessons as naïve or one-dimensional, assuming that they no longer apply to the complexities of adulthood. I know that my life often feels more confusing and complicated than the effortless ease of my childhood. Blaming circumstances and harping on the disappointments comes quite naturally to most of us; I know it does for me. Yet, every November and during my most pitiful moments, this endearing tune returns with its bold challenge, reminding me to readjust my attitude and celebrate the endless things I have to be thankful for.

From Left to Right: danielleflanders.blogspot.com, inchmark.squarespace.com, simplyvintagegirl.com, kwernerdesign.com, etsy.com, & paper-source.com 

To celebrate your gratitude this November, consider creating a gratitude journal/notebook/scrapbook, constructing a thankful tree or wall calendar for your family, or keeping it simple with a gratitude jar.

Personally, I’m concentrating on gratitude through a journal and thank you notes. Don’t be intimidated by the beautiful examples. I assembled a very basic gratitude journal by taping magazine letters to an old moleskin notebook. I may love design, but my craft skills are non-existent! If you prefer verbal communication to written, challenge yourself to say thank you to someone, big or small in your life, on a daily basis. Have fun and thanks for reading!