grat * i * tude

by Megan Spears

grat * i * tude \grat’i tood’, -tyood\

n: the quality or feeling of being thankful < She showed her gratitude for her husband’s romantic gesture by letting him watch ESPN all afternoon. > The quality of being thankful or grateful – Syn. Thanks, Thankfulness, Appreciation, Gratefulness.

This is the dictionary.com definition of gratitude. For some reason, we spend quite a bit of time talking about what we are grateful around Thanksgiving, but why should we limit our gratitude to just one day (or month) of  the year.

Last year, I read a great article in Real Simple on this very subject of Gratitude that I really enjoyed and love to share with people who need that extra boost of motivation (or reminder) of why it’s important to be grateful.

Oprah talks frequently of living a life of gratitude and that not enough people do it. We get so wrapped up in our own drama or chaos that we forget about being grateful or thankful for all that we have. America is of course the the land of excess…

How does it happen that we loose track of our priorities? Getting back to what really is important is what I have feel this time of year is all about. Knowing what defines you and what you can truly express gratitude for!

I am grateful for….

…Gods grace and the many blessings we have had this past year.

… Our family and especially for my husband and all that he has done for our us!

… Our good health and how the kids have managed to dodge a few cold bullets recently.

And finally… Our freedom, that each day I can make choices for myself and my children. That I have the opportunity to experience all these things that I am grateful for!

What are you grateful for?