Start Overcoming Busy Right Now – Be Thankful
October 2, 2009 by Marci
This is the continuation of the “Start Overcoming Busy Right Now” series.
This is the picture of the window above my kitchen sink. I found this “Give Thanks” decoration last summer. I think it is supposed to be for Thanksgiving, but I plan on keeping it right there year round. It is a great reminder to be grateful. In our fast-paced world of packed out schedules, instant gratification and entitlement mentalities, it is easy forget to be thankful. Our society has been programmed to get and do what we want, because we deserve it. Our neighbors have it, so we should too. It’s just our God given right as Americans! We have gotten our needs and our wants confused.
In all this keeping up with the Jones’ and with all the latest trends, we have lost the concept of thankfulness. We focus on what we don’t have rather than what we do have. This can lead to lots of negative thoughts and stress, which is just mental clutter. When our minds get cluttered, it is hard to focus on what it is really important in our lives.
Today, begin a new practice in your life. Start giving thanks. Not just at meal time and at bed time prayers. Through out the day, give thanks that you have kids healthy enough to run and scream through the house. Give thanks for the roof over your head, the clothes on your back, the food in your fridge. Be grateful your rusted out 20 year old car has gotten you this far.
Take it a step farther. Make sure your kids hear you give thanks. You are their greatest teacher. The world is trying to take your place and is bombarding our kids with negative messages. Give thanks and teach them to do the same. My daughter and I are reading a book about girl in Poland at the beginning of WW II. It is good for her to read about someone her age who lived through war and rationing and still was thankful for what she had. I want to give her examples of how blessed she really is.
Stop now and think of all you have to be thankful for. Write them down if you want. Focusing on the positive instead of the negative is an important part of overcoming busy!
Comments (5)
What is the name of the book you are reading with your daughter? I think G and I read it a year ago or so. If it is the same, I LOVED IT!!! Keep doing what you do well!
I love this series!
You know I’m all about being positive!
Would you mind sharing the name of the book you are reading with your daughter? Your daughter is 8, right? Mine is turning 8 and I’d love to start reading an age appropriate book like that with her.
Thanks for your post. I completely agree with our need to be thankful for the absolute abundance we have in our lives.
The full name of the book is – Journey to America, Aniela Kaminski’s Story – A Voyage from Poland During World War II by Clare Pastore. We have really enjoyed it.
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