1.Write at least three things you have to be grateful for today.
Even if it’s a bad day there has got to be three things you’re grateful for. Sipping that great cup of coffee this morning, crawling into bed with your child at the end of the day to tuck them in, or receiving a nice invitation to an upcoming event you want to attend. Although I don’t get to do it often, I love taking a short nap at mid-day and am always grateful when I can.
2. Contact three people you’re grateful for and schedule a time to see them in the first quarter of the New Year.
Reach out to an individual each month and meet them for coffee, lunch or dinner. Tell them how much they mean to you. It could be a member of your community you admire, a mentor, a colleague, friend or client. There’s nothing that takes the place of a face-to-face connection in this high-tech world we live in.
3. Write down three places you want to visit this year and write down why you’d be grateful to experience these trips.
I truly believe money is never wasted on travel. The memories you create and the things you learn while experiencing new ways to live is invaluable. Buy a small souvenir to remind you of your experience at this new place. lt doesn’t have to be far away or exotic, just a place you’d like to see. I have a love of old homes, so attending a house tour of an historical property I haven’t seen is a wonderful thing to do and makes me feel connected to the past and appreciative of all things beautiful.
4. Determine three things you could do for someone else in need.
There are so many others in need today- right in our own backyard. I’m grateful to live in a well-to-do community outside of Boston; however, I must not forget that others right here in my community are not so fortunate. My I2-year-old daughter Chloe and I volunteered for this past year at our local food pantry. We were surprised to discover a friend of my daughter’s mother directly benefiting from the pantry we were helping to stock. It demonstrated to us that there are people all around us who are in need and we can do something to help them.
My organ donor had two small children when she tragically passed away. This Christmas we sent gift cards to her mother to purchase things for my donor’s children for the holidays. No amount of money could bring back her daughter, however, it does my heart good to express my gratitude to her and assist my donor’s family and children in some small way.
“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget
that the highest appreciation is not to utter words,
but to live by them.”- John F. Kennedy
5. Focus on all you have on the inside -your talents, abilities and gifts.
Nothing will make you feel like the luckiest human being on the planet until you experience a near-death event. Trust me on this one. Since experiencing liver failure, I can honestly say that I am thankful every hour of every day for the ability to live and to be here for my children. Beyond that, I’m grateful to my family and friends, my clients and my ability to work again. It’s true that if you have your health – you have everything.
6. Identify some of the smallest acts of kindness that were bestowed on you, and how you might offer those gifts to others in your life.
Often times the gifts that bring you the most satisfaction are small gestures, phone calls or personal hand-written notes. A complete stranger paid my tollbooth fee for me one day and it’s a memory that has stayed with me. I’m always reminded how interconnected we are, My two daughters, both adopted from China, were entrusted to me by a higher power to take care of them. These were total strangers on the other side of the world who I might never get to meet. I’m alive today due to the kindness of a stranger and will never forget the amazingly generous gifts that have been given to me. It makes me wonder what act I can perform – big or small – to impact someone else’s life.
7. Host a party or event and recognize the people you’re grateful for.
Write them a note and let them know what you value most about them.
I was feeling sorry for myself this past fall. I decided with the help and encouragement of a friend to co-host a party at my house. We each invited different people and a good time was had by all. We took digital photos on the night of the party and printed them out on the spot for people to take with them. It was a great way to reconnect in person with a group of friends and meet new contacts to expand our social and professional networks.
By doing these things on a regular basis we begin to realize the many blessings bestowed upon us. Personally for me, silently and verbally expressing my gratitude inspires an inner strength in me I wasn’t even aware I had.
@Nancy Michaels. All Rights Reserved.