DAY 31

2010 has come to an end! What an amazing year.  As I end 31 days of gratitude, I am so blessed by what I have learned through writing this blog.  I am grateful for life's lessons that have taught me much.  Grateful that I have 365 days of gratitude in 2011 to walk through with new lessons, surprises, anticipation and lives too touch.
Day 31 Reflect back on your gratitude journal from the last 31 days.  Share what you have learned with others, be a blessings to those you know and don't know. Set a goal to write down at least 3-5 things you are grateful each day of 2011.  Let an attitude of gratitude permeate every area of your life and be happy!

~What are you grateful for~ Cafe Gratitude
~May the New Year bring many opportunities of gratitude for you and may joy be yours daily~ Denise

Day 30

Less than two days left in 2010.  It is 71 degrees today – a most glorious day as I sit outside, on my computer, reflecting on the past year.  The year will end on a cold note (temperature wise), but today is like a spring day- new beginnings just around the corner. Anticipation is a good thing!

Definition of Anticipation according to Webster’s Dictionary:

1a: a prior action that takes into account or forestalls a later action b: the act of looking forward; especially: pleasurable expectation; 3a: visualization of a future event or state b; an object or form that anticipates a later type

Day 30

What are you anticipating for the coming year? Don’t be afraid to Dream Big. Believe Big. Visualize Big. Live Big. Love Big.  No holding back.  Give it your best shot and remember that making better choices today equals tomorrow being your best – so that you can live a life of gratitude in optimum health; Spirit, Mind and Body. End the year writing down 30 things, people, circumstances and situations that you are grateful for.

~But if we learn to think of it as anticipation, as learning, as growing, if we think of the time we spend waiting for the big things of life as an opportunity instead of a passing of time, what wonderful horizons open out! Anna Neagle~

~Grateful for the desire to dream, anticipate and live life to the fullest.  Looking with anticipation to a fabulous New Year in 2011~ Denise

Day 29

The end of the year used to signify how many failures I experienced and left me going into the new year depressed and miserable.  For many years of my life, I failed to see the blessings all around me; failed to be grateful or look for the pockets of gratitude in the midst of my pain. I saw pain and dysfunction, felt pain and dysfunction and little else. 

But, today is a new day, 2010 was a new year and I find myself looking back at what I used to see as pain and dysfunction with a new outlook, excitement and gratitude.  God has been good to me and I am loving life and so excited about what 2011 will hold in store for me, my family and friends - and for you!

Day 29

Reflect on who you have become this year.  Do you like what you faced this past year? Are you pleased with the way you handled life's challenges?  Are there changes you really want to make so next year will be a happier, more peaceful year? Write down 29 things that you are grateful for.

~ "Celebrate God all day, every day. I mean, revel in him! Make it as clear as you can to all you meet that you're on their side, working with them and not against them."~ Philippians 4:4  Message Bible,

~Grateful for the opportunity to look for the good in everyone and every situation. Do I always succeed? - No, but, my track record is moving more toward success than failure - Just blessed for the ability to enjoy life - Yay!~
Denise

Day 28

Wow, 3 days left in 2010. What a year this has been! I am working hard to tidy up loose ends, pack up Christmas decorations, etc. I want to end 2010 with at least two days of quiet, time with friends, getting organized and  ready to move into the new year- uncluttered and with clear headed thinking...
~Grateful for the opportunity to take time for reflection of my life...~
Denise

Day 24

I lost 2 days due to shoulder on Day 22.  After a horrible reaction to pain medication and an evening spent in the ER, I am happy to report that I am better - so much better today!

~So very grateful for family, friends, quick healing, good health.  Grateful also for my daughter Megan and grand pup Yogi, who came to take care of me and so we can spend Christmas together. Grateful for two amazing daughters , a fabulous grand daughter, a new grand baby to be, a son in law,  my dad, siblings, family, wonderful friends, incredible business, great job !~

Denise

Day 25

Gratitude...  What are you grateful for?
Today is December 25th, Christmas Day. I am so grateful for Christmas so many years ago that ushered in - Jesus' birthday! Jesus, the King of Kings, Lord of Lord, Prince of Peace, Emanuel (God with Us), Savior, Redeemer, Mighty God and so much more...

