"Imagine if you woke up tomorrow with only the things you thanked God for today."My mom and sisters saw this saying while out shopping this past weekend. When they quoted it to me, it gave me goose bumps on my arms. Really makes it hit home how powerful being thankful, and appreciating what we have, can be.
For me, this means trying to keep a positive can-do attitude in all I do. I don't know about you, but the more I think about how hard something is, the harder it gets. If I think can't, I won't.
Case in point is exercising. I hate it. I actively say how much I hate it all the time, despite knowing how good I usually feel afterward. Tired, but good - and even energized later. Doesn't matter for the next day though, when I hate it all over again and put it off. It's funny how it literally just dawned on me as I'm writing this (and didn't exercise today) that I need to change my attitude about exercising the same way I do my best to keep positive in all the other things I do in life.
Yes, sometimes it takes effort, and I have my bad days like everyone else, but it's easier to keep my attitude upbeat than it is to be crabby and negative and still have to do the same work. Plus, life is just that much more enjoyable when you're smiling.
Now if you're reading this but don't believe in God, the saying still applies with a slight adjustment.
"Imagine if you woke up tomorrow with only the things you were thankful for today."Just in the few days since I've heard this, I've been more aware (except with the exercising *grin*) and make sure I take the time to thank God (because I do believe) for the joy and blessings in my life. My husband, my children, my family, friends, my life, the roof over my head, and food on my table. Those are the basics, and yet the most important.
May you all be blessed and have a Happy Thanksgiving!
~ Stacey
Fantastic and timely post, Stacey. A wonderful reminder to all of us to take a minute to be thankful for the things we have. I agree with you about keeping a positive attitude, and do my best to look for the bright side of things. Hope you have a fantastic Thanksgiving!
ReplyDeleteSuch a small thing can make all the difference, can't it? :) Keep smiling!
DeleteGreat post, Stacey, and very appropriate this time of year.
ReplyDeleteWhen I start to get down on myself, the next instant my thoughts alway run to 'you can't accomplish anything with that poor attitude'. I lift my chin up and carry on in a better frame of mind. Even though it's tough at times, a positive and thankful attitude does make the day easier to handle.
Hope you have a great Thanksgiving!
Thanks, Donna! So true how negative thoughts breed SO fast! Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family as well. :)
DeleteWonderful, to the point post, Stacey. I'll have to start remembering this on those days I don't feel like smiling. Be thankful for all I have. :-)
ReplyDeleteCasey, I know you know much more than me how difficult life can be, and yet you always have a smile when I see you. You've been an inspiration to me since I met you and you're one of those friends I thank God for every day.
DeleteGreat quote, lovely post. Happy Thanksgiving, ladies!
ReplyDeleteBobbi
Thank you, Bobbi--Happy Thanksgiving back to you, too! :)
DeleteWe've been talking a lot about being thankful in our family lately. Our lives are all so great at the moment, but sometimes it's hard to stop and appreciate that until it's too late. Just this morning my daughter said that she felt sorry for everyone else in the world because they don't have her life - I thought it was awesome how she is appreciating what she has when she has it.
ReplyDeleteI find it sadly ironic that the day after the one we set aside specifically for giving thanks is a day dedicated to rudely fighting with others to get good deals on things we don't really need. I hate Black Friday and the taint it puts on the thankfulness we have on Thanksgiving Thursday.
I hope you and you family have a wonderful Thanksgiving.
Delia, that's funny and awesome what your daughter said. Yay her and all of you for appreciating what you have.
ReplyDeleteYou know, I never thought about Black Friday that way, but that is so TRUE! My mom and I were just talking the other day how annoying it is that stores were opening at midnight, and even as I type this, there was a commercial for Toys R'US opening at 8pm on Thanksgiving. Just for that, you couldn't pay me to go there. Leave Thanksgiving alone and open at your darn normal times on Friday.