Motivation Mondays: GIVING THANKS
“Make it a habit to tell people – Thank you. To express your appreciation, sincerely and without the expectation of anything in return. Truly appreciate those around you, and you’ll soon find many others around you. Truly appreciate life, and you’ll find that you have more of it.” Ralph Marston
Motivation Mondays: Giving Thanks
I’m thankful for every moment. Al Green
I think in this life it’s important to be kind, be thankful, and always be creative. Bishop Briggs
Thankfulness is the beginning of gratitude. Gratitude is the completion of thankfulness. Thankfulness may consist merely of words. Gratitude is shown in acts. Henri Frederic Amiel
Appreciation is the highest form of prayer, for it acknowledges the presence of good wherever you shine the light of your thankful thoughts. Alan Cohen
GIVING THANKS FOR WHAT? As we enter the giving season and the subsequent holidays and festivities that follow, what are we truly thankful for? In what specific ways are we expressing such gratitude? Throughout the year, we have many opportunities to celebrate our successes, mourn our losses, and commiserate over our what-ifs, however, do we stop to say a firm and loud Thank YOU? Do we follow up that expression of gratitude with actions that lift us and others up? This Thanksgiving season, let’s make an extra effort to pause, look back on the ending year, and express sincere gratitude for all the experiences that touched our lives; the good, the bad and the mundane. Every experience we encountered this year, be it in small or large ways, has had an impact on us. If we stop to think about all the people who crossed our path, we’d be surprised how much we remember because we all leave impressions with each other. When people perform actions that uplift others, those impressions reverberate and spread further afield, allowing that energy to flow to others. That is why charitable giving is a fundamental part of Giving Tuesday. That is also why we celebrate Diwali, Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Eid Al-Fitr, Christmas, and so many more ways we show gratitude. As we give, we open doors to receive. Every opportunity to give opens our hearts and allows us to acknowledge our strengths, weaknesses and our blessings.
ARE YOU TRULY THANKFUL FOR FAMILY? – THANKFUL FOR MY MOTHER: As I look back on the ending year, I am thankful for so many specific things: my life, health, and family come to mind but, specifically, I am thankful that my dear Mother who passed away recently had a chance to meet all of her grandchildren. She had been ailing for so many years after surviving a massive stroke and died peacefully at home in August. She is at rest now… She had five kids and nine grandkids and we will miss her terribly. As we prepare for her funeral/home going, I am reminded of how much DNA we inherit from our parents. We add bits from theirs to ours and this informs our personality and life path. My Mom studied catering and hotel management, and it showed in how well she ran her household. She was an avid gardener, a superb chef and dinner party host, an art-lover/collector, a budding singer/music lover, a fashion maven, a world traveler and so much more. Like every Mom out there raising kids, she always wanted the best for us and I wish she had been well enough to see us grow…I am thankful for all that she was and could have been.
HONORING THE LIVING AND THE DEAD: Because we grow up around family members and extended family, it is easy to take those relationships for granted until our parents, grandparents or others we know pass away. Being Thankful begins in our own homes and extends to our connections with other humans first. Then we can begin to include everything else. If nothing else stands out to you in this post, please REMEMBER my post is not just about being thankful for generalities and good times. It’s about being THANKFUL first for life – both for our loved ones living in the here and now, and for those who have passed on… we can’t even begin to be thankful for anything else if we don’t have a life force coursing through our bodies. That is why we celebrate Veterans Day and Memorial Day too: To REMEMBER and to EXPRESS thanks to those who served and lived, and those who served and died.
Below is a list that I often share and you can add more to it in your expression of thankfulness. Be Thankful for:
The gift of life
The gift of love
The gift of writing
The gift of health ~
The gift of time and memories ~The gift of family, friends, and people we meet ~
The gift of a meal ~
The gift of mental clarity ~
The gift of speech ~
The gift of gratitude
WHAT AM I THANKFUL FOR?
