World Gratitude Day is September 21st. Wow. WORLD Gratitude Day. The idea that the whole world shares a day to celebrate all the amazing parts of life is pretty awesome.
Merriam-Webster defines gratitude as being grateful or thankful. They define being grateful as “appreciative of benefits received” and “affording pleasure or contentment: pleasing.”
Whether it’s something universal like gratitude for the sun’s ability to light the sky each day, or something less important in the scheme of life, like getting to watch Million Dollar Listing on DVR after a busy day, there’s always a reason to be thankful.
I’m thankful for so many things in my life, but actually taking time to acknowledge and truly appreciate them probably needs to happen more often.
I find that I think about gratitude the most on days I feel particularly happy. It’s kind of a “chicken or the egg ” type of thing. Am I particularly happy because I’m aware of all the things I’m thankful for, or am I recognizing all the great things in life, which in turn makes me especially happy? Either way, being grateful = being happy most days for me.
On the days I’m consciously thinking about the things I’m grateful for, I try to also make it a point to help brighten other people’s day, or spread the love I’m feeling.
Here are some simple things that work for me that might work for you too. They’re simple!
- When you notice something great or special, say something. When I see something awesome happening, I tell the person that they’re doing great work or appreciate what they’re doing. One recent example was at work when I saw a man filling the air on a tire in the maternity parking spot. I drove by initially, then I thought, wow, that’s really cool (especially because we work at a tech company, so filling tires is far out of the realm of the regular scope of duties), so I drove back around and told the man how nice that was for him to fill up the tire. It turned out that he just happened to notice the tire and did it proactively. That’s so neat and he felt special that I acknowledged it.
- When you’re having a great day, try to spread the joy. Something as basic as writing a thank you note (bonus points for a handwritten note) can go a long way. Who doesn’t love to get a nice note now and then? Maybe your child’s caregiver helped your child make a special picture for you, or maybe they taught your child a new song. Or maybe someone at work showed you a new tip, whatever it is, write a quick note! It’s amazing how warm and fuzzy it can make someone feel! I was on the receiving end of this when I happened to see a co-worker at a department store a few years ago. He gave me a very kind compliment, and it was so genuine, that I literally think about it at least a few times a month! You never know how far a seemingly tiny gesture will go. I saw him this week and told him how nice it was for him to give me that compliment and he couldn’t believe that I remembered or that it was something that still makes me smile years later.
- Give back to the community. Is there a charity that you feel especially fond of? What better way to celebrate or thank them on World Gratitude Day than to spend some time lending a helping hand! Whether it’s stocking shelves at a food bank, volunteering on your lunch break to help mentor a child, helping out at an animal shelter, or something totally different, you’re making an impact! You could also get the whole family involved and have everyone clean out their closet (or toy box) for items to donate. Sharing your abundance – big or small – with others is a great way to show your gratitude.
- Fix something that would typically annoy you and make someone else’s day in the process. Do you ever go shopping and see abandoned carts in a spot? Does it make your blood boil? How about walking into the store – do you sometimes see garbage on the ground? Don’t let it upset you. Just fix it. It’s so easy. If you see a cart, just put the cart back and help protect the cars in neighboring spots. If you see garbage on the ground, throw it away. There’s something satisfying about doing the right thing when no one is watching. You could be helping out a fellow mom! Can you imagine walking to your car with your kids and allllll your bags only to discover a dent in your car? Ugh. But if you take the cart back, you can feel good about knowing that the drivers of the cars by the cart will be protected from an unnecessary dent. Same with the garbage on the ground. How frustrating it must be for store employees to pick up garbage day in and day out. By just throwing away something you see instead of walking by, you’re lightening the load of their day and it’ll probably put a smile on their face.
- Write a note to yourself, your spouse, your children, or one to each about the great things about them. You probably derive a lot of your joy in life from your family, so why not let them know? Don’t wait for a birthday or Christmas card to write a special message. Kids do funny things, but it’s so hard to remember all the things that happen, so when you have a second, write it down. Keep the notes with their baby book or another special place. Just this evening my toddler randomly said “I can’t scratch my butt. My pants are too long.” It was hysterical! I couldn’t stop laughing. One little sentence made my entire evening. As trivial as the sentence was, it’s those tiny moments that stick with me and make me laugh anytime I think about them. She should know how much joy I get from her, even when it’s just from the simple things she says.
Try one of the things above, or celebrate World Gratitude Day your own way. There’s no wrong way to take time to reflect on how awesome this life and world can be. We’d love to hear how you’re celebrating the day, so share a comment with your ideas!
