As you know, I completed my "100 Days of Thank You" project over a year and a half ago. Expressing gratitude is still something I value highly and continue to do on a regular basis.
Since the completion of my project, I have been led to do more research on not only gratitude, but service to others as well as the health and wellness of our bodies. The information I have learned has become so fascinating to me that I have decided to make a career sharing my knowledge as a life coach and speaker. I hope to teach others how to live happier, more balanced lives.
You can now follow my new blog and visit my new website here. I'm also on Facebook, so hop over sometime and give my page a little love & get some inspiration.
Hopefully, you are living your happiest life (and remembering to express gratitude often!). If you are looking for some happiness inspiration, my eBook "How To Live Your Happiest Life" should be released by the end of the month - I'll keep you posted!
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
A Call
This is it! Today is my 100th day of "organized thanking." Hopefully, you've enjoyed reading a post or two - but more importantly, I hope you have been able to "get something" out of it. This post is all about a call to action. Some of you have been faithful readers and have been with me through most of the 100 days. When you read the blogs, do you think, "Oh, how nice. She doing some nice things" followed by "I wonder what we should have for supper?" Or do you stop and think how this could potentially apply to you? How can you express more gratitude in your own life? What specifically are you going to do? Lets use this as a time for you to take some action. Take a minute and jot down some things you actually plan to do in regards to gratitude. Seriously. Get out the paper - I'll wait.
Are you skipping ahead? I really meant it when I said write it down. There is something definitive about the act of actually writing. Don't just say to yourself, "I'll do it in my head" or "I'll do it later" because you won't. Do it now while you're thinking about it.
Some ideas for those of you who are "stuck":
1. Make a list of people you'd like to thank.
2. Choose a time each week when you can give up 5 min. (I like to write out a few thank-you's on Monday mornings - it tends to put things in perspective on a day that doesn't get as much love as the other 6).
3. Buy some thank you cards or plain card stock to write on. Or, for you artsy-craftsy types (not me) get out the stamping gear, stickers & funny scissors and make your own.
4. Stick some blank thank you's in your purse/briefcase/glove box. That way, when you are waiting an exceptionally long time for you oil to get changed or at the dr's office, you can crank out a few.
5. Start practicing gratitude throughout your day. (Especially when you're grumpy!). It doesn't have to be anything big - this morning, I was grateful that my hot tea (which I had forgotten to drink) wasn't ice cold when I finally remembered to drink it.
6. Start and end your day with thank-you's to God. Many mornings, the only thing positive I can think of is "Thank you for making sleep so awesome that I want to do it more." But it still counts & gets me in a better mood.
I'm sure you could think of even more ideas that pertain more directly to your own life. Looks like you've got a nice list there. Soooo, my last challenge is for you do go DO IT. You don't have do commit to 100 days, or create some fancy-schmancy blog - just start incorporating gratitude into your daily life a little more often and see where it gets you. My guess is someplace good. Thanks again for all of your support!
Are you skipping ahead? I really meant it when I said write it down. There is something definitive about the act of actually writing. Don't just say to yourself, "I'll do it in my head" or "I'll do it later" because you won't. Do it now while you're thinking about it.
Some ideas for those of you who are "stuck":
1. Make a list of people you'd like to thank.
2. Choose a time each week when you can give up 5 min. (I like to write out a few thank-you's on Monday mornings - it tends to put things in perspective on a day that doesn't get as much love as the other 6).
3. Buy some thank you cards or plain card stock to write on. Or, for you artsy-craftsy types (not me) get out the stamping gear, stickers & funny scissors and make your own.
4. Stick some blank thank you's in your purse/briefcase/glove box. That way, when you are waiting an exceptionally long time for you oil to get changed or at the dr's office, you can crank out a few.
5. Start practicing gratitude throughout your day. (Especially when you're grumpy!). It doesn't have to be anything big - this morning, I was grateful that my hot tea (which I had forgotten to drink) wasn't ice cold when I finally remembered to drink it.
6. Start and end your day with thank-you's to God. Many mornings, the only thing positive I can think of is "Thank you for making sleep so awesome that I want to do it more." But it still counts & gets me in a better mood.