My recipe of thanks will have …
A vat full of love,
Endless cups of life,
Pounds and ounces of friends,
100 ladles of family,
9 tablespoons of health,
1 teaspoon from home,
Sprinkles from everyone,
Bowls of everything that uplifts humanity,
Carefully fold in scoops of our pets,
Mix in the power of prayer and
Add God’s immutable grace…
Stir with gusto and enjoy! from Elizabeth & Family
READ: Motivation Mondays: GIVING
Motivation Mondays: GIVING BACK
“When you rise in the morning, give thanks for the light, for your life, for your strength. Give thanks for your food and for the joy of living. If you see no reason to give thanks, the fault lies in yourself.” Tecumseh
Motivation Mondays: Giving Thanks
If a fellow isn’t thankful for what he’s got, he isn’t likely to be thankful for what he’s going to get. Frank A. Clark
When you practice gratefulness, there is a sense of respect toward others. Dalai Lama
I write about the power of trying because I want to be okay with failing. I write about generosity because I battle selfishness. I write about joy because I know sorrow. I write about faith because I almost lost mine, and I know what it is to be broken and in need of redemption. I write about gratitude because I am thankful – for all of it. Kristin Armstrong
WHY DOES IT MATTER?: Being thankful reminds us to be both humble and grateful because no one knows what tomorrow holds. When you read about someone who showed so much promise but lost the battle of life to disease, war, crime or any other tragedy, it is easy to forget that it could be anyone we know up close. Life is fleeting and we become more grounded in appreciating life when we treat it with respect and gratitude. Being thankful makes us increase our efforts at taking better care of ourselves and our loved ones; it helps us let go of anger, unforgiveness, and ancient hatreds. If we stop to think about those who live in far more challenging environments with fewer opportunities for growth or exposure, we will use our thankfulness as a springboard for action. Being thankful compels us to act in beneficial ways towards our planet and others because when we wish good for ourselves and are thankful for it, we are naturally inclined to wish the same for others. If you take a moment to read the poem/short story from Khalil Gibran below, you will begin to understand the complex meaning of the fleeting moments we all have in our pursuits of the joy of life, because the presence of some form of frustration or sorrow is always a few yards away and it ever abounds. Be thankful for your life and all in it, and support causes that help others around the world, because you probably have the following 10 things and so many don’t:
1. Life away from a war zone
2. Freedom of choice to move/learn/purchase
3. Clean Water and Clean unpolluted air
4. Basic Health Care
5. Electricity
6. Food variety
7. Educational opportunities
8. Shelter
9. Democracy/Due process
10. Freedom of religious
READ: Reflections: 10 Tips on Giving Up Blaming
Motivation Mondays: GIVING SEASON #mondaymotivation
Two Infants by Khalil Gibran via A Tear And A Smile – Parables, Stories, and Poems of Khalil Gibran
A prince stood on the balcony of his palace addressing a great multitude summoned for the occasion and said, “Let me offer you and this whole fortunate country my congratulations upon the birth of a new prince who will carry the name of my noble family, and of whom you will be justly proud. He is the new bearer of a great and illustrious ancestry, and upon him depends the brilliant future of this realm. Sing and be merry!” The voices of the throngs, full of joy and thankfulness, flooded the sky with exhilarating song, welcoming the new tyrant who would affix the yoke of oppression to their necks by ruling the weak with bitter authority, and exploiting their bodies and killing their souls. For that destiny, the people were singing and drinking ecstatically to the heady of the new Emir.Another child entered life and that kingdom at the same time. While the crowds were glorifying the strong and belittling themselves by singing praise to a potential despot, and while the angels of heaven were weeping over the people’s weakness and servitude, a sick woman was thinking. She lived in an old, deserted hovel and, lying in her hard bed beside her newly born infant wrapped with ragged swaddles, was starving to death. She was a penurious and miserable young wife neglected by humanity; her husband had fallen into the trap of death set by the prince’s oppression, leaving a solitary woman to whom God had sent, that night, a tiny companion to prevent her from working and sustaining life.
As the mass dispersed and silence was restored to the vicinity, the wretched woman placed the infant on her lap and looked into his face and wept as if she were to baptize him with tears. And with a hunger weakened voice, she spoke to the child saying, “Why have you left the spiritual world and come to share with me the bitterness of earthly life? Why have you deserted the angels and the spacious firmament and come to this miserable land of humans, filled with agony, oppression, and heartlessness? I have nothing to give you except tears; will you be nourished on tears instead of milk? I have no silk clothes to put on you; will my naked, shivering arms give you warmth? The little animals graze in the pasture and return safely to their shed, and the small birds pick the seeds and sleep placidly between the branches. But you, my beloved, have naught save a loving but destitute mother.”
Then she took the infant to her withered breast and clasped her arms around him as if wanting to join the two bodies in one, as before. She lifted her burning eyes slowly toward heaven and cried, “God! Have mercy on my unfortunate countrymen!”
