Last year, one of the most popular posts on this blog was my recounting of blessings near Thanksgiving. This year, I’m counting them again.
Did you know that humans have what’s called a negative bias? That means, when we recall things, our mind tends to focus on the bad or hurtful events rather than the happy ones.
Ugh. Who wants that sort of negativity in their head? Not me.
I encourage you to consider the past few months of your life. What good things happened?
If you’re going through a difficult time, it might take a few moments to think of something. As someone who struggles with chronic depression and seasonal affective disorder, I completely understand.
There are days I stare sightlessly, wracking my brain, to fill in the sentence starter in my journal that says “I’m grateful for…”
Sometimes, I have to resort to things like air to breathe and strong coffee because I’m so overcome by the strength of my mental health issues that I truly can’t think of anything else.
My blessings include:
- A new car
- A husband who spoils me
- Four healthy grandchildren
- Regular time spent with these precious ones
- Multiple editions of the Holy Bible to read
- Finding new fiction authors I love
- Publishing the story of my heart
- Working with my coaching huddle
- My writing coach
- A new story idea
- My sister who is my biggest fan
- A boy (man) named Tanner
- A boy (man) named Thaddeus
- Playing the piano
- Music
- Learning to draw
- Fancy script handwriting
- My Sunday school class
- Singing
- Soft, colorful yarn
- Audiobooks to make chore time and road trips pass more quickly
- Quartz kitchen counters
- New paint
- An organized pantry
- A washer and dryer
- Two cats to cuddle (but never at the same time)
I hope this post of big and little blessings in my life will remind you that you have much to be thankful for today.
The list could go on. Because I am blessed beyond measure.
Even when I don’t feel like it, all I have to do is open my eyes and look around me. At my comfy home. My new car. My healthy family.
I hope this dose of gratitude on this eve of Thanksgiving inspires you to make a list of your blessings.
I’d love if you’d comment with the first one that came to mind.
Happy Thanksgiving! You are blessed.