What does TODAY mean to you?

THIS Day.

Do you see it as a Gift? 

Another Day to “get through”? 

A Blessing?

A Stressful time to get through?

What if you didn’t get THIS Day?  How would things be?

Some days are very hard.  Not just stressful, but Really, Really hard to get through sometimes.  Too much going on.  Too much sadness.  Too much “uphill” climbing.  Grief.  Hurt.  And then there’s just plain Hard Work!

But what if you didn’t get THIS Day?  How would people around you be?

Do you realize your being here is a Blessing to those around you?  You may not realize that.  Sometimes they may not realize it.  But the fact is, you are a blessing.

I read a book one time about a person who felt un-valuable.  Like no one around him really cared whether he was there or not.  He was very depressed about it.

In his dream, he was taken to a huge, huge building—bigger than we can even imagine.  The building was full of broken things and unfinished things that people “could have” fixed, but they didn’t believe they were able.  Not good enough.  Not strong enough.  Not influential enough.

All the things that could have been if people had “thought they could”.

Then he was taken into a different huge building, and shown things… all kinds of things that were better off; broken things put back together; effects of people being encouraged and lifted up; effects of a hand-up; effects of a loving kindness.  Effects of “thinking they could” — so they DID things.

I can’t remember the title of the book nor the exact details of the story of it, but it impressed me deeply.  Like getting a peek into a life we “could” live if we felt the truth of our own power and ability; it showed the value each of us have which we don’t recognize.

Then a peek into the life we actually have lived, showing us the blessings we have been to others, which we have either forgotten, or which we didn’t give ourselves the true picture of our own value at the time.  Either way, we didn’t feel the proper importance of who we are.

So… if you didn’t get to have this day…Think for a Moment… How Would This Day be?

Try out that thought.  I think it’s a good exercise.

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THIS DAY IS A GIFT.

It is also a Blessing.

It may be a VERY stressful day; may be a day of Grief; or sadness.

And these are REAL—and the hurt is Real.

Hard as it may be to do, Hold your head up; take a forward step; then another.  Let Time begin to work for you, as it passes.

Be ALIVE this day.  And as we are Alive on this day, we are blessed to appreciate it, and to accept this day with Gratitude.

If we can accept the happenings that come into our lives, as what is meant for us, think… Can we learn anything here?  And Make a Decision to Keep Going—and to live our Best.  And it’s true—sometimes it’s just “keep making that next step”.

Not always easy.  But our life is so much better when we can just keep going, and looking forward, and upward, seeing all the good we can, and being Thankful.

Will we always be able to do it?  No, and that’s OK!

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So, as you consider this day as a Gift and a Blessing, How about the people in your days?  Are they a Gift?  A Blessing?

How valuable are your friends?  What do they mean to you?  Are you grateful for them, and the people around you?  If you are—do they know it?

If you haven’t practiced being grateful for your days, and for your people, I wonder if it would make a difference in your life, if you began to do that.

And I wonder if it would make a difference in the lives of your people…

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Did you know that “Being Thankful” can pretty much improve every area of your life?

When I  was growing up, I used to hear, “Count your Blessings” and you’ll feel better (you won’t be feeling sorry for yourself).

It turns out, science and research has proved that was right.  It not only helps your frame of mind, it also helps your health.

Practicing gratitude can help with things like inflammation and blood pressure, which can help smaller issues like less worry and stress, skin issues, congestion, headaches, etc.

You’ll be focusing on more positives in your life, which will naturally leave less room for worry, so it can even help you have better quality sleep.

When you think of the “good stuff” in your life, you are bound to have more positive experiences day-to-day. 

And when you have more positive experiences in your days, you feel better about yourself, which opens you up so much more; when you feel good about yourself, you are naturally more open to others, and more courageous to face the challenges in your life. 

And Relationships… if you’re more grateful for life in general, it will probably strengthen your social connections.  It will probably give you closer connections and more support, and  when you show your gratitude to your people, it strengthens that bond even more.

When you feel good about yourself, you can truly celebrate other people’s accomplishments along with your own, and your self-esteem will just keep improving.  You will be continually growing. 

When we’re constantly being bombarded by the negatives around us, this will bring a whole new level of positivity to your life—and to those around you!

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If you’re not inclined to naturally “be positive” and “thankful”, try to set aside just 5 minutes, either after you get up, or before you go to bed (or any other time you can make it a regular practice) to think of some things you’re thankful for.

It doesn’t have to be a complicated time.  Make it a “rest time”.  Keep it Simple.

If you want to be a little stronger with it, begin a Gratitude Journal, and write in it daily, or at least weekly (have a convenient time thought out, just for this).  Write all the things you can think of to be grateful for. 

Then write “why” you are thankful for each of those things.  It’ll be a lift to your heart.  And when you keep it up, it can change your whole perspective on your life.

For instance, write that you’re thankful for (your friend), then write what you really appreciate about that friend.

Or writing being thankful for (your new work space), then writing what you enjoy about your new space.

Or  (your herb garden), write all the ways it brings joy to you.

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Habits are usually hard to change.  So many things we start, we just don’t keep going with. If you have a set time each day to reflect on “the good things” in your life, it will be easier to stick to it, and you will be blessed.

I hope you will be encouraged to be thankful for all that is in your life—the good, and the not-so-good.  We’re here for a purpose, and things happen for a purpose.  People come into our lives for a purpose.  Just trust your life, and keep going forward… with Gratitude, and Purpose.

Your days might go smoother; your people might be easier to be around; and your life just might be a whole lot better.

To your Forward Motion in this Life, with Thankfulness and Purpose. 

Be Blessed.  And Be a Blessing!

Thank you for reading. 

Sharon