Of Course, I'm thankful.

Today begins my annual 40 Days of Thankfulness. Check out my Facebook group and join in if you'd like!


I always love what this exercise does for myself, personally. As the mom of 3, wife of a man that I love with all my heart, and a team member in bringing home "the bacon" I find myself sometimes drowning in the stuff that life often brings during the fall. 


Illness
Holidays
School functions
Illness
Work, work, work
Family
Illness


Then, I reflect back on some of life's toughest times and wonder if I really was as thankful during it all as I should've been. Death. Divorce. Broken Relationships. Financially broke. Hurtful words. 


It's easy to be thankful when prayers are being answered, everyone is well, money is abundant, and things seem to be "just right."


But what about when someone you love is gone in an instant? 
What about when someone you love is terminally sick? Or when you find out you are the one with the illness that will take months to treat?
What about if you lose your home? Your job? Your livelihood?


As humans we have a tendency to become very selfish in times of hardship. It's easy to have the attitude of entitlement. It can be natural to think that we are owed all of the good. It's easy to become angry with God, others, or ourselves or to push the blame onto someone other than ourself. 


But just like everything else, we must be disciplined in our thoughts and words, especially to ourselves. 


This is why I think the 40 days is so powerful. Yes, we are throwing our positive thoughts out to the world, but most importantly we are consciously reminding ourself daily what is important, what is not worth the time, what things make life worthwhile, and how even the "bad" things in life really are important to get us through our own personal journey. 


An attitude of gratitude really does bring about a sense of peace, a feeling of balance, and a sense of security that nothing else in life can give us. 


So, will you join me?