My life today is blessed beyond measure. Two healthy adult daughters, an amazing grand daughter,  new grand baby on the way, supportive dad, siblings and family, a good relationship with my ex husband, a great job, an incredible blossoming business, wonderful friends and the love and blessing of God in my life!

~Luke 2:16  And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger~
Merry Christmas!
Denise

Day 21

Are you grateful for your health?  Are you grateful for the life force within you? Are you truly grateful for what you do have?  Do you have good neighbors? Is your job providing the finances you need to pay your bills?  The list could go on and on.  Find things that you can be grateful for that you haven't thought about recently.

Day 21
Go on a gratefulness scavenger hunt and see how many unexpected places you can find to be grateful for...  Write down 21 things you are grateful for..

~Grateful for the right to choose....  The ability to make choices of freedom for me...  the freedom to be who I was created to be..~
Denise

Day 20

 Tis the season to be jolly and generous. Who blesses you that needs to be blessed back?

If you have a housekeeper or lawn service, add extra payment or treat them to home-baked cookies occasionally to express your appreciation for their continued good work. I had a brother in law who was a garbage collector years ago. I remember how thrilled he was when people would leave baskets of food, or bottles of some sort of specialty liquor on or near the trashcans.  Who thinks to thank the garbage collector? Everybody needs to be remembered.!
Day 20
Find someone to do something extra for today and write down 20 tbings you are grateful for.

~Grateful for the waitresses who work in restaurants even on holidays, so I can go out for dinner if I choose to.
Denise~

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Day 19

What are you grateful for?  Gratefulness or being thankful really is a matter of prospective and experience.  This prospective depends on one's upbringing, example, religion, and personal life experiences. Take two siblings from the same family, same parents, same genetics, yet both may have a very different prospective based on the way they saw things and how they responded to what they experienced. Many individuals like or dislike certain things, solely because that is what they were brought up with, and couldn't tell you why they hold the opinions they do.

Fortunately, we can short circuit programming that is not serving us and can rewire the way we view life so we can experience different outcomes from the same past events. The key here is forgiveness...  Forgiving others, forgiving yourself, accepting others and accepting and loving yourself.

Day 19

Choose today not to let past experiences color or discolor your prospective in the area of gratitude and being thankful. Write down 19 things you are grateful for.

~Thanksgiving Day comes, by statute, once a year; to the honest man it comes as frequently as the heart of gratitude will allow.  ~Edward Sandford Martin~

~ Grateful for the opportunity to learn about myself, rewire the thought processes of my past that no longer serve me, and move to a place of freedom to be grateful~
Denise

Day 18

I drove from Oklahoma to South Dakota yesterday.  A third of the way into the trip, I started seeing snow along the side of the road.  Discouragement and and negativity began to set in.  You see, I don't like the cold.  I like snow or at least I used to, but not the ice, freezing temperatures, winds and mess that seem to accompany it. It wasn't long until all I could see was white. I had all this negative stuff rolling around my head;  how glad I was I didn't live up north anymore; how miserable winter is; how I used to love the fall, but since it ushers in winter, I've been whiny even as fall approaches;  I love the summer and I seem to like spring a lot more than in years past. 

Then I had an epiphany... I can't control the weather.  I can't control the seasons. If I can't control or change these things then I need to adapt and change my attitude regarding them. So many people, including myself live in chronic stress because we fret about things we cannot change.  The Serenity Prayer says it well. "God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference"  -Reinhold Niebuhr

It became apparent to me that I had some serious adjustments to make.  And so it began on I-29 somewhere in Iowa or maybe Missouri that I accepted the seasons as they are.  I made a conscious decision to  work on the negative aspect of my life that affect things I cannot change.  I committed to myself and I am committing to you  (so hold me accountable) that I will practice catching myself when negative weather or season related thoughts or words come from me. 

Day 18

Is there an area in your life that you cannot change, but constantly fret or stress over or maybe just expend too much negative energy thinking about it?  Search your heart and commit to accept that which you cannot change. Find  peace in accepting and letting go of things that bog you down in life.  Write down 18 things you are grateful for.

