It is just a coincidence that around the same time that several of my Facebook friends started posting 3 things they are grateful for for five days, I happened to watch 2 TED talks that touched on this. Well, not touched on it but were about the importance of actively thinking of what we are grateful for. The first, the happy secret to better work by Shawn Achor, is highly entertaining even as it touches on some very serious points about happiness. And unlike the easy five day challenge, he wants people to list the 3 gratitudes for 21 days. I loved the talk and subconsciously practiced some of the things that come up in a slide towards the end of the talk, but it was the 3 A's of awesome by Neil Pasricha that inspired, and continue to inspire, my daily list.
Shawn's talk inspired me to take action, and Neil's talk inspired me to keep it simple. I have always believed that happiness comes from appreciating the simple things that surround us and have an impact on us everyday.
When I saw the elderly woman who walks her dog every day after a week's absence, it made me happy. The full moon, which I always take a picture of (only to delete it when I am out of storage), excites me. The cat that runs off when I walk to the window makes me smile. When someone patiently waits for me as I back out of a parking space (usually very very slowly), I want to sing with joy. I also want to get out of the car and thank them, but that would really try their patience!
So yes, I am grateful for my amazing family and friends, the lovely house I live in, the opportunities I have had in life, and the fact that I have the means to write about this. But I am most grateful for the little things that happen to remind me that happiness is not just about the big moments in life, but about the little joys and pleasures that surround us at every moment. Having said that, I am most grateful for the people who don't take me for granted (I think that falls into my biggest gratitudes bucket).
To quote a friend's comment from Facebook - "I love how simple and in the moment your gratitudes are".
And yes, I am also grateful that you read my blog!
Shawn's talk inspired me to take action, and Neil's talk inspired me to keep it simple. I have always believed that happiness comes from appreciating the simple things that surround us and have an impact on us everyday.
When I saw the elderly woman who walks her dog every day after a week's absence, it made me happy. The full moon, which I always take a picture of (only to delete it when I am out of storage), excites me. The cat that runs off when I walk to the window makes me smile. When someone patiently waits for me as I back out of a parking space (usually very very slowly), I want to sing with joy. I also want to get out of the car and thank them, but that would really try their patience!
So yes, I am grateful for my amazing family and friends, the lovely house I live in, the opportunities I have had in life, and the fact that I have the means to write about this. But I am most grateful for the little things that happen to remind me that happiness is not just about the big moments in life, but about the little joys and pleasures that surround us at every moment. Having said that, I am most grateful for the people who don't take me for granted (I think that falls into my biggest gratitudes bucket).
To quote a friend's comment from Facebook - "I love how simple and in the moment your gratitudes are".
And yes, I am also grateful that you read my blog!
