Mischelle Weaver

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DAY 88 - ARE YOU GRATEFUL?

I hope you’re following along as we countdown the final 100 days of 2022 - you can join us anytime. Learn more about the program HERE.

There’s a reason so many people speak of having or showing gratitude.  There are countless books, journals, seminars, even movies about the power of gratitude in your life.  And I’m a huge fan!  About fifteen years ago I was going through a difficult time.  I confided in a friend who had a very strong spiritual practice that included meditation and gratitude.  And moreover, most of the time she seemed to be a genuinely happy, even joyful person.  While we talked about a number of things, one main takeaway for me was she had a profound and deep commitment to gratitude; having it and expressing it.  

When we bring gratitude into our daily lives, we begin to shift our perspectives.  Gratitude fosters a different mindset, one that supports a deeper appreciation and enthusiasm for what we have.  If you truly commit to taking time to evaluate your life with a lens of gratitude, you start to connect with what’s positive and working well, instead of always looking at what’s missing.  While I know there are skeptics who might not believe that changing your mindset makes a difference, I am here to tell you it can have a profound impact on your life.

Part of my gratitude practice includes:

  • 1-2x per week, list all the things from the prior week for which I am truly grateful.

  • Write a minimum of 5 handwritten notes, per week, to people expressing my appreciation and gratitude.

  • Let at least 2-3 people know that they have made a difference for me this week.  

Next time a food server, cashier, or delivery person hands you something, look them in the eye and tell them how much you appreciate them.  My experience is you will see a noticeable and positive change in them.  

I once left a handwritten note for a hotel desk clerk, expressing how much I appreciated her effort to make my stay so welcoming.  I got a call from her manager to tell me the note almost moved the clerk to tears.  Apparently, that had been a particularly difficult week for the clerk.  The hotel was especially busy, and they were short-staffed.  Sadly, the clerk took the brunt of the guest’s frustrations.  No other customer bothered to say thank you let alone do something so thoughtful as leaving a note.  For this reason, I keep a small supply of Thank You cards in a notebook that travels everywhere with me.  Leaving a trail of kindness is an incredible thing!  Small acts of gratitude do more for me than the recipient, I assure you.  When I’m having a difficult day, nothing helps me snap out of it faster than showing appreciation to someone else.

What can you do today to show someone that they are seen, heard, and matter?  How can you show gratitude for someone else who could really use it?