At that moment the clouds floated from the face of the moon, whose beams penetrated the transom of that poor home and fell upon two corpses.
The details for Motivation Mondays are below. Join in! The themes for JUL–AUG 2019 are:
10/01 – End of Roshashana, Nigeria Independence Day, 05 World Teacher Day
10/06 – 06 World Communion Day, 11 International Day of the Girl
10/13 – 14 Columbus Day, Canadian Thanksgiving, 16 World Food Day
10/20 – 24 United Nations Day, National Food Day,
10/27 – 28 National Chocolate Day, 31 Halloween
11/01 – 01 All Saints Day, 02 All Souls Day
11/03 – 03 Daylight Savings day, 04 Election day,
11/10 – 11 Veterans Day, 13 World Kindness Day, 16 International Tolerance Day
11/17 – 20 Universal Children’s Day
11/24 – 25 International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, 28 Thanksgiving Day
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“‘Thank you’ is the best prayer that anyone could say. I say that one a lot. Thank you expresses extreme gratitude, humility, understanding.” Alice Walker
Motivation Mondays: GIVING THANKS
Motivation Mondays: Giving Thanks
I am thankful I can see much to admire in all religions. Alfred Russel Wallace
Talent is God-given; be humble. Fame is man-given; be thankful. Conceit is self-given; be careful. Harvey Mackay
Let me encourage you to get up every day and focus on what you do have in life. Be thankful for the blessings of the little things, even when you don’t get what you expect. Victoria Osteen
Thank you, dear God, for this good life and forgive us if we do not love it enough. Thank you for the rain. And for the chance to wake up in three hours and go fishing: I thank you for that now, because I won’t feel so thankful then. Garrison Keillor
HOW CAN WE BECOME MORE THANKFUL?: A few years ago, in another post on this blog, I shared a list of ten ways to cultivate a spirit of gratitude. Thankfulness and gratitude walk hand in hand and we can begin to live it by expressing it. While words have tremendous power to propel us to change, they can only have a powerful impact if we ACT on them. If we read words and leave them by our trash can, they become platitudes with minimal effect. We must connect our words with our actions every day and we can do so in small ways. Are we allowed to trip up? Of course, to err is human so trip up and pick yourself back up. We all do. Start where you feel most comfortable but just go ahead and start by expressing your thankfulness and gratitude. Remember you can express it in so many ways by your actions, thoughts, and words. Here are 10 ways to get the ball rolling:
1. Begin each day with an expression of Thanks… Thank your body, your mind, your space, your Creator, all around you and all who you will be in contact with each day
2. Cultivate an attitude of giving thanks and giving back. Perform a random act of goodwill in thought, deed, and action every day. A smile, a quiet prayer for someone else, a helping hand, a compliment, volunteering time, a gift, and even a call will help us help others.
3. Make a commitment to remember the grace in small things and to trust that disappointments are lessons
4. Be Present in your life and in exchanges with others and see the grace in your interactions.
5. Cultivate a spirit of forgiveness; Learn to forgive others, to let go of judgments, old hurts, and slights
6. Be grateful for all the good that has crossed your path; the mentors, good Samaritans, friends, family, and strangers
7. Maintain a journal and/or write a list of things you are grateful for each day. It could be 1-5 or more.
8. Take stock of your struggles and successes; applaud your progress and forgive your missteps
9. What makes you happy? Are you where you want to be? Write it down and create a collage of your dreams/goals from old magazines and printouts.
10. Cultivate an attitude of gratitude by celebrating the life you have instead of waiting for the life you want. Celebrate the good and bad days, the ups and downs and the struggles that have sharpened your understanding and mellowed the fire in your belly. Celebrate!
As you prepare for the holiday season and all that comes with it, don’t forget to say Thank You! Every year, I stop to contemplate what each year has taught me, and I am grateful for the good and the harsh lessons. I contemplate the good/bad of the months before and affirm the blessings of the months to come. I say thank you to my Creator and to all the people who’ve contributed something to my life. Thank You to my readers, to all of you who stop by to comment or just read this blog, to friends and family online and off, to my fellow bloggers, various Sponsors, WordPress staffers and happiness engineers, my social media and Facebook groups friends, friends in various communities, and everyone out there. Sending thank you and gratitude vibes to everyone!
READ: Motivation Mondays: Thanksgiving Wishes
10 Tips: Cultivating An Attitude Of Gratitude & Thanksgiving
Giving Chapter V by Khalil Gibran
Then said a rich man, “Speak to us of Giving.”
