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| Hibiscus is one of my favorite flowers. I wear them in my hair when I can and they make a great tea. This photo is from our trip to India in May. |
I started keeping a gratitude journal at the end of July. Each night (at least when I remember) I write down all the things I'm grateful for. Some days it's a bit more difficult, but I always find something to write down. And once I start writing, I often find that I fill up the whole page. There are so many moments and gifts each day that we can be thankful for. And the more we give thanks, the more there is to be thankful for.
Another practice that has given me great joy is the nice notes that I blogged about back in July. I have kept the notes in my purse and I give them out with tips, during checkouts at stores, and any other situation when I think of it. I have had really positive responses from most poeple who receive them and it makes me happy to know that I have made someone else's day a little brighter. Recently, at the Salvation Army, I gave one that said "You are Beautiful" to the cashier, a lady who was probably in her mid-fifties. She came around the counter to give me a big hug. I think it made her day and it certainly made mine.
One last gift I've experienced lately is an idea I had to share my own (albeit meager) abundance with others. Whenever I go out to eat, I tend to order water to drink, since it's healthier than soda. I have decided that the money I would have spent on a drink will be added to my tip. That means on the monthly girl's night out with my coworkers, I can leave about a $10 tip, since I don't really drink alcohol most of the time. That small act, and knowing that it will show appreciation to the server (more than the calories of a soda would have helped my thighs) has made me enjoy my meals more.
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| This photo is one that I took in Airlie Gardens, one of the community gems that we have access to. |
What a great idea on the drinks and tips thing. I usually don't order drinks more to save money than calories but I could get into that.
ReplyDeleteYeah, Amy, I've done it for the saving money reason too. But lately, I'm not really drinking sodas at all & I thought I can still afford to put that $2 (it's atrocious that they charge that much anyway) to a better use. Or $7-$10 if it's ladies night.
ReplyDeleteAnd in Zambia you'd certainly have an appreciative server, since they never get any tips at all.
That's a great idea about adding to the tip. I find myself making an effort to make eye contact, smile, and tell the clerks to have a nice day, even if they weren't very nice to me at all. It may brighten their day, or at least make them aware.
ReplyDeleteDo you find yourself writing the same things down in your gratitude journal? I'm thankful for so many things, but it seems like every day is the same, good health, good job, good food, clean water, etc.
Motherhen- certainly sometimes it feels like it's all the same, but I try to be as specific as possible. And there are always surprises- new songs from Pandora that I like, a rainbow/butterfly/flower/view of the moon that makes me catch my breath and reminds me that beauty is all around, yummy new recipes, a call from an old friend, a blog comment from a new friend, some new idea to learn about, a good book, etc.
ReplyDeleteIf I think hard enough, there is always something special each day that isn't quite the same as all the others.
Well, today's gratitude journal entry would include "Thank you Lord for letting me find that off white peasant blouse @ the GW that I've been looking for for years!" Yay!
ReplyDelete:)
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