Gratitude: A Thanksgiving Post

Gratitude has been on my mind a lot lately. Part of this is because Thanksgiving is right around the corner, and part of it stems from experiences I've had recently. I believe gratitude to be one of the most uplifting virtues man can possess. Sadly, it seems to be one of the most lacking in today's world of consumerism, where we need to buy what we really don't need, and this year you can buy it all on the holiday during which we used to express thankfulness for the things we already had.

I love this quote:

If I were to pick a quote to hang up in my apartment, this would be it. I truly believe that gratitude turns us into happier people. If we want to look for things to complain about, it's not too hard. But if in a moment of negativity, we stop for a second to just count even a few of our blessings, I believe we will be happier.

I am not claiming that gratitude will cure clinical depression. But I would like to issue a challenge to you: go get a piece of paper, or pull up Microsoft Word on your computer, and write out just a few things that you are grateful for.

Here are some things I'm grateful for:

1. The Atonement, through which we can find strength, healing and forgiveness

2. Family, especially my husband and soon-to-arrive baby (as well as my parents, siblings, and in-laws)

3. An apartment that has carpet, storage, a dishwasher, and a blessed laundry room

4. The scriptures. I have found so much knowledge, strength, revelation, and expression of God's love for me through them.

5. Having our very own furniture, even if it is an eclectic mix of DI, IKEA, new, hand-me-down, and yard-sale finds. It is OURS. 

If you're tired of that activity, then try this one: write down 2 things that you are grateful for that happened TODAY.

Here are mine:

1. I ate some oreos. They were delicious. 

2. I got to talk on the phone with my half-brother who is on the other side of the country.

 I am willing to bet that if you repeated either of these activities every day, or even every other day, life will seem a lot less gloomy. I asked a group of people for some ways that helped them get through depression, and one person said that really taking the time to look for the good in life, people, and everything was something simple that helped her. I love that. Some days it seems we have very little to be grateful for. The world may seem dark or lonely. But if we step back and take some time to see those good things, I think we will find a lot more things to be grateful for that we may have missed. Here is an old post of mine if you would like to see another one of my gratitude lists, written in a moment of patriotism. 

As we express gratitude, I do believe that we are happier. Remember to take the time to thank Heavenly Father for the blessings you have. He loves it when we do that. :) If someone did something we appreciate, tell them so. It will make both of you happier. Don't believe me? Just try it and see what happens.

What are you grateful for?