~Gratitude is an art of painting an adversity into a lovely picture. Kak Sri ~
~Grateful for the opportunity for continued growth and change in my life~
Denise

Day 17

2010 has been an incredibly challenging, exciting, painful, exhilarating, rewarding, informative, liberating and amazing year.  I can say that I have learned to count my blessings; to really believe the scripture, "All things work out for good for those who love the Lord and are called according to His purposes." Romans 8:28  This year, I found numerous blessings, new friends, opportunities, healing in every area of life, which I was only able to experience because I walked through pain and tragedy, accident and illness. 
Day 17
My prayer for you is that you may be as blessed as I have been and see and experience the blessings that can only come out of walking through the pain of life. Write down 17 things you are grateful for and include in the list, some of the blessings that have come out of your pain and tragedy in 2010.

 ~The hardest arithmetic to master is that which enables us to count our blessings.  ~Eric Hoffer ~ 

~Grateful to be able to "count my blessings" and even be grateful for pain, accidents and illness, not because I like hardship, but because my life is so much richer since  my sorrows were turned to joy~
Denise

Day 16

 I spent years selling myself short; always seeing grandeur in others but seldom in myself.  I have gotten A's in Criticism with me being my biggest enemy, while I could have been my best friend. Since adopting a raw life style I have forgiven myself and am learning to love Me for who I am, accepting me because I am worthy and because I desire to.  As I have become comfortable in my own skin, I find I can now accept compliments without making excuses or trying to persuade someone why  their kind words toward me aren't an accurate description of me. For the first time in almost 50 years, I see the treasures that are within me and I am grateful for the qualities, gifts and talents I possess. I am learning to be thankful for who I am and who I was created to be...

Day 16
Take time to do a self reflection and find out if you like who you are; if you not, you may want to do some soul searching, forgive yourself and others and choose to start loving you.  Be grateful for the treasures that make up who you are.  Write down 16 things you are grateful for.

~ “Take full account of the excellencies which you possess, and in gratitude remember how you would hanker after them, if you had them not.” — Marcus Aurelius ~

~Grateful to be at peace with myself, to find joy from within and for all the treasures I possess.~ 
Denise

Day 15

 I love the fact that I have people in my life that are truly "rays of sunshine and buckets of happiness".  You know, the folks who laugh easily and often and find humor in all situations; the ones who help you see your problems as do-able and so much smaller than you thought they were.  People like my friend Boo who find humor in a situation as unsettling as when her son's pet iguana jumped from a family member's arms, to her face - attaching itself with its claws and wouldn't let go. Her skin was tearing and she was desperately trying to remove the creature from her face while her entire family stared in shock - yet when it was finally removed, she broke the ice by laughing hysterically; cuz it really was funny...  I admire people like that.  Did she die? No.  Was it painful? Yes. Does it make for an incredible story when life is boring? Absolutely.  Are you one of those people that everyone wants to be around because you are just fun to be with?  Do you have people like that in your life?  I hope you do because we all need rays of sunshine and baskets of happiness to brighten our lives. 
Day 15
If you have a joy maker in your life - tell them how much you appreciate them and their contagious enthusiasm for life.  Write down 15 things you are grateful for.

~ “Let us be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.” — Marcel Proust ~

~Grateful for sunshine in my life~
Denise

Day 14

 This time of year a lot of hearts are tugged on as people watch others shop and spend money on gifts for others and receive gifts for themselves.  A person with a grateful heart will rejoice with you when you receive a gift or a blessing from someone. A wounded heart will be jealous, upset and angry that others may be having better luck or buying things they don't think they could ever afford.  May we all be grateful what what we have!
Day 14 
Write down 14 things you are grateful for.  Add to the list,  things you once wished you had and now have.

~“He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has.” — Epictetus~

~Grateful for now having so much "stuff", peace of mind, new boots, a joyful heart~ Denise

Day 13

Today you will have a gift of 86,400 seconds. How many have you used (will you use) to say “thank you?”  During this time of year, I find it easier to say thank you than other times of the year. I think it is just part of the "season". Out of 86,400 seconds I will be given today, I don't think much of it will be used to say Thank You! Not because I am not grateful, but because it doesn't take long to say thank you, so even if I said thank you  all day long, there will still be a lot of seconds left. That being said, I will be conscious of how many of my allotted seconds I will use today to be grateful.
Day 13
It doesn't take time to be kind: a smile, a kind word, opening a door on a windy day.  What can you do today to say thank you or show gratitude to others to add seconds, minutes or even hours to your "Thank You Meter"?  Write down 12 things you are grateful for in your gratitude journal.

