One of my new years goals is to be more grateful. Sounds pretty simple and straight forward right? I'm not just talking about making a list or having a gratitude journal, but true and sincere gratitude which reflects in my daily attitude AND actions. For example, if I say "I am grateful for my house" then I am going to put every ounce of energy into keeping it nice, and not putting energy into complaining(like I have been) about the outdated bathrooms, the shag green carpet and the list goes on and on. I feel like an attitude of gratitude is not one that says...I am grateful for my house, except for the unfinished laundry room,
A great example of gratitude is my sister in-law Jodi. EVERY time I talk to her, she tells me THANK YOU, she tells me that she is grateful for things I do. She shows me she is grateful with a high five, a hug, a note, and she even paid me $5 extra just for picking something up for her. She is the person to emulate when it comes to being grateful.
I feel like I have said grateful a lot, and it reminds me of this lady that I met when I worked at Top Hat Video. She brought in a box, a HUGE box of family videos that she wanted to be converted to DVD. She said thank you about 100 times, and as an immature teenager we laughed and poked fun at her after she left, but as I look back now, I realize that some people really ARE that grateful and their lives are probably so much nicer.
The people I admire the most are those in the worst situations with cancer, in abusive homes, poor, or lonely, that don't see their situation as a stumbling block, but as a blessing.
I love what President Thomas S. Monson says:
"This is a wonderful time to be living here on earth. Our opportunities are limitless. While there are some things wrong in the world today, there are many things right, such as teachers who teach, ministers who minister, marriages that make it, parents who sacrifice, and friends who help.
We can lift ourselves, and others as well, when we refuse to remain in the realm of negative thought and cultivate within our hearts an attitude of gratitude. If ingratitude be numbered among the serious sins, then gratitude takes its place among the noblest of virtues."
Here's the rest of is his awesome article: http://www.lds.org/liahona/2000/05/an-attitude-of-gratitude?lang=eng
I am so excited for this year! I can't to see what it will be like with a better attitude of gratitude!
