5 Easy Ways to Show Gratitude

“There is always something to be thankful for”

In our “what have you done for me lately” society, it’s nice to take a moment and be thankful for and appreciate those around us.

1.  Write a Note – A real note! not an e-mail or a tweet or anything else electronic.  Find some cute stationary or note cards and take a few extra minutes to write a nice little note to show your gratitude.

2. Bake a Treat – Any time is a good time to bake a small treat for a neighbor, the librarian, the secretary at church, anyone that often contributes a great deal but goes unnoticed.  The treat does not have to be fancy to be appreciated!  Recognizing the efforts of others helps us to be grateful for all that they do.

3. Do a Random Act of Kindness – Pay for the person behind you at the coffee shop or in the drive-thru lane.  Add coins to parking meter or pay someone’s fine at the library.  If we are looking we can always find a way to go a little out of our way to make someone’s day a bit brighter.

4.  Donate to a Food Bank – This is an important gesture to remember throughout the year, not just around the holidays.  Giving away some of what we have makes us be more thankful for what we do have.  Grocery shopping in a big family is always an adventure and there are times when I come home from the store loaded down with food and find myself grumping because I don’t have the space for it all.  Did you get that? I’m complaining because I have too much!  It’s always good to have the reminder that so many live without enough.

5. I Love You Because – Most often the best place to start showing gratitude is right in our own home.  It really doesn’t matter if we set out to change the world if our own little corner of the world is in some need of repair.  Have you told your husband lately how thankful you are for all that he does? Have you expressed to your children how much you appreciate them? Sure it’s easy to fall into nagging and barking orders, but that’s not lasting memory we want for our family.  Spend some time this month telling your family members “I love you because…”