 ~"We often take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude.” — Cynthia Ozick"~

 ~Grateful for yet another day to find opportunities to be a treasure in some one's day.
Denise 

Day 12

 Well, Day 12 got away from me. I actually went an entire day without getting on the computer, which is good to do occasionally, unless of course you are writing a daily blog.  :-)  Are you grateful for the things that are going your way or working in  your life?  I am.  Sometimes, it helps to fall on hard times, because only then can we acknowledge how blessed we really are.  What are you grateful for today?
Day 12
What things, people, or situations have helped you appreciate what you have and where you are in life? Write down 12 things you are grateful for and include the answer to the above question in your list.

~“Real life isn’t always going to be perfect or go our way, but the recurring acknowledgement of what is working in our lives can help us not only to survive but surmount our difficulties.” — Sarah Ban Breathnach~

~I am grateful for tough family times I've had to go through.  I appreciate the knowledge and understanding I've learned along the way,and I am grateful for the relationships I have now~
Denise

Day 11

 Wow, it is already December 11, 2010.  I was thinking about my friends and where we each find ourselves at this point in our lives, at this time of year... Some friends are where they expected to be by now.  Other friends find themselves taking a course in life they didn't anticipate... A year and a half ago, one friend in particular, was a diagnosed with lung cancer .  She had all the traditional treatments, and surgery to remove 1/2 of her lung but a year later, the cancer was back. 17 months after the initial diagnosis, she had the rest of her lung removed.  She has a very close family and church family.  Julie has done much for others  and they in turn have been there for her.  Reading her story as it unfolded, it was obvious that without the support she received from others, she would be in a very different place.  I have to wonder where others would be without her support and generosity over the years. 
Gratitude can be found in everyday life through kind, generous and helpful actions and words from others or ourselves.
Day 11
Make of list of people whose kind and generous words, actions and prayers have made you a better person.

~“When we become more fully aware that our success is due in large measure to the loyalty, helpfulness, and encouragement we have received from others, our desire grows to pass on similar gifts. Gratitude spurs us on to prove ourselves worthy of what others have done for us. The spirit of gratitude is a powerful energizer.” — Wilferd A. Peterson~

~Grateful for so many friends over the years who have helped me become who I was created to be~
Denise

Day 10

You've heard the saying, "Opposites Attract" .  Well, this is true, but "like" attracts "like" also, whether positive or negative.  I think we have all been in a situation where a conversation is taking place and the talk is leaning toward the negative and complaining, maybe about a situation or person.  Then, someone speaks up and says something positive and the direction of the conversation starts to shift.  
I have found as I strive to be more positive and look for the good in every situation, I find that I come across more positive situations and people.  It seems when I am down and discouraged, I find a lot of other people who are down and discouraged. When I am up and encouraged, I tend to run into people who are up beat and encouraging. So, does this mean we can change the world around us by our attitude of gratitude and outlook on life.  I think so! 
Day 10
What's your outlook on life?  Is your glass half empty or half full? Something to ponder as we press into the last 2 weeks before Christmas.  I encourage you to  write down one or two areas where your glass may be half empty and see if you can change how you look at, think about and talk about that area of your life - changing your outlook to "half full".  Also, write down 10 things you are grateful for.

~“Feeling grateful or appreciative of someone or something in your life actually attracts more of the things that you appreciate and value into your life.” — Christiane Northrup~

~ Grateful for time to reflect on my life and the areas I need to come up in and celebrate the areas where my glass is "half full"! 
Denise

Day 9

I had a conversation with someone yesterday about how "negative" we tend to be. Even if negative words aren't spoken but the thoughts are there, does that make us negative?  YES!  The good news is, we can change how we think!  The more we  concentrate on gratitude and the positive, the more our thinking will lean toward the positive... It will become second nature as we put into practice what Philippians 4:8^{, 9}     Says, " summing it all up, friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies".
Day 9

Take a "thought inventory" and see what thoughts you think on a regular basis.  Do your thoughts need to be adjusted? If you lean toward stinking thinking, counter act those thoughts with positive ones. Be cognizant of what your are thinking and why...  The "why" could be an entire blog by itself, with insecurities and a wounded heart, being at the top of the list for stinking thinking.  Write down 9 things you are grateful for.