And he answered:
You give but little when you give of your possessions.
It is when you give of yourself that you truly give.
For what are your possessions but things you keep and guard for fear you may need them tomorrow?
And tomorrow, what shall tomorrow bring to the over-prudent dog burying bones in the trackless sand as he follows the pilgrims to the holy city?
And what is fear of need but need itself?
Is not dread of thirst when your well is full, thirst that is unquenchable?
There are those who give little of the much which they have – and they give it for recognition and their hidden desire makes their gifts unwholesome.And there are those who have little and give it all.
These are the believers in life and the bounty of life, and their coffer is never empty.
There are those who give with joy, and that joy is their reward.
And there are those who give with pain, and that pain is their baptism.
And there are those who give and know not pain in giving, nor do they seek joy, nor give with mindfulness of virtue;
They give as in yonder valley the myrtle breathes its fragrance into space.
Though the hands of such as these God speaks, and from behind their eyes He smiles upon the earth.
It is well to give when asked, but it is better to give unasked, through understanding;
And to the open-handed the search for one who shall receive is joy greater than giving
And is there aught you would withhold?
All you have shall someday be given;
Therefore give now, that the season of giving may be yours and not your inheritors’.
You often say, “I would give, but only to the deserving.”
The trees in your orchard say not so, nor the flocks in your pasture.
They give that they may live, for to withhold is to perish.
Surely he who is worthy to receive his days and his nights is worthy of all else from you.
And he who has deserved to drink from the ocean of life deserves to fill his cup from your little stream.
And what desert greater shall there be than that which lies in the courage and the confidence, nay the charity, of receiving?And who are you that men should rend their bosom and unveil their pride, that you may see their worth naked and their pride unabashed?
See first that you yourself deserve to be a giver, and an instrument of giving.
For in truth it is life that gives unto life – while you, who deem yourself a giver, are but a witness.
And you receivers – and you are all receivers – assume no weight of gratitude, lest you lay a yoke upon yourself and upon him who gives.
Rather rise together with the giver on his gifts as on wings;
For to be over-mindful of your debt, is to doubt his generosity who has the free-hearted earth for mother and God for father. Khalil Gibran
Any Zen Antics stories via 
Positive Motivation Tip: Remember to be Thankful and say it. The more you express it, the more it grows.
Motivation Mondays is open to anyone who wishes to share a motivational quote, photo, personal challenge or a post that encourages others to start the week on an upbeat note.
Basic Instructions: Each week, I will have a motivation word to help us create a response. (See listed words for the months above/below)
Email address: You may email or share your post as a comment and I will add it to the round-up of related posts. email it to: contact(@)mirthandmotivation(.)com
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Tag: – Motivation Mondays
Hashtag: – #MotvnM
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PHOTO CREDITS/ATTRIBUTIONS: All Photos – via Pixabay
Until Next Time…
Ask. Believe. Receive. ©
Elizabeth Obih-Frank
Mirth and Motivation
Positive Kismet
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There are so many things to be thankful for. We need to focus on the positives more often.
Saying thank you is always a MUST!!
I agree that giving thanks reminds us to be humble and thankful. We must remember to give so many thanks!
It’s so important to be thankful for what you have in your love and how blessed we are x
Laura
Ahh, yes! We should always be thankful and grateful of everything we have. It’s important to be appreciative.
Giving thanks is a way of life, a way of feeling of being in the flow of a greater energy with which we are one.
You never failed to give us an inspiring post like this. Being thankful and grateful are so important and always give thanks even in small things that you received.
Thanks giving is the best part of anything. And this post really motivate my date and really inspired me a lot.
This post is so important for everyone especially to start from young. Tell our children to say “Thank you” when they receive some good deeds from others. Saying thank you is just free and we should practice it and have to come from our heart.
We should always give thanks everyday! I try to be thankful daily to my work, the people around me, my family, and much more. Being thankful is so important in staying positive in life too.
I made sure I taught this to my kids early on. Saying Thank you, using Please, and May instead of Can is a ways for them to show respect and express appreciation to the people around them.
Gratitude is the key to many kinds of happiness, people love companies who remember who they are
We should tell people how much we appreciate them more often. I think we assume they know but perhaps really they don’t. If you tell people how thankful you are to have them in yor life then there is no doubt.
I’ve been letting everyone know how thankful I am to have them in my life. I think it’s a great thing to do!
