With the Christmas decorating and gift-buying season suddenly upon us, it is easy to fly right by Thanksgiving. All we will have to show for this holiday is a few extra pounds from over-dosing on mashed potatoes, gravy and pumpkin pie. Eh hem. Is that what Thanksgiving is all about?

I like to get as much out of the seasons and holidays as I can, so I started thinking about ways I could incorporate the “attitude of gratitude” around my house.

Are you a glass half full person or a glass half empty person? I tend to be a glass half full gal, but I’d have to say my son is usually the opposite. I sometimes (affectionately, of course) think of him as an Eeyore. I am forever trying to help him see the bright side of things. We work on lessons in positive thinking and gratitude quite often around our house. Thanksgiving is the perfect time of year to put our efforts into overdrive.

So, how can we create a home that reflects an attitude of gratitude? We need to practice it daily, not just on Thanksgiving.

Last year I put together a list of attitudes and behaviors I wanted to emphasize to my family. By focusing on small daily habits, we are able to change the tone of our home and treasure all the blessings that are right in front of us.

20 Little Attitudes? of Gratitude

1. Mind your manners. Say please, thank you and excuse me.
2. Smile when you see your family. Turn your frown upside down.
3. Pick up after yourself and for someone else too. Be happy you have someone to pick up after!
4. Notice when others do kind things for you, show gratitude by action or words.
5. Say I love you before you leave in the morning and before bed at night.
6. Give hugs daily.
7. Don’t worry about tomorrow. Focus on what you are happy about today.
8. Create gratitude journals to keep track of daily blessings.
9. Show thankfulness for even the little things others do for you.
10. Leave love notes in unexpected places like lunch boxes and under pillows.
11. Encourage someone with a compliment.
12. Verbalize what you are grateful for when you feel like complaining about life.
13. Keep a basket of small slips of paper on the table. Write notes of thankfulness during the week and read them to each other during a family meal.
14. Remember to thank God for blessings each day.
15. Surprise your family (or friends) with little gifts or treats to show you thought of them.
16. No grumbling about minor annoyances around the house.
17. Do special things to cherish time with your family. You never know what tomorrow will bring.
18. Reflect on happy memories regularly. Make inspiration boards or photo walls of special times.
19. Help someone out without them having to ask you. Watch for someone in need.
20. When you are doing household chores, be grateful you have a home to clean.

By making a list of 20 attitudes of gratitude and putting them into them into practice, we can make our homes a much more pleasant place to be!

What gratitude attitude would you add to the list?

by Melissa Michaels

adapted from The Inspired Room (2008)

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