I'm sure you could think of even more ideas that pertain more directly to your own life. Looks like you've got a nice list there. Soooo, my last challenge is for you do go DO IT. You don't have do commit to 100 days, or create some fancy-schmancy blog - just start incorporating gratitude into your daily life a little more often and see where it gets you. My guess is someplace good. Thanks again for all of your support!
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
The End Is Near...
*hanging head in shame*
So, it's been awhile since I've written. Somehow, this blog got put not only on the back burner, but I don't even think the stove top was on. But here I am, ready with an entire MONTH'S worth of thank-you related wisdom to share.
First of all, let's start with the fact that the end of this project is rapidly approaching. April 13th, to be exact. Some of you left brained folks might be wondering what my stats are. "How many thank-you's has she cranked out? Did she hit everyone on that list of hers? Did she do MORE than 100 thank-you's in 100 days?" The answer is really going to irritate some of you...here it comes... I have no clue. I couldn't even guess how many thank you's I've doled out in the (almost) 100 days it's been. Being somewhat of a left-brainer myself, this actually irritates me a little, too (but I'm trying to get over it). Why didn't I simply keep track? With a project like this, wouldn't it have been awesome to share my "results" and maybe throw in a bar graph for good measure?
Originally, that was the direction I was headed. I kept track of who I had thanked, what I thanked them for, what my "count" was, etc. Then one day, I made a realization: on April 14th, I probably should still try to thank someone. And probably on April 15th, 16th, 17th...you get the idea. Point being, this project may be ending, but expressing gratitude is something that should never end. That's when I decided to stop being a person who has the goal of thanking someone every day for 100 days and start being a person who expresses gratitude freely, without having an "ulterior motive." So I quit. I didn't quit thanking, I quit keeping track. It's kind of like someone who is trying to quit smoking. Ask them how many days it's been since their last cigarette and most of them will be able to tell you (some even down to the minute). But until they stop identifying themselves as a "smoker trying to quit" and instead as a "non-smoker," they will not have as much success.
OK, so maybe it's not like trying to quit smoking at all...but I hope you see my point. If you're out of the habit of thanking people, setting a goal can be a good thing. However, at some point, it becomes time to let it become your way of life and a part of who you are - not just a task you are trying to accomplish. I'm still writing my thank-you's and I will continue to do so, perhaps forever. I hope to eventually write over a thousand - not because it's cool to be able to say that (even though it kind of is), but because I know that with each thank you I am putting more "good" out into the world. And that's always a good thing.
So, it's been awhile since I've written. Somehow, this blog got put not only on the back burner, but I don't even think the stove top was on. But here I am, ready with an entire MONTH'S worth of thank-you related wisdom to share.
First of all, let's start with the fact that the end of this project is rapidly approaching. April 13th, to be exact. Some of you left brained folks might be wondering what my stats are. "How many thank-you's has she cranked out? Did she hit everyone on that list of hers? Did she do MORE than 100 thank-you's in 100 days?" The answer is really going to irritate some of you...here it comes... I have no clue. I couldn't even guess how many thank you's I've doled out in the (almost) 100 days it's been. Being somewhat of a left-brainer myself, this actually irritates me a little, too (but I'm trying to get over it). Why didn't I simply keep track? With a project like this, wouldn't it have been awesome to share my "results" and maybe throw in a bar graph for good measure?
Originally, that was the direction I was headed. I kept track of who I had thanked, what I thanked them for, what my "count" was, etc. Then one day, I made a realization: on April 14th, I probably should still try to thank someone. And probably on April 15th, 16th, 17th...you get the idea. Point being, this project may be ending, but expressing gratitude is something that should never end. That's when I decided to stop being a person who has the goal of thanking someone every day for 100 days and start being a person who expresses gratitude freely, without having an "ulterior motive." So I quit. I didn't quit thanking, I quit keeping track. It's kind of like someone who is trying to quit smoking. Ask them how many days it's been since their last cigarette and most of them will be able to tell you (some even down to the minute). But until they stop identifying themselves as a "smoker trying to quit" and instead as a "non-smoker," they will not have as much success.
OK, so maybe it's not like trying to quit smoking at all...but I hope you see my point. If you're out of the habit of thanking people, setting a goal can be a good thing. However, at some point, it becomes time to let it become your way of life and a part of who you are - not just a task you are trying to accomplish. I'm still writing my thank-you's and I will continue to do so, perhaps forever. I hope to eventually write over a thousand - not because it's cool to be able to say that (even though it kind of is), but because I know that with each thank you I am putting more "good" out into the world. And that's always a good thing.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
THIS JUST IN!!!!
