Gratitude #13

I have learned that feeling and expressing gratitude is a skill that can be developed with practise. I’m very aware that I take the simple things in life for granted, which makes me feel like a selfish person sometimes. I want to be grateful for the “ordinary” experiences that make me smile or the little lessons I can learn from them..... not just the extraordinary ones that come only once in a while. As it says in the book, “Tragedies have a way of forcing us to confront what is important in life”. I feel like I have trained my brain to only be thankful for those “highs” or “exceptional experiences" and forget about the small but important blessings I am granted. As I think about my day so far, I realize it’s the small things that sometimes make the biggest impact. When you show gratitude to others, they feel accepted and look at their lives in a new light too. When others show us gratitude, we want to continue to help because of how it makes us feel. And the truth is we don’t have to perform huge acts to feel and receive gratitude. We can thank someone for holding the door, we can write a note of thanks to someone we take for granted or thank a friend for always being their for us. And, when something doesn’t turn out exactly as expected, we can be thankful for what we still have. Gratitude is contagious!! The Me to We philosophy reminds us all to have a spirit of gratitude. 

    Ten things I am grateful for...

1. Waking up in a safe home

2. Having the capability to have strong mobility skills

3. Being able to have fresh, clean water

4. Finding food in the kitchen when you are hungry  

5. Having the choice of what to wear everyday

6. Growing up in a loving, supporting family

7. Living in a free country

8. Having the right to believe in a religion  

9. Being able to go to school everyday

10. Extremely thankful for medication. (I don’t know what I would do after having four impacted teeth removed without any sort of pain medication!!!!)

Who supports me?

1. Family

2. Friends

3. Teachers

4. Coaches

5. Boss/ Co-workers

6. Community

7. Government

8. Church

Who mentors me?

1. Parents

2. Teachers

3. Guidance councillors

4. Coaches

5. Community

6. Boss

7. Friends

Who helps me reach my goals?

1. Family

2. Friends

3. Teammates

4. Teachers

Gifts I have...

1. Reading& writing skills: Education

2. Athletic ability

3. Fresh water

4. Safe home

5.  Family: Participation throughout school/ community 

6. No medical conditions

7. A job I enjoy

8. Caring friends

9. Nutritious food

10. Freedom