Giving thanks is so important whether it is big or small we should be thankful for what we have and what we’ve been giving.
This is such a great post on giving thanks and those tips on how to be thankful are amazing. It’s nice to take a step back and realize all the thing we have taken for granted and be thankful for it.
Making a habit of saying thank you is definitely something we teach our children. It is so important to be purposeful in our appreciation.
It’s so important to give thanks. Many times we are busy and we forget to say thank you and have a grateful attitude.
I really try to be thankful at the start of every week
True, always be humble to everyone, even the smallest gestures could really make somebody’s day, so do it.
Idk why these words are kinda hard to say for some people but I say that so often.
Even though I say it so often and mindlessly, it’s still nice to be reminded to say thank you. Small gestures brings positive vibes to someone.
This is a deep beauty post about thanks and gratitude. We all need to think like this all year and beyond November.
That’s so great your mother was able to meet all the grandchildren. I was glad both my mother and grandmothers got to meet my daughter. That was important to them.
Yes, it is so easy for people to dismiss the importance of those family ties until they have the experience of loss. My mother endured her illness with dignity and her death is a big loss to us. It saddens me that people can go to a blog, and never even bother to read it; they don’t even notice the piece about loss and being thankful for a life lived… I am just flabbergasted. Thank you for taking the time to actually read my post. I am also THANKFUL FOR THAT. ✿♡✿
I always try to slow down at least once a day and take in my beautiful surroundings. The other day I was driving on the country lanes and I just slowed right down and really admired the changing colour of the trees. It’s something to be really grateful for and I could have just sped through it and hardly noticed it.
Indeed…
I strongly believe being thankful makes your life better and is giving back a lot more. being thankful for everything in your life is a big step towards better life in general!
Wow this is such a great post. It is so important to remember and acknowledge what we’re thankful for. Thank your for reminding me of this today.
Thank you for the reminder. It is so important to express gratitude every single day!
Love this month, just such a great time to remember to be thankful.
Thanks are the foundation for peace and focus and success.
This is beautiful! You quoted a passage from one of my all time fav authors, Gibran! I’ve read all his books a few times.
So true! The first thing in the morning that should keep one going is gratitude! 🙂
I love how you remind us to be thankful everyday. Starting your day being thankful is the best way.
Beautiful. And a good reminder this time of year and always. And a good topic right now for me as I am struggling between cultivating forgiveness and taking action.
I hope give enough thanks to te appropriate people. I hope I don’t fail to recognize people’s efforts, because it is important that they get appreciated.
I want to thank my parents and my sisters, most especially. They are my strongest support in the world and they are always on my team.
It’s really amazing how your mother got to meet all the grandchildren. It’s sad for me I never got to meet either of my grandparents
My condolences to you… I didn’t meet my paternal grandmother and my kids didn’t meet my Dad… that is life in all its complexities so, we must be grateful for the relationships we do have and the legacies we are able to pass on.
It’s so important to look back and be thankful what you have. I think many of us forget it x
Laura
Family is the most important part of our Life.
We should take care of it, as can’t be with us forever.
Thanks for this wonderful reminder. Yes of course we always need to give thanks. Not only if we receive. I always thanking God for every day of my life. Because every morning i wake up is another blessing in my life.
I am thankful for absolutely everything in my life, down to even the bad days I have. I am thankful for those too because they make me appreciate the food days so much more 🙂
I like the simple list you made of the things that we take for granted but should remain thankful and grateful for: “don’t live in a war zone” and “educational opportunities”. Amen.
This is a great reminder to make sure we always be thankful and to show our appreciation… it’s something I’m making a conscious effort to do at the moment.
Your posts always bring motivation and the sense of gratitude to me. 🙂
Most of us have so much to be thankful for every day, but it can be easy to overlook it. Thanks for the reminder to feel gratitude!
It is always important to give thanks and to show your appreciation by simply saying it. Also just showing someone you value them as well as appreciate them is really important. I know for me I like to give thanks by baking people cookies and cakes. It may not be anything big, but people love them.
I think its easy to say you are thankful but showing it is something we al need to do more. Love this!
Yep, that is probably far more important than words can convey
Family is so important and one of the things I’m most thankful for. Both my parents and sister and her family and of course my own family, my husband and my boys. I try to be thankful every day but it helps to have a day/month or really think about it all.
Yes, very important…
What a sweet post! Very insightful during this time of year!