~ “Both abundance and lack exist simultaneously in our lives, as parallel realities. It is always our conscious choice which secret garden we will tend… when we choose not to focus on what is missing from our lives but are grateful for the abundance that’s present — love, health, family, friends, work, the joys of nature and personal pursuits that bring us pleasure — the wasteland of illusion falls away and we experience Heaven on earth.” –Sarah Ban   Breathnach~

~Grateful for the opportunity to think great and positive thoughts - for the opportunity to make changes to better myself so that I can be better to those around me, for the ability to be in control of my life and subject to the whims of the world around me. ~
Denise 

Day 8

Merry Christmas!  Happy Holidays! Happy Hanukkah!  Ba Humbug!  It is interesting to people watch and listen to what they say, especially during this time of year!  Some are filled with the lightheartedness of the Holiday season, while others are down right angry about it.  Some are offended because of the "Christ" which is a part of Christmas, yet others embrace the Holiday even though their own religious beliefs do not celebrate or recognize the "Christ" in Christmas. Seeing others being disgruntled, makes me go within myself to  find the good in situations that I may not have thought about.  If you were the only sunshine in another person's gray world today, what would you do, what would you say to make a difference in their life?

 Day 8

Look for a situation today that will require you to get out of your comfort zone to make a difference in some one's life, whether you know them or not. Keep your list of things and people you are grateful going and write down 8 things you are grateful for today!

~“Gratitude should not be just a reaction to getting what you want, but an all-the-time gratitude, the kind where you notice the little things and where you constantly look for the good, even in unpleasant situations. Start bringing gratitude to your experiences, instead of waiting for a positive experience in order to feel grateful.” — Marelisa Fábrega ~

~Grateful for a good job with benefits, Christmas cheer in my heart, for the opportunity to see family over the Holiday, for amazing raw desserts to carry me through Christmas parties, for the fact that a smile can make all the difference, for warm beverages on a cold morning, no snow yet, and for peace in my life~

Denise

Day 7

Remember the Blessings of days gone by. A gratitude journal is an amazing tool for keeping your attitude aimed at gratitude .  Some times in busy seasons of life   busyness  seems to increase... If you want what you've never had, you have to do what you've never done. Go back and remember the things and people you are grateful for and revel in the many blessings in life. The times I have done this have helped me look at my current situation differently.  First, I am reminded of how blessed I am.  Second,  it helps me "look" for ways to be grateful in my everyday life that may seem mundane or over busy - where gratitude is overlooked.

Day 7
If you don't have a gratitude journal or a journal of any type to look back on, start one today by listing at least 7 things you are grateful for.  Look at your life...  Look for the mundane...  Look at the busyness...  What areas have been overlooked where gratitude could become a part of the blessings of days gone by?
~Someone once said, "Be thankful, for if we didn't learn a lot today, at least we learned a little, and if we didn't learn a little, at least we didn't get sick, and if we got sick, at least we didn't die; so, let us all be thankful"~
~I am grateful for a washer and dryer that work well, for a warm coat and gloves, for plenty of food in my fridge, for family that love and care about me, for a car that runs well~
Denise

Day 6

The pressure is on:  Christmas Parties have begun...  Presents need to be purchased... Holiday plans need to be made...   Holiday food needs to be prepared...  The home and office need to be decorated... Money needs to be found to do everything we want to do...  Just writing this, I feel my heart rate starting to increase.  This is a busy time of year and if we allow ourselves, we can be stressed to the max, trying to do it all and meet every body's expectations including our own.

So, BREATHE - deep - from the belly.   Sit or lie down, close your eyes, and breathe slow deep breaths from the belly - not your chest.  Most of us breathe very shallow breaths, never filling the lower part of the lungs.  Deep, relaxed breathing, lowers heart rate, blood pressure, strengthens the immune system, decreases the release of stress hormones and allows us time to refocus.

Time to decide what is really important.  Much of the time the "Urgent" wins over the "Important".  Prioritize what actually matters.  What is the worst thing that can happen if something doesn't get done?  

In the midst of all the busyness, don't forget to count your blessings.  As you slow down and take time to breathe, make a mental list of  your blessings and all you have to be grateful for during this time of year. 

Day 6

 Now that you have made a mental list, put it down on paper and when life speeds up, or the pressure is on, bring to mind the many blessing that are a part of your life and all that you have to be grateful for.

