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This archived content is from Mary Wilkins’ sewing and quilting message board “Sew What’s New,” which was retired in August 2007. It is being provided by “Sew What’s Up,” which serves as the new home for many members of “Sew What’s New.”
From: MaryW
Date: 11-14-2005, 05:23 PM (1 of 2)
I was sent this from another web editor and like it a lot. We should all pay attention.

Being Grateful
by Susie Michelle Cortright, http://www.momscape.com

Focusing on gratefulness keeps us centered and helps ward off negativity.

Here are five little things we can do each day to
nourish our sense of gratitude:

1. Choose your friends wisely.
If you want to be more grateful, spend time with
grateful people. Spend time with positive people to
be more positive; joyful people to be more joyful.

If you strive to be spiritually strong, supportive,
empowering, intelligent, energetic, and positive, seek
those characteristics in others.

Help your friends develop more positive traits by
living those positive traits yourself. Know what kind
of friends will help you nurture your soul, and set
out to find some.

2. Help your friends cultivate gratitude.
Before you say anything about a friend's situation,
remember that everyone's situation is unique. I've
seen it happen to myself and to my friends. They'll
be perfectly happy until someone tells them they're
being mistreated. Suddenly, they're upset.

Don't let your friends wield such power, and work to
avoid wielding such power yourself.

Day by day, hour by hour, make a goal to avoid
complaining about your life. Make a pact with your
friends to cut the complaints from your conversations.

3. Give the gift of gratitude to your children.
Help your children to be satisfied and grateful for simple, everyday
things by giving thanks aloud. Keep a Gratitude Journal in which, each day,
you record 5 or 10 things for which you are grateful, and ask your children
for contributions. Give your children a journal of their own or keep a family
Gratitude Journal.

4. Say "Thank You."
Whom in your life do you appreciate? Let them know,
whether it's your mom, your kids, your friends, your
husband, your child's daycare provider or the helpful
woman behind the cosmetics counter.

Write thank you notes regularly - not just after a
gift exchange - and be mindful of all the ways you
show your appreciation by the things you do in return.

Tell your kids how thankful you are for them. Jot a note to
each of your children in which you tell them how much you
love them, why you're thankful for them, and all the
ways they have enriched your life. This can be
something you give them now or after they have grown.

5. Be mindful of the little things.
Today, strive to be aware of all the aspects of your
personal, professional, and family life for which you
are thankful.

Take a few minutes today to appreciate nature. Go
for a walk and notice only those things that are
beautiful. Whether you focus on the stars above, a
distant mountain range, or the cottonwood tree in
your backyard, try to notice the details. Give thanks
for the beauty that surrounds us.

Regardless of whether you record these items, spend
some time each day to focus on the little things in
your life that make each day special. Perhaps it's
your child's toothless grin. A warm home. Delicious
food enjoyed with family.

Together, let's work on focusing on what we have -
not on what we don't have - and all the ways we can
help one another have more gratitude for the gift of
life.


About the author:
Susie Cortright is the founder of
Momscape.com
and Momscape's
Scrapbooking Playground
- sites devoted to celebrating life with children.
Learn more about her
scrapbooking club
or about starting your own
scrapbooking
business
on Susie's team. Visit her site today to subscribe to her free
newsletters.
MaryW
owner/editor of Sew Whats New
User: MaryW
Member since: 06-23-2005
Total posts: 2542
From: jenny-o
Date: 11-14-2005, 06:41 PM (2 of 2)
That was lovely Mary, thanks for posting it.

My kids remind me every day how blessed I am. We just finished raking leaves, lots of fun!
User: jenny-o
Member since: 08-28-2005
Total posts: 132
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