Gratitude Can Be Expressed Daily In Simple Ways

I want to set the record straight. In the past I've written about keeping a gratitude journal. Now that I reflect back on my suggestion, maybe referring to capturing what we are grateful for in a gratitude journal caused fear, rather than positive feelings. A journal implies writing, and that's pretty scary for some people. But as each of us is unique, capturing our gratitude should not be a struggle, but a joyful sharing of what we are grateful for and expressed in ways that are comfortable for each of us.

We can be grateful for simple things and express our gratitude in simple ways.

Maybe as a senior we are grateful for the sounds of children playing on a nearby school playground, since it brings back childhood memories. Our gratitude for that day could be to write or call an old school chum that we haven't spoken to in years. We don't have to sit down and write haiku poetry.

Another gratitude may be the smile of someone sitting across from us at the breakfast table. We could just express our gratitude that day by leaning over, touching them and telling them how much they mean to us, how much we value them. We don't have to write a 400 word essay.

Or we could be grateful for finally organizing that sweater drawer. We now have more space and have given the gift of warmth to someone else. We don't have to clean out our entire closet, just sharing love and warmth from our sweater drawer is enough for one day.

It's fun to surprise someone with a note of gratitude. Imagine the smile growing across your friend's face when they find a note you smuggled into his or her notebook, telling them how grateful you are for all the times they went above and beyond to help you out. Just a simple note will suffice. You don't have to create a YouTube video, although you could.

Maybe someone in your life is down and a simple song that you sing to them such as "You light up my life" will be your expression of gratitude to them for that day. Far too often we feel gratitude inside but find it hard to share or express it. People need to hear from us that they matter.

Too often we float through life and don't set an intention for being grateful.

Being grateful does not happen often enough. At times we'll express our thanks but it is rushed or buried in a conversation. Expressing our gratitude truly happens when we are intentional about it, when we strive to find something each and every day to be grateful for and express that gratitude.

Some may say that doing so every day is artificial, it is contrived. I say if you can't think of at least one thing to be grateful for and express it each and every day, then are you really not connecting with people, you are on autopilot.

For some, if you live alone you may find it more difficult to express your gratitude, but these thoughts are in your heart, let them out, even if just writing daily in that journal. It is my hope that each and every one of us can start the chain of connecting one to another through the expression of gratitude. All it takes is simple words accompanied by a touch, a look, a song, a note, or maybe even a daily entry in a gratitude journal.

Source: http://ezinearticles.com/6303254

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