November is the month that brings the whole idea of being 😍grateful out of the shadows and into the light. Thanksgiving is a big reason for that, of course. Having a day set aside simply for giving thanks shines that 💡spotlight on gratefulness.
During November, people post their 30 days of 😍gratitude. There’s even a hashtag to attach to those posts- #givethanks. Don’t get me wrong. I love the idea of sharing our 😍gratitude. Anytime we can share feelings of love and 😍gratitude and thankfulness- it’s a good thing. Always. Keep doing that!💯
But- what does 😍gratitude really mean if we only notice it in November? Aren’t we still grateful in April and August? It’s always there, you know- in the grand moments and the small ones. It’s in your interactions with others. 😍Gratitude is felt every morning with the promise of a new day! Most of the time- even in a year like 2020- we don’t have to 👀look too hard to find it. We just have to try.
With a nod to the 30-days of 😍gratitude, here’s a list of 30 things that I’m grateful for. Some of them are on my 📝Forever Grateful List. Others are more In-the-Moment 😍Gratitude. Whatever the category- these things represent my grateful 💖heart.
- a husband who truly 💞loves me unconditionally- when I’m 😊fun, when I’m 😡not so fun, when I repeat myself😂
- the grocery store freezer that had one pint of Ben and Jerry’s Phish Food 🍨ice cream left
- weather temperatures that don’t require coats
- remote start on my 🚗vehicle- bonus points for the fact that it works from my classroom door
- the group text with my kids that is packed with 😂goofiness
- the individual texts from my kids that are loaded with 💝love
- having parents who modeled incredible parenting and paved a path for me to follow🙌
- Christmas lights, Christmas🌲 trees, Christmas 🎶music- you get the point
- my mother learning how to FaceTime during a pandemic
- my job- even on those days when I come home exhausted😴
- masks that don’t move down my 😷face while I teach
- sunshine- it really is that simple🌞
- a cup of strong black ☕coffee in the morning- okay, several cups
- the way my 🐕dog plops himself right next to the chair when I’m working
- Angie’s Boom Chicka Pop Sweet and Salty Kettle Korn- trust me on this one
- finding the perfect 🎁gifts for family and friends
- sleeping late on Saturday mornings
- whole-wheat toast- just a bit 🔥burnt- with creamy peanut butter
- people who accept me- and everybody else- just the way we are🌟
- warm laundry, straight from the dryer- I don’t even mind folding it- call me weird
- genuine empathy😇
- our big, beautiful, blended family for always putting in the effort to make it work💞
- calming silence
- joyful noise🎉
- a fresh start
- my coworkers who just get it- especially this year✔
- students who have quickly learned to “go with the flow” and adapt right along with their teachers
- laughter 😂because it really has healing powers
- actual 💊medicine when we need something more potent than a laugh to recover
- that my kids have grown up to be good people with loving hearts💝
What if…we’re 😍grateful every day? Just open your heart and be willing to receive it. When you focus on 😍gratitude, you’ll see that it’s been there all along.💖
sharing the stairs 