Terribly exciting news - I know I've got your attention because I used all capital letters AND exclamation points in the title of this blog - that's how you know something is really important. Here it is:
I've been doing a little research on this topic and I was incredibly excited in what I learned. Since not all of you have your PhD, I will "dumb things down" a little. (I'm personally not a fan of "fancy talk" anyway, but that is a discussion for another day). Practicing gratitude daily is healthy for your brain - it does all kinds of good things by sending good brain chemicals flying here & there. It also sets the stage for other good things to happen in your brain. That alone is exciting - but now hear this... people who have a generally pessimistic view towards the world die sooner. Having a negative outlook on life is flat out bad for your heart. There is something called a HRT (heart rate turbulence) that is apparently affected by your outlook towards the world (other things affect it, also). Being a pessimist lowers your HRT and puts you at risk for cardiac disease.
So, the question is...are you being a grateful optimist? Or are you a take-everything-for-granted pessimist? Here's a quick way to find out. Think of the last time someone told you..."We need to talk." Were you excited because you couldn't wait to hear what wonderful and exciting things that person wanted to talk about? Or did your stomach sink to your toenails & leave you dreading the impending conversation...
Unfortunately, I think many of us think we are optimists, when in fact we are actually pessimists - and pessimists typically live in fear - yikes. Not a sunshine & roses kind of thought, is it? But there is good news! It may not be the easiest thing in the world, but I believe it is possible to change yourself into an optimist. Simply becoming more aware of your attitude will help, for starters. Practicing gratitude daily and focusing more on others will also help get you on the right track. So, if you just diagnosed yourself as being pessimist, you CAN become optimistic - one half-empty - I mean, half-full glass at a time.
Practicing gratitude (and having a positive attitude) is PHYSICALLY good for you!!
I've been doing a little research on this topic and I was incredibly excited in what I learned. Since not all of you have your PhD, I will "dumb things down" a little. (I'm personally not a fan of "fancy talk" anyway, but that is a discussion for another day). Practicing gratitude daily is healthy for your brain - it does all kinds of good things by sending good brain chemicals flying here & there. It also sets the stage for other good things to happen in your brain. That alone is exciting - but now hear this... people who have a generally pessimistic view towards the world die sooner. Having a negative outlook on life is flat out bad for your heart. There is something called a HRT (heart rate turbulence) that is apparently affected by your outlook towards the world (other things affect it, also). Being a pessimist lowers your HRT and puts you at risk for cardiac disease.
So, the question is...are you being a grateful optimist? Or are you a take-everything-for-granted pessimist? Here's a quick way to find out. Think of the last time someone told you..."We need to talk." Were you excited because you couldn't wait to hear what wonderful and exciting things that person wanted to talk about? Or did your stomach sink to your toenails & leave you dreading the impending conversation...
Unfortunately, I think many of us think we are optimists, when in fact we are actually pessimists - and pessimists typically live in fear - yikes. Not a sunshine & roses kind of thought, is it? But there is good news! It may not be the easiest thing in the world, but I believe it is possible to change yourself into an optimist. Simply becoming more aware of your attitude will help, for starters. Practicing gratitude daily and focusing more on others will also help get you on the right track. So, if you just diagnosed yourself as being pessimist, you CAN become optimistic - one half-empty - I mean, half-full glass at a time.
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Thank YOU for the support
So, as I've been tooling along on this little "Thank You" journey, I have hit some lulls. We already know that I've found this to be more difficult than it sounds - thanking someone every day can sometimes be tricky. For instance, sometimes I see people face-to-face and they have done something "thank-worthy" (is that a word? It is now.), but it often feels inappropriate & downright weird to go into a heartfelt thank you. Imagine the next time you do something nice for someone & they start to pour their heart out to you. Awk-ward. I think it's unfortunately because that's not common practice in our society. We often say the words, but rarely go beyond them. Since it's not something that occurs everyday, most people don't know how to respond, which in turn can make things uncomfortable.
Earlier in my process, I decided I needed to "be brave" and do more face-to-face thank-you-ing. Well, maybe just because I've turned chicken & am making excuses, but I've found a way around the face-to-face thing. It's revolutionary people - you're going to want to write this down -
A hand-written thank you note.
