I’m trying to beat everyone else to the punch and get my gratitude post in well before Thanksgiving. Before we’re too bogged down with stuffing recipes and crafty place tags and Black Friday ads and gratitude becomes a forced discussion around the dinner table where my kids say things like “I’m grateful for Clash of Clans.”
Gratitude is more than saying thank you. It’s a deep appreciation for what you have. And often we look externally – to our relationships and the people in our life that support us. We look to the big ones like health, prosperity, freedom. We look to what we might consider our blessings – our home, the food on our table, the opportunities that have come our way, the things we’ve been able to acquire that bring us a certain level of happiness.
But what about internally? How often do we express gratitude to ourselves? Do we even know how to deeply appreciate our true selves? We’re really good at pointing out what we need to do more of (be patient, be kind, be understanding) or less of (raiding our kids’ Halloween candy, eating Nutella straight from the jar, being critical and judgmental) or how we can be better (at home, at work, at the gym, at the store).
But when it comes to being grateful – not so much.
This past weekend I participated in a yoga workshop that was several hours of meditation, self-reflection, and yoga practice designed to help you unlock your purpose. And boy, a lot of things were unlocked.
One major thing that I realized is that we leave very little room in our lives to really think about ourselves and to reflect on our own value. And when I took the time at this workshop to just that, I felt an incredible sense of gratitude. And connection. To myself.
I could really deeply appreciate Kaly. I left thinking, “Wow, this Kaly person is pretty damn cool.”
Maybe you walk around every day feeling that way, but I don’t. But I’d like to. And I’m going to start by practicing a little more gratitude towards myself.
So this is what I’m thinking. As we barrel toward one of the busiest seasons of the year that tends to be about everyone else except ourselves, I’ve come up with three things i’m grateful for: myself edition. I’ll share mine with you, and if you want, you can leave yours in the comments or write it down on the back of an envelope or email it to yourself or whatever.
Just take some time to think about a few of the great things you have just by being you.
So here’s three things I’m grateful for: myself edition –
1) I’m grateful for my strength & resilience. That includes mental strength and discipline but also my strong legs and big feet which make me really good at balancing.
2) I’m grateful for my openness and willingness to experience new things from trying a new food to moving to a new city to learning a new way to think about something.
3) I’m grateful for my vision. Not my eyesight, although I am grateful for that. But my creative vision and my ability to express myself whether it’s through clothes or design or cooking or writing.
And if you want to be a real overachiever, when someone asks you what you’re grateful for this Thanksgiving, you can simply say myself. And watch the confusion unfold…
Awesome! If I were to look at myself, truly. I’m thankful for my strength. I will run my 2nd half marathon this Sunday and cannot believe I had the strength to commit to the training. My strength at being at the helm of our family. My mental strength in dealing with 3 children and a husband.
I am thankful for my ability to serve others. I have an innate ability to do for others. I would rather help another than do something for myself. I feel badly because sometimes I feel guilty that I receive pleasure from doing it.
I am thankful for my friendliness and easy going demeanor. I feel that I am very welcoming and non-judgemental of my friends and new people I meet. It comes very easily. I don’t have pre-conceived notions of “who” some one is before I meet them. I would never judge another because I am far from perfect.
I would have never taken the time to do this today if not for your post. I am thankful for you for giving me this exercise. I have a large smile on my face that I didn’t have before.
I’m so glad Kel. I think you captured yourself wonderfully.
One of the things that is catching my attention about your proposed excercise is that as I sit here and contemplate my best qualities it really feels embarrassing to name them to others–like a naughty little indulgence. How twisted is that, right? So in defiance of that little voice that says, “don’t boast about yourself,” here goes:
– I am incredibly optimistic (most of the time). I almost always see the best in other people, situations, and circumstances. I assume most people’s intentions are typically good and give them the benefit of the doubt.
– I’m open-minded (with possibilities, experiences, new people, new anything), and non-judgemental.
– I’m really very rational. I look at things logically, and often when other folks are loosing their cool I (usually) stay calm, cool, and collected. Along this same vein, I can also be very patient (more so with the big things in life; there are some little things that do drive me crazy)
Thanks, Kaly, for getting me to stop and think about this for a few minutes.
Yes! Be defiant! Doesn’t it feel good? These are such valuable qualities that you have. You deserve to be grateful!
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