January Spiritual Practice: Gratitude

The practicing of gratitude can help us develop our awareness of what is around us. This may sound so obvious, but honestly, how often do we take time to NOTICE what is true around us? Most of us are busy doing the next thing in front of us. We rarely take the time to look up from the path and SEE where we are, SEE who we are with, SEE the Divine. To develop the practice of gratitude is a great first step in developing awareness in all areas of our lives, particularly our awareness of the Divine all around us - who is ultimately present: like a fish in water who finally realizes that they are IN water and that water is what is giving them life!

For the rest of the month of January, let’s join together in practicing gratitude. It can take on several different looks but the basic idea is to slow down enough each day, even for just a few moments, to write down something you are grateful for. In my own practice, it’s very simple - I write down 3 things a day that I am grateful for. Here are some things in my gratitude journal from the past couple of days:

Beautiful fog this morning, stories - mine & books, texting

Snow day for kids, feeling lazy, no big plans today

But to be perfectly honest, some days I forget. And then it’s like a game - can I go back and remember the day I missed and go looking for what was good? I’ve NEVER had a day in the last 6 years that I have not found something to be grateful for.

Below are some links to different ideas and even apps for how to specifically engage in this practice if you need more than just writing 3 things down every day. There is a lot here, so don’t be overwhelmed - keeping it simple for you is key! Choose however you would like to engage this practice - all the ideas are just that - ideas to help you decide what’s best for you!

However you decide to practice gratitude this month, I am praying that your awareness of what is around you becomes sharper, more hopeful, and more life-giving.

Kids Version:

Let’s play a game this month! Let’s see if we can find things we are grateful for around us. Being grateful doesn’t have to be complicated. Here are some definitions that can help you:

*warmly or deeply appreciative of kindness or benefits received; thankful

*pleasing to the mind or senses; agreeable or welcome; refreshing

For the rest of the days in January, use this list to see if you can practice being grateful for what and who is around you!

  • January 11 - Name a person you are grateful for

  • January 12 - Draw a picture of something in nature you are grateful for

  • January 13 - What color are you grateful for today?

  • January 14 - What smell are you grateful for?

  • January 15 - What season are you grateful for and why?

  • January 16 - Find a toy you haven’t played with in a while. Why are you grateful you still have it?

  • January 17 - Name a yellow thing you are grateful for

  • January 18 - Name a fruit you are grateful for

  • January 19 - Name a show you are grateful for

  • January 20 - Why are you grateful that you can see?

  • January 21 - Name a thing you wear that you are grateful for

  • January 22 - Name a book you are grateful for

  • January 23 - Name a candy you are grateful for

  • January 24 - What song are you grateful for today?

  • January 25 - When you look up, can you find something you are grateful for? (inside OR outside)

  • January 26 - Can you find something round you are grateful for today?

  • January 27 - Look around your house at where light is (from a lamp or window, etc.). Is there something the light touches that you are grateful for? 

  • January 28 - Name something made of metal that you are grateful for

  • January 29 - Look around your house at where the shadows are. Do they hold something you are grateful for?

  • January 30 - Name a loud noise or a quiet noise you are grateful for today

  • January 31 - Name 3 of your own gratitudes today!


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