Creating an Attitude of Gratitude

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Gratitude.

It’s a word I talk and think about often but sometimes I don’t practice it as often as I should. Who has the time? Sometimes life gets hard and busy, and I struggle to remember how amazing my life is. For Christmas this year we were all so sick. I’m talking the PLAGUE sick. My husband, myself, and our three daughters were all sick as can be and there were moments when I felt bad for us (and to be honest, maybe even a little guilty) that we couldn’t do as much as we usually do or carry on with our normal traditions. Then I remembered that I get to spend Christmas, in my home, with my children. We didn’t have to spend Christmas in a hospital, and we were fortunate to not have any family members overseas. We were so blessed in being able to be home, together, as a family. We have so much to be thankful for. Moments of gratitude are so important. They ground us. They humble us. They force us to remember that somebody else is always less fortunate than we are. They teach us to cherish each moment. Moments of gratitude show us how important the little things in life can be, or maybe even how big they are.

I think sometimes we think gratitude has to be something elaborate and fancy or that we have to dial in on what we’re thankful for but it can be really simple. It can be as simple as writing down a few things you’re thankful for each day, or even once a week or once a month. Don’t worry, even that can be very simple. I’m thankful for family. I’m thankful for the sunshine. I’m thankful for coffee. I’m thankful for my kids. Boom. Done. I think even simple actions like this can bring us back down to earth and teach us what matters. Honestly, your list doesn’t even have to be super “serious” or “deep.” You can be thankful for Netflix, or your mailman (yes, that’s a real thing to be thankful for because he has the presents), or wine, or Amazon Prime, or cheesecake! I mean, aren’t we all at least a little thankful for wine and cheesecake?! That’s the amazing thing about practicing gratitude. It’s a one size fits all practice. There’s no right or wrong answer. It’s all about YOU and what YOU feel is important in YOUR life.

I encourage you this year to focus on gratitude, if even for just a little bit. Amid the mess, momma, remember that giggling children created it. Somewhere in that pile of dirty laundry is the leftover stains of memories made. When the chaos seems overwhelming, remind yourself that someday you’re going to miss the noise. Watch Netflix, drink the wine, play with your kids, make a mess, order all the things, and be thankful for it. Remember that the simple little things are sometimes the things that are holding you together. Remember that even the silly things are worth being thankful for. Remind yourself that it doesn’t have to feel this hard and heavy. Take yourself back to the basics and make that quick little list. Have fun. Stay humble. And always, always be grateful.

 

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Allison Cooley
Alli is a wife, and girl mom to three awesome girls ages four and under. She's also a boy mom to two dogs (Desmond and Rocky) and a cat (Pancake). She stays busy as a stay at home mom but manages with the help of Jesus, coffee, essential oils, and lots of grace. Alli and her husband, Brandon, are licensed foster parents with huge hearts for adoption and foster care. She's a firm believer in being transparent and genuine and loves relating with other moms in whatever season they're in. She recently started a Mommy Meet Up group in her home town of Findlay. She's a little bit crunchy, unicorn loving, vacuum hating momma who can't wait to go on this journey with you!

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