New Years Resolutions? Be grateful.

I was recently asked if I’d made any New Years Resolutions, and I wasn’t sure how to answer.  I have a list of on-going endeavors — like yelling at my kids less and doing more yoga– but I hadn’t made any official new years resolutions.  Thankfully, I’m really happy with my life so not interested in any big adjustments.

But, after thinking about it, I realized I do have a new resolution: I want to be more grateful.  I want to better appreciate the time I spend with my children, my amazing husband, our health, families, beautiful farm, etc…  Shortly after, a blog post from the wonderful organization Love Without Boundaries urged this gratitude to include more basic things, like clean water, a full belly, a warm bed, and our safety.  So many people around the world lack these basic human “rights” we enjoy– and take for granted– daily.  It is important to remember and appreciate how privileged we are.  (One of my favorite quotes: “The secret to having it all is realizing that you already do”).

I also want to express this gratitude better and find more ways to give thanks.  Starting here… thank you, for reading my blog!  It’s easy to dwell on the negatives around us (rude people, lost opportunities, rain, etc.) but there are always positives as well.  (After the horrific school shooting in Newtown, CT, I read that we could tell children, “look for the heroes, in every tragedy, they are there”).  I want to recognize and embrace the positives.

Sometimes the positives are simple acts of kindness.  (Maybe if someone had shown Adam Lanza a bit more kindness when we was in school it could have changed the trajectory of his life path?)  There are large acts of kindness (Love Without Boundaries giving orphans in China health and hope) and small acts, like the librarian in the public library forgiving my late charges and the nice man at the dry-cleaners who didn’t charge me to fix the zipper on my son’s jacket.   Thank you.  Small acts of kindness can mean so much and spread exponentially.

I think gratitude makes us nicer, more motivated, and happier people.  Overall, it makes the world a better place, and we can all be grateful for that.