November is National Gratitude Month. Lately, I have been thinking about gratitude in the ordinary.
Not the big, everyday life happenings that we recognize and celebrate. But the little things. The things we don’t easily recognize. The ordinary blessings are right in front of us and go unnoticed.
When was the last time I sat down with a good cup of coffee or tea and perused a magazine?
Or stopped and smelled something baking in our oven or the freshness of Fall on your morning walk?
We can not forget the beauty of those sunrises or sunsets when days are shorter, or when our dogs or cats greet us with smiles and wagging tails even though they just saw us ten minutes ago.
I’m not sure about you, but I take these ordinary moments like that for granted. I spend so much time waiting for the “extraordinary “ blessings – the planned vacation, the next time they come home – that I tend to miss what is right in front of me. I fail to recognize the season I’m in. The air I breathe, the roof over our heads, the food on my table. For the hands that I have been given to work with and play.
For all the lessons I have learned along the way.
But what if I slow down a bit and recognize how really extraordinary those blessings are?
Gratitude doesn’t mean everything is perfect, that we don’t have hard days, disappointments, worries, things that don’t go according to my plans. Or all-out failures. It means, to me, finding gratitude in the middle of it all. Though it can be very small, I need to open my eyes wide to see the goodness all around.
One day I will look back and realize those little things were actually big things right in front of me. During this month of November, I will not only be thankful, but I will take notice and find gratitude in the ordinary. I hope you will too.
Blessings~
Jenn