I was touched of how good you described your mother. You are a good daughter and I wish we all are.
thanks, again. all relationships have their struggles. we choose what we want to focus on. <3
Such a great post, full of thruthness
Love the subheadings! really clear! please don’t hate me, but I think if you made the font size larger and a different font it would be an incredible blog post! Thanks so much for sharing!!! 🙂
Family always comes first no matter what, my grandparents never got to see my kids and that really saddens me but I know deep down that they are watching them from above.
That’s lovely…We believe the same.
I am so sorry to hear about your mother. It is never easy losing a loved one. I will make sure to give my mom an extra hug.
Please do give your mom a hug every day and thank you for noticing…
I have decided to adopt an attitude of gratitude this month. Your post just reinforces my desire to continue the gratitude road.
There is so much to give thanks for all year round but I love that during the Fall we focus more than any other time of the year.
Great that you stop to contemplate what each year has taught you. It’s good to be grateful for the good and the harsh lessons as well as to all the people who’ve contributed something to your life.
I couldn’t agree more. Saying thank you doesn’t just show how humble and full of gratitude weare. But also brings out the positivity in our lives.
This post reminds me on my Grandmother who died for almost 11 years 🙁 but I’m still thankful because I have my parents who always support me all of the time expressing gratitude is the most important to give appreciation for their efforts love this post!
I agree, saying thank you, doesn’t only shows humbleness and gratitude, it also makes us feel blessed and positive.
What a beautiful post. I really love the list of 10 ways to be more thankful and yes, gratitude and thankfulness do go hand in hand.
The word thanks is an amazing word. I hope people would often use it in this times of pride and self centeredness
Agree, that’s why I always say thank you even at the simplest things that was done for me.
Gratitude is one of the most underrated virtues. One should be thankful for all that God has given us. The Monday motivation in this cloth is a perfect way to start a week.
Your words are powerful; food for our hearts Sometimes, we actually forget to be thankful for the ‘small’ and ‘normal’ things we seem to have in life. Until we lose them. But we must actually make it part of us to show gratitude. For our families, friends, the work we do, all the love and support we get, our lives. Oh, I am definitely grateful to God for everything!
very nice article. I have a very nice read about this. It refresh my inner peace. Thanks!
I always try to keep in touch with as much of my extended family as I can. And I’m happy that this is a virtue you share as well. Continuity of our family lineage is important, which is why our youngest must keep in touch with the eldest.
Yes, indeed…
I am thankful for every fall, for every failure and for every mistake I made in my life. These have only made me stronger than I ever thought I could be. Every morning, before anything else, I say a prayer of thanks. “Thank you Lord for waking me up. Please guide me that I may fulfill the mission you have set forth for me today.” At night, I thank God for all the blessings He has bestowed upon me. There are so many things around us to be thankful for!
I’m thankful for the gift of life and good health, safety and security. I look at people’s lifestyles in other countries (especially where I grew up) and I’m even more grateful for mine and try to help when I can.
Very beautiful article…I was lost in the words…. Thank you so much for sharing this wonderful article 😇
Did you read it? What struck you most
What I feel is appreciating others’ work or help is acknowledging really. And that encourages the other people too.
I think family is very essence of any body’s life, everything revolves around that. We never should take anyone for granted. As you have mentioned the importance of gratitude and thankfulness, we have to teach our children and also we should equally be sensitive and thankful for what we have been bestowed and what we experience in life. Thanks for such great post !
Interesting… part of that is also being observant of what is going on around us. Most of us walk around with blinders on. We say whatever comes to our mouth without taking stock of what is really happening around us…
My all time favorite quote “Appreciation is the highest form of prayer, for it acknowledges the presence of good wherever you shine the light of your thankful thoughts.” I always have this on my desk at workplace.
It’s so easy to get swept away by commercialization and capitalism during the holiday season. And while I love the decorations and food, I think it’s so important to stop and truly reflect on what it means to be thankful. Thank you so much for this post.
I’m all about being thankful and showing gratitude!!! We all have so much to be thankful for, if we just look at all the positives!!!
Gratitude can be so unappreciated it. These words from the quote you shared will keep me grounded this week, “Appreciation is the highest form of prayer, for it acknowledges the presence of good wherever you shine the light of your thankful thoughts,” by Alan Cohen.
Gratitude is so such an important thing to instill in my kids. I want to make sure my kids not only know how fortunate they are but appreciate how they got everything they have.
