“Give thanks. Appreciate what you do have…the more we give thanks, the more we receive to be thankful for. Gratitude is the gift that always gives back.” – Matthew McConaughey
This week I am taking a tip from Matthew on gratitude. Here are the top five things I am grateful for as Thanksgiving 2020 approaches.
1. Thank God Grandma finally figured out “How to Zoom” and we have been able to stay in touch during the pandemic! Technology has kept our families, schools, and workplaces connected. And, I think we all have a new appreciation for teachers and the difficult work they do now that we have experienced the rapid expansion of digital learning.
2. How about three cheers for the return of family time! With kids and parents at home all day long, families are rediscovering each other. They’re hanging out together, playing games, reading books, and even cooking together. Why I’ve even heard about families who are consistently sitting down at a predetermined time to eat food together. They call it “the family dinner”! Why didn’t we think of this sooner?
3. Lots of furry friends have found homes. Many people adopted pets during the quarantine as well as donated money and supplies to rescue organizations. The number of people signing up to foster pets has risen as well. Whether it’s because of the increased time available to care for an animal or wanting to alleviate anxiety a good number of furballs have become a source of comfort during these uncertain times.
4. Random acts of kindness are on the rise. During a crisis, it’s easy to focus on stories that highlight the worst human behavior. However, it is exactly during these times that random acts of kindness are literally booming. It’s human nature to want to band together and help one another. I have read multiple stories of people supporting each other in small ways. I am thankful that the connections that bind us together are still strong.
5. And, finally, I am incredibly thankful that many workers will have Thanksgiving Day off this year to spend at home with their families. For nearly the last ten years, stores have opened their doors early for Black Friday sales. This year a good majority of them will remain closed on Thanksgiving Day. Whether it is purely due to COVID19 or a gift to employees who have been working the frontlines all year, I truly think this is something to be thankful for.
There are so many things to be thankful for right now, even during a pandemic, you just need to look for them. Finding gratitude in our daily lives is one of the simplest and most effective ways to find joy. Take some time to focus on the things that resonate with you. Peace and joy be with you this Thanksgiving.
Thank you for your positive outlook! We become what we feed ourselves, this include what we feed our minds:)
And, by the way, zoom is harder than it looks! lolol!