November is the month to give thanks, but really every month/day we should give thanks. Right? Some days I forget how much I have to be thankful for, then I remember things could be way worse. I spent a solid 3 weeks worrying about not being able to run when I could’ve been thankful that I can walk. So while I was out walking my dog one day I realized that I need to suck it up and be thankful for all that I have. 

I started compiling a list then realized it’s probably the same list every year… a home, great family, good health, a career. What I really need to do is remember the little things that make up the big picture because it’s those small everyday things that makes my life the life I am grateful for. 

A few little things that are really big:

• Coming home from work with no dishes in the sink. Bonus if the dishwasher is empty!
• A day at work when all the patients are nice.  Bonus if they know their meds and health history.
• Nice running weather and a good run. Bonus if all the people I pass smile, nod or wave.
• Sleeping an entire night without my dog Sadie waking me up to go outside.

Simple ways to remember the little big things:

1. Journal. I mention this first because I really want to be the person who keeps a journal…but I’m not. I’ve attempted to keep a journal several times but unfortunately the idea of journaling is way more attractive than the actual practice of journaling. That’s me. Maybe it would be perfect for you.
2. Calendar. I am way better at keeping a calendar and putting notes in the margins. I like to write positive comments throughout the week of things that went well and what I’m thankful for.
3. Gratitude jar. The year prior to my mother’s passing me and my girls started a gratitude jar to remind us that even though it was difficult dealing with my Mom’s Alzheimer’s we did have something to be thankful for each day.  Every night we wrote something good about the day on a piece of paper and put it in the jar. We were suppose to read them at the end of the year. I haven’t been able to bring myself to read them all.
4. Post-it notes. Probably better for motivation but still good for thankful reminders. I know people that stick post-its everywhere (fridge, front door, bathroom mirror) with little comments on them to give a little boost throughout the day. 

A few ways to show gratitude:

• Give to those in need. With the cold weather coming, homeless shelters need warm coats, socks, shoes and blankets. The best places to donate are homeless shelters and The Salvation Army. Goodwill is a for profit business. They basically get all their merchandise for free, and while they sell it cheap, they still get rich off of your donations. I prefer to donate to an organization that gives back to the ones in need.

• Volunteer. The first thing that might come to mind is helping the homeless and volunteering at a soup kitchen, but they have an abundance of help this time of year. Everyone wants to do their good deed during the holidays, but it’s the off season when they need the help. So mark your calendar for sometime after the holidays  to help out at your local soup kitchen. 
• Pay it forward. Pay for the person behind you at Starbucks or the person digging for change in front of you at the grocery store. I had someone pay for my coffee in the Starbucks drive-thru once and it set the tone for the whole day. 
• Pick up trash. I’m grateful for  where I live and I want to keep it clean. I frequently pick up trash on my runs. I wish everyone would. Or better yet, I wish people would stop littering.  Litterbugs are my pet peeve and I’ve been known to express my feelings on more than one occasion.

There are so many ways to show gratitude and things to be grateful for. How do you show gratitude? What are you thankful for…little or big?

I’m linking with Kim and Zenaida for Tuesday Topics. Thanks for the link up ladies!

Thanks for reading.

Keep running!

                Denise