I have actually started to say thank you much more often because I understand how it can make the receiver’s day so much better. We are all struggling in our own lives and when a stranger thanks us for whatever reason, it always makes us feel better. So why not saying more often?
True…
I agree that we have to be so thankful not to live in a war torn country and we have food and a roof over our heads
Thank you for this lovely reminder. I try to give thanks every day and remind myself of what I am lucky to have an experience 💚
I’m giving thanks for a beautiful snow day today! I love seeing fresh snow, especially with fall colors.
Spending time with family is for sure something to be thankful for. Especially as our parents age.
great post. thanks for sharing. we all need to be motivated to help us get the job done and to carry on.
Being grateful is one of the most important qualities for living a happy life!
It’s really great to give thanks for all the blessings we receive. I’m going to buy a planner and follow your tip. I’m going to write about the things I’m thankful for everyday.
Loved reading this post. I always say thanks even to strangers and really feel that the culture is being lost for no reason.
I was thinking today how important meaningful connections are and how appreciative I am to have those.
Thank you for this inspirational post. I am thankful and feel blessed for so many things like my family, health, friends, and more. Feeling blessed. 🙂
I definitely needed some motivation for today
Being thankful for what we have and having family around is what really matters.
Giving thanks and showing appreciation is what this world needs the most. We don’t take time to show our appreciation and be thankful. Thanks for sharing this beautiful reminder.
Thanksgiving is one of the most nostalgic holidays of the year. Really appreciate how you relate to it 🙏
I’m truly thankful for my family every single day!
I think it’s so easy to take for granted all of the gifts that our lives offer. It’s so important to pause and give thanks.
Thanks for sharing this. Great motivation!
Giving thanks is one of the most important things we can do in our lives. It’s so important to remember to be grateful for what we have and realize that whatever struggles that we’re going through, it cold always be worse.
Sometimes it is easy to take things for granted especially the little things, so having a reminder to be thankful is always nice.
I, too, am thankful for writing and health. I will add that I’m thankful for good health. This month makes three years we lost my uncle to cancer. He was such a strong man. It was heart-breaking to see him grow weaker in his last months.
All loss is sad… condolences sent
We often forget to say thank you for all that we have but it is this feeling of gratitude that makes life so much happier.
family is great but not every one has a great family. family is what you make it not necessary just about blood. be grateful and thankful to those who got your back because sometimes it wont be family but a friend
Agree! Its important to value what you have in life.
It is a great time of year to reflect on gratitude. I am sorry to hear about your mother, but appreciate that you find gratitude in her time with her children and grandchildren. My parents are older, and I’m grateful for each memory we are able to make together.
Thanks again… true
I will eternally be thankful for the life that has been given to me. Life is not easy and yet, breathing and being able to experience life is something to always be thankful for.
very true…
It is very important to thank people those who are around us.
Thanks for the reminder.
Agreed, thank you
I really believe that when we give, we should not expect anything in return. Also showing our appreciation and being thankful not only lift the other person but it brings pure joy to us when we do so.
Always be thankful for everything you have. This is great reminder
I love this one… “Make it a habit to tell people – Thank you.”
Less people appreciate and be thankful to what they have.
I’ve found it remarkable to think about what gratitude can do for your daily life. Thanks so much for the important reminder here.
Beautiful and motivating post! Thank you for sharing!
There is no thanksgiving in my country. I would like to see how it is celebrated though, as in movie it looks like such a wonderful family holiday. But giving thanks should be just during a holiday, we should do it every day.
It’s true. Even I don’t tell the people in my life just how thankful I am for them. I definitely need to work on that. Great post!
Everything we have we owe to our Creator, we always have to be thankful.
I am very grateful for all I have, it’s good to remind people to be thankful. Lovely post.
we should really learn to be thankful! And not just this time a year ! as we should teach our children to be thankful, even for the little things in life ! thanks for sharing this, great post !
Truly motivation and inspiring words and phrases. The beginning of the lines itself are so beautiful and meaningful. Thank you for sharing.
A belated Happy Thanksgiving to you dear Eliz and thanks for this lovely post. I’m really struggling to find time for blogging at the moment and it may be some time before I’m really present.
Likewise… just a lot going on here too. Stay faithful. <3
Wow! Your post is such a great inspiration, I was grinning when I’m reading the part “My recipe of thanks will have …
A vat full of love,
Endless cups of life,
Pounds and ounces of friends….”
