Thanksgiving Day Gratitude List

Happy Thanksgiving everyone. Time for Friends + Family, Turkey + Stuffing, elastic sweat pants, and hopefully a Detroit Lions’ victory. Most of us are pretty good about thinking of a few things we are thankful for as we sit around the table with our loved ones, but I really want to encourage and challenge you to take it a step further this year. Here is a excellent exercise that would be great to do with your children, your family, or your friends tomorrow. Grab a few pieces of paper and some pens. (Yes, the real stuff, not on your phone or computer.) Sit down, set a timer for 7 minutes. That’s all it will take is 7 minutes. (That’s less time then you will spend complaining about Jerry Jones and the Cowboys) And write down a GRATITUDE LIST. Write as many sentences you can in those 7 minutes; each can simply start as: - I am thankful for ____________________ - I am grateful for ____________________ That’s it, 7 minutes, pen to paper, make your list by yourself, or with friends, or at least encourage your children. Here are some topics that if you can write one or two sentences for each, I guarantee you will feel better afterwards. No matter what negativity surrounds any of these topics, find at least one thing you can be grateful for with your: 

Health

Career

Finances

Relationship

Housing

Car

Clothing

Utilities

Luxuries

Challenges overcome

Successes

Failures

Personality

Family

Friends

Weather

Your boss

Resilience

America

Social media

Mondays

The final step is to read your list out loud. If you don’t feel comfortable sharing with the people around you or everyone else is being too stubborn to be grateful on Thanksgiving, then find a quiet space where you can read it to yourself. I think you’ll be surprised at how being specific with your gratitude can be an amazing and transformative practice. I am thankful to everyone that has been reading and sharing and commenting on my blog posts the last few months. I love you all, and I really appreciate the encouragement and support. AND I ASK A FAVOR: please let me know if you are willing to try this out tomorrow. I would love to hear your thoughts and how it encouraged or helped you and your family. Happy thanksgiving everyone... and Go Lions. 11.22.17 - PhillipAndrew