O.K., not so revolutionary, but I think there is something to be said for the written word. Also, it elimiantes that whole awkward bit AND it allows the recipient to hang on to said thank you note to read and recieve warm fuzzies in the future.
So, if you are inspired by this project at all, here is a tip: set aside some time each week and write out a thank you or two. I promise only good things can come of it.
And as the title of this entry suggests, thank you to everyone who has given me encouragement along the way. It seems whenever I hit a big lull, or lose my motivation, someone is there to encourage me - so THANK YOU! :-)
Earlier in my process, I decided I needed to "be brave" and do more face-to-face thank-you-ing. Well, maybe just because I've turned chicken & am making excuses, but I've found a way around the face-to-face thing. It's revolutionary people - you're going to want to write this down -
A hand-written thank you note.
O.K., not so revolutionary, but I think there is something to be said for the written word. Also, it elimiantes that whole awkward bit AND it allows the recipient to hang on to said thank you note to read and recieve warm fuzzies in the future.
So, if you are inspired by this project at all, here is a tip: set aside some time each week and write out a thank you or two. I promise only good things can come of it.
And as the title of this entry suggests, thank you to everyone who has given me encouragement along the way. It seems whenever I hit a big lull, or lose my motivation, someone is there to encourage me - so THANK YOU! :-)
Monday, February 14, 2011
Thank You Song
The history of this song:
Several years ago, I started the basic foundation of the song. Chords, etc. I was just play ng around with it for fun. A year ago, I felt a push to finish the song. I procrastinated...procrastinated...then procrastinated some more until finally, this fall I "finished" it (added words & a bridge). Still unsure what to do with it, I felt pushed to ask a colleague for help with the technology side of things - getting the song from my head onto the computer. Once it was on my computer, I left it alone for awhile, unsure of what to do with it.
About a month into this "100 Days of Thank You" project, I listened to the song again and realized what it was about - thanking God, even when we're too busy/worried/unsure of things. Totally fits with my thank you project.
Coincidence? You be the judge. I'm voting for no...
Anyway, I hope you enjoy it.
Friday, February 4, 2011
Snow Day!
This week we were blessed/cursed (depends on how you look at it) with not one but two snow days. I, of course had all kinds of projects around the house I probably should have done, but as far as I'm concerned there isn't anything much better on a snow day than curling up with a good book. There was a particular book I had in mind (and unfortunately did not have in the house) so bundled up, I hopped in my husbands truck (with 4 wheel drive) and proceeded to slip & slide my way to the local library. It was well worth the trip as the book was a quick read and very though provoking.
One of the most interesting parts was a chapter on gratitude. According to this book, you will be a happier person and "get more" of what you want out of life if you practice an attitude of gratitude. Needless to say, I felt pretty good about myself at that point, what with this "100 Days of Thank You" project & all. As I delved further into the book, I realized they were talking more than just one thank you a day. This was serious thank-you stuff. We're talking 100's of thank you's a day. Yikes. I had been struggling with one a day - how in the world would I get to 100 in a day?
Well, I'm not exactly keeping track, but thanking God multiple times a day and thanking one "tangible" person every day has been making my mood much lighter. It is much easier to be in a good mood when you are constantly thinking of what is good in your life. I'm only a few days in to the "hard core" thank you's, so I can't speak for the "getting stuff" part of the equation, but I will definitely say it is making me happier. So quit reading this & go thank someone. :-)
One of the most interesting parts was a chapter on gratitude. According to this book, you will be a happier person and "get more" of what you want out of life if you practice an attitude of gratitude. Needless to say, I felt pretty good about myself at that point, what with this "100 Days of Thank You" project & all. As I delved further into the book, I realized they were talking more than just one thank you a day. This was serious thank-you stuff. We're talking 100's of thank you's a day. Yikes. I had been struggling with one a day - how in the world would I get to 100 in a day?
Well, I'm not exactly keeping track, but thanking God multiple times a day and thanking one "tangible" person every day has been making my mood much lighter. It is much easier to be in a good mood when you are constantly thinking of what is good in your life. I'm only a few days in to the "hard core" thank you's, so I can't speak for the "getting stuff" part of the equation, but I will definitely say it is making me happier. So quit reading this & go thank someone. :-)
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