SYL wk 11- Grattitude

Perfect timing with starting Thankful Tuesday on my fb page. I'm a big believer in a gratitude journal, even if it is in bullet points about what went right that day.

When Ashton is old enough I think we will start to share three things we are grateful for before bed, sounds like a great part of a bedtime ritual.

The following is taken from Week 11- there are some excellent ideas.


Practical ideas for developing a gratitude and 


kindness practice

Send out thank you’s / say thanks to people you deal with in your life

• great service you received
• a family member you appreciate
• a teacher you had or one your child has/had
• someone who helps with your child (a tutor/ instructor,  care giver/babysitter)

Give your partner acts of service without any expectations of reciprocity

• massages
• chores they normally handle
• letting them choose (restaurant, DVD, date night)
• offer to be the designated driver even if it is not your “turn”
• pack them a lunch (and include a note)

Volunteer or participate in your community

• donate children’s books to waiting rooms at doctor’s offices, hospitals, dentists, etc
• visit a nursing home with your children
• deliver coffee and treats to your local school administration office
• offer up your skills and services for free to teach someone else or assist them
• help a local teacher with “busy work” (copying, sorting etc) or provide extra supplies they need
• mow your neighbour’s front lawn while you are already out there

Slow down

• let someone go ahead of you in line at the shops or in traffic
• give up a parking space or stop to let someone know you are heading to you car so they can have your space
• stop to give directions to someone who seems lost
• check on someone you see get hurt
• help an elderly person load their groceries into their car
• write a letter or make a phone call to someone important to you

Be supportive of others

• babysit for friends
• bring food to a new mother and stop to help with her laundry or whatever she really needs
• cheer on a friend in a race
• give your friend a book you know she will love or that will help her
• comment on every blog post you read today and show that person they are being heard
• let someone else win the argument this time

Challenge for week 11: Incorporate this into your daily life. Start a gratitude journal, express thanks to others, set out to do random acts of kindness, look for a volunteer role in your community, or buy nice cards and write a whole heap of thank you letters- maybe start with your nearest and dearest , choose to be kinder every day and let things go.