Practicing Gratitude

Oh boy was it a fun week in my world weather wise.

The past week was filled with snow, slush, sun, wet, warmth, bitter cold, WIND, and more snow. In that order. We started the week with more snow then I wanted, but by mid week most the snow was gone and the sun was shining (thus my attitude was shining). Only to be faced with an arctic cold front and 30 mile per hour winds for the weekend (which is supposed to be perfect weather for my long run), ending with a dumping of snow on Sunday.

The weather has done nothing for my thankfulness or for my training. How can I be grateful, when the weather sucks?!

I woke up this morning cursing the snow, instead of finding joy in the warmer temperatures. I am sick of running in snow and the cold. I want Spring, and somehow I find it okay to be an ungrateful brat because of this. Because there’s NOTHING to be thankful for……(insert sarcasm)

My ungratefulness has only grown from hating the weather to complaining about my job, not having enough time for reading my Bible and many other books, and about my family. I blamed my attitude on the weather, and not being able to run as many miles as I WANTED!! The blame game always never works….

Then I realized how pathetic my attitude is. It’s sad that I can only be grateful when EVERYTHING is going my way. Basing my gratefulness on having what I WANT, is definitely not how gratitude works. What about all that I HAVE……

I should be practicing gratitude on days that aren’t Thanksgiving or Christmas. There is way more to be grateful for than I can even begin to mention. And I have found the best way to practice gratitude is to speak it.

I read an article in the Wall Street Journal a while back that really hit home. It shared how a family practices gratitude by sharing something they are thankful for every day, not just on Thanksgiving or Christmas. It was titled “Raising Children with an Attitude of Gratitude.” Sadly I think we need to raise adults with an attitude of gratitude. There’s so much to learn from children.

They find happiness in the small things and sometimes they have a better concept of what it means to be grateful. Big or small, gratitude can be found.

I am starting a challenge to say something I am thankful/grateful for everyday. Saying “Thank you” more often to my spouse when he does the dishes or makes the bed or starts my car when it’s freezing. Even if it’s a task your kids, spouse or coworkers are supposed to do, say “Thank You” anyways!!

Everyday you’re alive, breathing is a day to be thankful for!!

So to begin my practice of gratitude, I am starting with the snow!! 

I am grateful for the snow and the moisture and beauty it brings. 

I am grateful that winter is a season that doesn’t last forever and leads into Spring, with new life and new growth!! 

I am thankful for the excuse to enjoy hot cocoa and build a snowman!! 

I am grateful for the excuse to stay inside, warm with those I love.

Yes even the snow is something to find gratitude for!! And maybe it’s really not “an unnecessary freezing of water” – Carl Reiner

Until next time Be Wholesome, Be Fit and Be GRATEFUL!!

What are you grateful for? How do you practice gratitude?