That’s really cool. Wishing you and your family a wonderful thanksgiving!
Regards from Belgium.
We should be thankful for the little things that we have in life. Also, it’s important to remember from time to time that we do live in war free areas and that our struggles can’t be compared with the fear people in war zones live with every day.
Thank you for reminding us how important it is for us to remain thankful! It is so easy to forget to always be appreciative
What you wrote about being thankful, really resonated with me. My mom is about to be 82 and I know that she will not continue to live on forever. The specific part that touched me was, “I am thankful for so many specific things: my life, health, and family come to mind but, specifically, I am thankful that my dear Mother who passed away recently had a chance to meet all of her grandchildren.”
Thank you…loss is universal. it touches all of us at some point in life even those who deny it or claim to not understand it… its a common equalizer for all living forms. <3
Well I dont personally celebrate thanksgiving but can appreciate reminders of reflection. We should reminder to show our appreciation to all and not just on one day but throught the year
I love this motivation! I just read a study where writing out a thank you (without sending it even) everyday changed the brain… and ultimately made people happier. So while you give thanks wanting nothing in return, you could in turn get true joy! Keep spreading that good word!
It’s so important to be thankful. I like to think in the evenings what I’m thankful.
Thankin people are really important.
You never know, what these small efforts can do make a person’s day.
Thanks for sharing dear.
Beautiful post. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family. We all need reminders of our blessings
Yes, being thankful reminds us to be both humble and grateful.
This is the right time of year to ask ourselves what we are grateful for this year! I realized that my wealth was not in my new house or car, but in my husband, my children and the people I was surrounded by.
Such a heart-warming post. This truly epitomizes the true meaning of Thanksgiving. What a great reminder to be grateful for what we all have. Thank you 🙂
I am thankful for my mom too. I am sorry to hear your mom has passed.
Appreciated Rosey. <3
So sorry to hear of your mother’s passing. It can be a little more challenging during the holidays, but it sounds like her legacy lives on in your, your siblings, and all of her grandchildren. It’s wonderful you appreciate the gift that is family.
Thank you Melanie… appreciated. <3
Yes!! Giving thanks is so important. Never take anything for granted. Hope that you had a wonderful holiday
There are so much things to be thankful for!
Recently I read something that really resonated with me: ‘Sometimes the only blessing you need to count is your heartbeat’. It reminds me of years past when my rheumatoid arthritis flared and the pain became overwhelming and I all I could do was be grateful that I was still alive to feel the pain.
Giving thanks is something we should do year round. It helps others feel important and special:)
A simple THANK You indeed goes a long way! So thank you for sharing and for reminding us that it just takes 2 simple words to make a person’s day.
I love the quote that Frank A. Clark have said.. We should be always thankful for what we got and will have. Gratitude invites the spirit of abundance.
The article is very beautifully written, I completely agree that we should be thankful for what we have and what others do for us.
I’m so excited for Thanksgiving, thanks for posting a blog about it. I enjoyed reading it.
I am trying to be grateful every single day. This is a beautiful reminder to all of us to be thankful for everything.
Thank you! This post is appreciated. It was the perfect post for me to read right now. So really, thank you.
What a beautiful post. It’s far too easy to take things for granted. Taking a moment to think about the people, experiences, and things that we are grateful for – even the small things – is so important.
Gratitude is especially important around this time of year. It’s so easy to get wrapped up in your own little world and become selfish to what you have. Thank you for such a beautiful post.
Saying thank you and appreciation were one of the first lessons my parents taught to me and my brothers.
It’s that time of the week when I am much grateful for everything, it was 7 days of living and breathing and enjoying God-given life.
It’s easy to take things for granted. I like to think about all the things I’m thankful for every month or so and just realise how lucky I am!
This is beautiful. I love it so much.
I’m sure all of us have lot of things to be thankful for. I’m thankful for finally finding a new job in the city I love.
Recently I read something that really resonated with me: ‘Sometimes the only blessing you need to count is your heartbeat’.
I always give thanks for the daily blessings, for people who is always around to support and love me. and even those who have hurt me for they give me learnings
I love your tips on how to be more grateful. I do try to begin the day or end the day thinking about all the things that I am thankful for in my life!
So important to be grateful and also express it. I see it as a gift for the receiver and the giver. Thanks for raising awareness on the topic!
We should be grateful every day, no matter big or small or maybe nothing. Life is beautiful and we should share that beauty to others.