Thank God in everything no matter what the circumstances may be, be thankful and give thanks, for this is the will of God for you who are in Christ Jesus, the Revealer and Mediator of that will. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 Amplified Bible

Day 5

Gratitude...I have had several opportunities to be grateful for much this weekend. Earlier in the week, my nose detected a strong natural gas odor in the new home I was moving into, even though I was reassured by others that all was well. On Friday, I contacted the gas company and was told I had to be at the house for them to do anything and they could be there any minute because it was considered an emergency.  By the time I left work and arrived at the home, they had already shut the gas off and left.  I had to call and put in another order for them to come back and investigate. The ladies on the phone were very helpful and kind even though I was getting irritated.  As I hung up the phone, I was immediately grateful that the representative didn't play into my agitation of having to wait longer and miss more work. I knew I needed to regroup: so I put the seat back in the car, closed my eyes and practiced some deep breathing exercises, prayed, repented for having a less than loving attitude, wishing I had the direct line of the last representative I spoke to, so I could apologize for sounding the way I did, and starting looking for things to be grateful for in this situation. As I pondered these things I actually fell asleep for about 15 minutes and when I awoke what came to mind was:

• I was grateful for the moment to relax, breathe, pray and redirect my energy at the end of a very busy, hectic week.
• I was grateful for the possibility of finding a gas leak and fixing the awful smell in my new place and removing a potentially dangerous situation.
• I was grateful the situation exposed another area I need to grow in.

A leak in the kitchen was found, and fixed and as the gas man left, I was very grateful.  I was even more grateful when I returned to the home later that evening to a pleasant aroma in my home void of foul smells!  

On moving day, I had a small but powerful moving team.  These friends were amazing and worked their tales off to get me situated in my new place.  I didn't know how to thank them for the sacrifice of time and physical LABOR.  It was a tremendous amount of work to get me moved, yet they were there and did it and without complaint.  When they left, I felt bad, because I could not think of  an adequate  way thank them for all they did.  Words and tokens of appreciation didn't seem like enough. 
As I woke up this morning sore and achy from all the lifting, I was again grateful for dear friends. I am reminded that part of an attitude of gratitude is is being able to receive blessing also. Everyone benefits. Have you ever given a gift that wasn't received with open arms.  In a way, it can burst the bubble of wanting to bless some one and show gratitude for them.

Day 5
Write down 5 things you are grateful for. The next time you are in a challenging situation - let your mind and heart look for ways to be grateful even in the midst of turmoil or pain. Grow through it...

We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures.  ~Thornton Wilder

~Grateful for Aaron and Lindsey, Nancy, Jim, Jimmy, Donna and Eve who went beyond the call to help a friend! ~
Denise

Day 4

Gratitude For  New Opportunities

Every day we have  a new chance to make a difference in the world. Until we are gone, there is always hope of finding happiness. By maintaining an attitude of gratitude with each new day, you develop the habit of appreciating what you have instead of dwelling on what you don’t have. You’ll have more peace and joy because your outlook begins on a positive note. You’ll also handle challenges differently if you begin with an appreciative mindset. 

I love being around life givers. When I am around positive people, I can feel my energy level accelerating.  When I am around negative life takers, I feel the pull toward the dark hole...  Life givers are fun and easy to be with.  Life takers require extra grace to deal with.  I have found the more I live with  an attitude of gratitude, the more power I have to help others change.  What usually happens when you are around negative people? It seems to be easier to get negative than it does to stay positive.  The next time you are around a negative person spread some cheer their way.  They will either get their feathers ruffled or... they will be nicer because someone took the time to be nice to them.

Day 4

While you are out and about this weekend -today.... Take the time to notice the people around you.  What are they saying, how are they looking and acting?  If someone near or around you makes a negative statement, is mean or down right nasty, pay them a compliment, ask how their day is going, show them empathy and compassion or speak a kind word to them. Then see what their response is, and check your heart and see what your attitude is.  

Write down 4 things you are grateful for.  Look for opportunities to show an attitude of gratitude to those you come in contact with.

~Gratitude is a quality similar to electricity: it must be produced and discharged and used up in order to exist at all.  ~William Faulkner

~Grateful for opportunities to practice an attitude of gratitude~

   Denise