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| This picture contains a white quote on a back background. The quote reads 'When life is sweet, say thank you and celebrate, when life is bitter, say thank you and grow. - HPLYRIKZ.com' |
Two years ago, Michelle Richards, author of Tending the Flame: The Art of UU Parenting, wrote an article for the UUWorld about gratitude, and how we might go about instilling this important value in our children. Richards suggested, of course, that it all begins with modeling gratitude ourselves.
So, with that, this week's pinterest pick is all about gratitude...
Pinterest Pick of the Week
Gratitude Challenge
Faith Formation Component
Covenant
Time for Activity
30 min. / day
Each day of November
Recommended Age
Preschool and Up
Materials
A Camera, Additional materials depending on your chosen activity
Activities
About two years ago, I tried to participate in the 30 days of gratitude challenge. I believe I made it through a weeks worth of posts before I gave up. It is not that I am ungrateful for all that I have. It is just that after naming all of the obvious things - my family, my home, and food on the table - I couldn't really think of anything else to mention. I guess you could say my idea well dried up.
This year, for all the reasons provided by Michelle Richards, and many more, I want to attempt the 30 days of gratitude challenge again. But, of course, I want this year to be different. So, to help me in my quest, I have put together a list! Here it is...
- Someone I See Everyday
- A Gift
- A Friend
- Something Beautiful
- A Luxury
- A Need
- Something Big
- Something Small
- An Ability
- A Piece of Knowledge
- Something Natural
- Inspiring Words
- Inspiring Person
- A Difficulty / Challenge
- Something Old
- Something New
- A Time of Day
- A Physical Feature
- A Daily Activity
- A Distraction
- Shelter
- A Piece of Technology
- Memories
- An Act of Kindness
- Inspiration
- A Sound
- Food
- Comport
- Love
- Something Seasonal
The list isn't the only difference this go around either. Instead of writing about each of these things, I plan to take and post pictures instead. When my creative energy for writing is in short supply, I hope pictures will give me the opportunity to express my gratitude without overtaxing my brain cells.
This week - well, this month really - I invite you and your family to join me in this challenge. Invite each member of your family to take a picture of something they are grateful for each day. Feel free to use the list provided as a guide or for inspiration. Then, post the pictures to your favorite social media site - Tumblr, Instagram, Pinterest, or Facebook. If you are a member of the First Church parenting facebook page, I encourage you to post your pictures there.
If you do not use social media, or if you want to focus more on your family, there are plenty of ways to bring this activity home. In the Michelle Richards piece mentioned above, Richards suggests creating a paper chain at the beginning of the month - a count down until the end of the month - and that each day, as you cut off a link of the chain, mindfully express gratitude for someone or something that holds meaning to you. On the flip side, Salt and Pepper Moms suggest creating a paper chain throughout the month. You can download their thankful strips by following the link above.
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| This picture from Salt N Pepper Moms shows a 'Thankful Thanksgiving Chain' and several unused thankful strips. |
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| Bargain Bound's Thankful tree starts off as a bare paper tree, and as the month progresses, 'fall' leaves with thankful sayings are added to the tree. |
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| This DIY 'Instagram Wall' is from Gimmie some Oven, and shows many small pictures in small white frames, arranged in a grid. |
- What are the advantage of living with 'an attitude of gratitude'?
- How difficult is it?
- What are some ways you can incorporate gratitude into your daily life?
Original Sources
The gratitude list was compiled using lists from The Middle Places, Positively Present, and Media Cache Ec0. All other links cited above.
Don't forget, this Sunday is Daylights Savings. Set your clocks back one hour and enjoy the extra hour of sleep!
- Ms. Meredith
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