In Giving Thanks
“Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.”
~William Arthur Ward
I believe in the practice of being grateful; the conscious act of summoning to the forefront of your mind, all that you are thankful for, especially the “little” things.
Admittedly, it’s a lot easier said than done.
Life can be incredibly difficult and harsh, unpredictable and unfair. It’s a challenge to keep smiling and stay positive. It only takes one thing not to go right and my focus can easily be polarized to the negative. Without thinking, I can quickly start pulling from a well of over-flowing faults, snowballing them to each other, one by one until — BAM! — before you know it, I have the belly of a giant snowman in the making.
It’s hard work to overcome and requires a conscious effort to get back to the other side of the polarization, the positive side. I find however that when I do and thankfully, I always do, there is one thing I can truly be certain of:
There is always something to be thankful for.
Be Thankful
Be thankful that you don’t already have everything you desire,
If you did, what would there be to look forward to?
Be thankful when you don’t know something
For it gives you the opportunity to learn.
Be thankful for the difficult times.
During those times you grow.
Be thankful for your limitations
Because they give you opportunities for improvement.
Be thankful for each new challenge
Because it will build your strength and character.
Be thankful for your mistakes
They will teach you valuable lessons.
Be thankful when you’re tired and weary
Because it means you’ve made a difference.
It is easy to be thankful for the good things.
A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who are
also thankful for the setbacks.
GRATITUDE can turn a negative into a positive.
Find a way to be thankful for your troubles
and they can become your blessings.
~ Unknown Author
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Striving to live life on life's terms while taking the world on with a smile.
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Taking The World On With A Smile! 
Well said!
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Thanks, Heidi.
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So true! Even though I’m not thankful for difficult times when I go through them, I am afterwards.
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Same here, Lady! Thanks for reading & commenting.
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I have lived long enough to recognize the gifts that have come from great pain. I’d still rather not suffer, but I am much grateful for the gifts the pain has given me.
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Me too Rumpy. The gift that comes with time & living long enouvh is a sort of knowing that the “pain” is necessary for eventual rainbow. Doesn’t always help you feel so grateful at the time…… Thank you for reading & commenting!
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l will try and remember how lucky l am , instead of being negative. great blog.
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It’s not always easy, Anonymous & I think we all do the best we can. Thanks for reading & commenting. 🙂
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A little bit of gratitude can go a long way.
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Always.
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So true Karen. Troubles can only be seen as opportunities. And there is always time to be grateful for our blessings. Great thoughts Karen!
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Thanks, Andy!
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There is nothing better than the topic of gratitude….for we have the ability to weave it through everything we see, hear, feel, smell, and experience if we are mindful. I led worship at my church Sunday night, and the topic of the story was being thankful for the good and the bad: having gratitude. I shared at the end of the evening what I was thankful for, myself, and that without walking through bad times, grief, and desperation we would not really be able to understand what it is to be truly grateful-at least not to the depths of our souls-for it is on the other side of turmoil that this comes. I love the poem: hindsight is always 20/20, and without knowing it, for certain, our troubles often turn out to be blessings, indeed. I hope you had a terrific Thanksgiving, Karen! Mine was chopped up with lots of driving and emotional “stuff”, but on Friday…I was thankful for the reprieve that came with a two-hour horse ride and good friends. 🙂 XOXO-Kasey
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Thank you Kasey. You always have beautiful words to add and as always… right on point!
My Thanksgiving was different, strange with lots of “stuff” as well BUT I am grateful! xoxo NY
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Reblogged this on mikalasiko and commented:
Being Grateful is tough especially during hard times and in good times we at times choose to forget.
Stand out and be thankful today in every situation.
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