In past gratitude weeks I have taken a quiet approach. Sort of a meditative course which has been very rewarding and revealing. Gratitude seems to rush in during the soft first light of dawn. It is easy to tap into during the stillness of nature or even a sleeping child's bedroom. I've had the best results in amplifying and Cultivating an Attitude of Gratitude All the Time during these ultra quiet moments.
This week I've decided I want to see what might happen if I shake things up and make a bold and raucous approach. This week I am playing a game to loudly proclaim my gratefulness. Previously I have tried madly listing things for which I am grateful but I did so without getting truly present to the appreciation. In my quest to be bold and loud in my praise I will not be skipping this step.
Part of my quest will include looking in places I have not previously thought to look. It is pretty obvious to be grateful for friends and family, but what about things of a more banal nature? Take running hot and cold water for example? I use this convenience on a daily basis but is extremely rare for me to even give it a second thought. Imagine what life would be like without it and immediately appreciation is there. I propose we begin paying attention to these sort of things as a way to amp up our daily experience of gratitude!
This week's "Bliss Initiatives" are color coded in purple for quick identification. They are specific things that you too can try, if you want to play along with me. However, because as Earl Nightingale says, "you become what you think about," even if you only follow along, and never take on any of the bliss initiatives, I expect some positive results. I will be exploring and encouraging GRATITUDE this way:
- Grategories -Each day I will be playing my own version of "Grategories" over here at Everyday Bliss in which I will be picking a random area to look for Gratitude. Places like Household Appliances, Software Programs, Public Service Professionals... areas I am not accustomed to even thinking much about but places where appreciation definitely lives.
- Gratitude Games - I will be hunting down and finding more Gratitude Games to play with my family and encourage us to live with gratitude on a daily basis. I will be be updating here with a post about all the fun ideas I find.
- Grateful for you - This will be introduced tomorrow! I am creating a week long game to express my gratitude for all of you. It is going to be a party of sorts, I hope to introduce you to each other, toast your specialness and even provide door prizes! I hope you find it to be a lot of fun!
I know I am being rather cryptic here with these bliss initiatives but I hope you won't mind. I'm incredibly grateful for surprises and like the idea of springing a couple on you this week! OK that is it for now... and to kick things off over in your world.:
Tell me something, off beat and fun, that you are grateful fo today!
Next Post: The Gratitude Party gets started!
My 13 bliss virtues are joy, order, creativity, passion, whimsy, serenity, inquiry, community, romance, gratitude, moxie, humility, and surprise.
This week we are studying Romance. Next up is Gratitude Week
Yay - how exciting!!
ReplyDeleteI remember shortly after the devistation in Haiti, Jenny Doh posted something on her blog about her gratitude for simple running water. I honestly have not stopped thinking about that since then.
I am thankful for so much. The "Paris & Springtime" candle I have burning right now (safely away from the computer monitor), that hubby is upstairs fielding the countless "I have to go potty"s from our daughter avoiding bedtime, and for the glass of wine I know is waiting for me.
LOVE this!!
This is so fun! I love surprises : )
ReplyDeleteI'm looking forward to reading more of your posts about gratitude....it's a topic that one can never write too much about! I really try to be grateful for everything and not take anything for granted. Today I was thankful for the blue skies and for a great little chat I had with my sister over the phone. Sometimes it's just the little things that make the most impact!
This is lovely! I'm grateful for a loving family, good friends, and good health. As you may see if you come visit me, too, one son just got married a week ago, so that's more blessings! Cheers to you and yours!
ReplyDeleteL.
P.S. Found you via SITS.
ReplyDeleteCraisins. They just got me through a day without needing candy. I know that sounds dumb, but I need that! HA!
ReplyDeleteOh, nuts! I was just going to add a link to my post today since I created a 'Gratitude' card, but you don't have a linky up! LOL! That's okay, but come check it out, K? Thanks, babe!
ReplyDeleteGratitude!!! Hurray. There is always so much to be grateful for. I am looking forward to this week - it sounds like you have lots of fun things planned for us. :) I am grateful that I was at work today so I could easily pick up my favorite movie of the year so far - Alice in Wonderland! I know that's trivial, but I was so happy to have that movie in my hands today. :) Theresa
ReplyDeleteThank you Vanessa! I am so grateful for new friends like you!! I love your blog and it is a treat every time I get to visit you there!
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by! I'll be over to visit you soon!
ReplyDeleteTerrific Card there Jingle!! How fun for you to be "on topic" with me!
ReplyDeleteEveryone else do stop over to see Jingle's creation! It is fabulous!!!
Oh, my girl lives for craisens... I understand. I really do!
Hey! Thanks for grateories! Love that!
ReplyDelete