Thank you Thursday was a practice I adapted from an August 2010 post by the same name on the Modern Servant Leader blog, written by Ben Lichtenwalner. I loved the idea of intentional gratitude and the intentional expression of gratitude. What I’ve learned is that thinking about being thankful for the “big” things is easy. Remembering all of the little things we usually take for granted is the greater challenge but, oh, so important.
Today, I am thankful that I stumbled across Ben’s blog post. For one year now, I have been enriched by fulfilling my commitment to write this weekly post. Giving focused attention and consideration to the many things I have to be thankful for always makes my week better. I have become more aware of signs, books, and articles about gratitude. I have shared with others the difference that living in gratitude has made for me and now they have taken up the Thank you Thursday idea in their own way.
My most recent gratitude find is a wonderful little book by M.J Ryan, “Attitudes of Gratitude, How to Give and Receive Joy Every Day of Your Life.” After an introduction about the joy of gratitude, the book is divided into three key parts: The Gifts of Gratitude, The Attitudes of Gratitude, and The Practices of Gratitude. It’s a collection of wonderful ideas, short stories and reminders of how to give and receive gratitude. It’s one of those great books that I can pick up, read a short chapter or two, be refreshed and carry on with renewed inspiration.
What about you? How do you stay fully present in gratitude? What would be possible if all the world were intentional in thankfulness?
Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it. -William Arthur Ward
Will you join the gratitude movement?
