Women's Home Activities

My birthday was this week and while I could bemoan the fact that I am now indeed another year older I chose a different route of thinking. Taking some time to myself to reflect on my years that have passed really got me thinking about how I could put my resolution of being grateful for the blessings in my life into action.

So this Thankful Thursday is dedicated to creating Attitudes of Gratitude and 5 Reasons To Be Thankful This Year.

Making a List Helps the Process

Those of you that have read previous posts on Women’s Home Activities know that I am definitely a “list maker”. As I’ve said before I write things down because it helps with keeping me and my ideas organized. Besides that, now that I am ‘getting older’ I need to write stuff down to remember things! Sound familiar to any of you? Hmm, now just where did I put that list and the ginkgo biloba? (She says this in jest of course; I’m not over the hill just yet!)

Truly though writing things down actually in itself will determine a certain amount of accountability on the list maker. Being able to check things off your list also gives you a great sense of accomplishment for completion of the tasks at hand.

Attitudes of Gratitude

Guess what y’all? I’ve found a new book to read and I am so thankful for the find. I know it seems like I have been sharing a lot of book titles with you lately on Thankful Thursday but I just can’t seem to help myself. I have so many of my own already that I love to re-read and gain insight from and I am finding new books all the time that I too want to read and go through. It is hard for me not to pass on these new discoveries.

The latest book that I have stumbled upon is by well renowned author M. J. Ryan and her book titled, Attitudes of Gratitude. I am very excited about starting this new treasure as I have a well determined goal of increasing my own personal “Attitude of Gratitude” this year as one of my set resolutions.

Let me give you a little tease of a quote from the book for your viewing pleasure and as a means of encouraging you to want to find out more about the book yourself.

M. J. Ryan writes: “One of the incredible truths about gratitude is that it is impossible to feel both the positive emotion of thankfulness and a negative emotion such as anger or fear at the same time. Gratitude births only positive feelings– love, compassion, joy and hope. As we focus on what we are thankful for, fear, anger, and bitterness simply melt away, seemingly without effort.”

I love what she has to say about being grateful. Every word of that quote is so very true. By creating our own Attitudes of Gratitude we become not only more positive thinkers but we also begin to evolve into happier people overall. Our relationships with our loved ones can’t help but to improve when we learn to change our way of thinking and feeling thankful during the process.

5 Reasons To Be Thankful This Year

Now, let me get back to my latest list that I stated in the beginning of this post. Part of my resolutions is about increasing my dedication to showing gratitude for what I am blessed for in this wonderful journey of life. So without further ado I will now ‘list’ for you my own personal 5 Reasons To Be Thankful This Year:

1.    I lived to see another year through – sometimes I think we take for granted that we are blessed to even see a new day begin. Not me, I am grateful that I have lived this long and look forward to each day with a smile on my face even if I am another year older. Happy Birthday to me and to you too when you celebrate your own special day.

2.    I am blessed with a loving and giving family and friends – although I have lost loved ones that I miss, I am very thankful that I have a loving husband, family and friends that give so much pleasure and comfort to my life. I am truly a blessed woman and treasure them for who they are and what they mean to me. I could go on forever about my loved ones but suffice to say that this is one area that I never miss a chance to let them know how much I care for and about them.

3.    I am thankful for this site and you my readers – by creating Women’s Home Activities I have been given a place to express my viewpoints on life and all the wonders it has to offer. I am very thankful that there are those of you that choose to visit this site to see what we have to offer. It is my sincere wish that you are not disappointed when you read these posts. If you have suggestions for what other topics you would like to know about feel free to drop us a line. We love comments and will get back to you as soon as possible.

4.    I have a home to live in – as I see on the news each day those around the world who have lost their homes due to natural disasters, loss of jobs and other means I am reminded of how grateful I am for the roof over my head. It may not be the home of my dreams just yet but I am thankful for it just the same. We have the comfort of heat in the winter and air conditioning in the summer. I have a kitchen to cook in and prepare loving meals for my family. There are so many without even the bare necessities of life. For them I pray that their situations improve. For myself and my family and friends I am grateful that we are provided for and continue to pray for simple abundance.

5.    I am of sound mind and body – while I do have another goal of improving my health by losing these unwanted pounds I seem to have gathered over time; I remind myself that I am very blessed to be sitting here at this computer with the ability to think, type and gather information. I am able to and enjoy playing with my grandchildren. I can get around on my own and drive my own vehicle. Yes I have to where reading glasses now, but I can see and I am thankful. My hearing is still very acute. The point is I know that having relative good health is a blessing and I am so very thankful that I and those I am close to are not suffering with any major afflictions. Again I pray for those who are and that they may be healed from what ails them.

I could make this list longer because believe you me I have tons of things to be thankful for. However I realize that this post is getting rather long and so all good things must come to an end as they say.

Now I put the question to you; just what is on your list of things to be thankful for this year? Hopefully adding Attitudes of Gratitude will be one of your top priorities and not just  buying the book but really becoming grateful for all that surrounds you and what you have to look forward to in your life throughout the new year and always. The choice is totally up to you.