Gratitude is a State of Being by The FlyLady, Marla Cilley
Here we are, we have just finished celebrating our Thanksgiving Day. The pilgrims had our first thanksgiving. They had three days of festivities. We do one big day and then we start shopping! We can't wait to jump right to the next holiday. Well I don't know about you but holidays seem to be coming much faster these days! I don't think our clocks are moving any quicker.
I heard the other day that one of our largest retailers was already thinking about Valentine's Day. Give me a break! I am all for planning but this is just a bit too much for me! Now don't start fussing at me. I know we started preparing for the holidays back in October. Our goal was to ready for December 25th by December 1st. Many of us have accomplished just what we set out to do! We named our preparations ÒCruising Through the Holidays' because on December 1st we were going to relax and have some fun! Isn't it a nice feeling to know that there is nothing that really needs to be done! OH You don't have that feeling? There is hope! We start our Super Cruising Mission this next week! You can still have some fun while you jump in and get started!
We are too busy thinking about the future to enjoy today! How sad is that! Some of us are sad thinking about holiday's in the past to enjoy today. I still want to savor the feeling of Thanksgiving! You know Thanksgiving doesn't have to be just one day a year! Thanksgiving is not really a holiday it is a state of being! Being grateful for what we have keeps us from continually looking outside of ourselves to fill an empty hole. This means shopping has a whole new meaning.
We no longer have to shop for things we don't really need! We go in a store with a list! We know what we are looking for! We are not combing the aisles of the store in search of that elusive item that is going to change our lives. We have already found it; it is in our hearts and souls. The elusive item is being thankful!
Being grateful also helps you to find the silver lining in a bad situation. This relieves the stress of tough events. The holidays can be a hard time for many of us. We may find ourselves being criticized in sarcastic ways or that criticism could be in the form of rolled eyes and awkward glances. Then there is the imagined critic that is in your head! Be thankful! I know you can find something to be grateful for!
Some of you are separated from family and missing them terribly! You are remembering holidays of the past and not making the most of the present because you are feeling sorry for yourself. That is not being thankful for what you have! You can make the most of what you have by being grateful for where you are and who you are with right now. Being thankful is your gift for living in the present! You can establish new memories and create your very own traditions! Finally Loving Yourself is all about being thankful for you and what you have!
For more help getting rid of your CHAOS; check out her website and join her free life coaching at www.FlyLady.net , listen to her channel http://www.blogtalkradio.com/channels/flylady show or read her books, Sink Reflections published by Bantam and her New York Times Best Selling book, Body Clutter published by Fireside. Copyright 2009 Marla Cilley Used by permission in this publication.
