The Power of Gratitude

Photo by MSVG

In the past couple months, I found my oldest starting to complain more. “I don’t like this dinner.” “I never win the game.” “That place is boring.”

So one night after another complaint about dinner, I stopped her in her tracks. I asked her to tell me 3 things she was thankful for. One by one, gratitude fell out of her mouth. “I’m thankful for mama and daddy. I’m thankful for my brother. I’m thankful for my bike.”

That simple act changed the course of dinner. It took the focus off her and onto the good stuff.

Fast forward several weeks. I’m looking forward to crossing off a few things on the ‘to-do’ list over the weekend. 1. Organize the garage. 2. Run a few errands. 3. Make dinner for a family with a new baby.

And then my husband wakes up Saturday morning unable to walk. He’s strained a hip flexor muscle and needs to rest on the couch for several days. I’ve full-time parented from 8-5 all week and for some reason, it seems a little much to ask me to do it all weekend, too. (I was in one of those moods.)

I huff and I puff all morning while realizing that my ‘to-do’ will not be crossed off, and in fact, I’ll be lucky to get a shower. While I’m at it, I add a few other “you won’t get to do this either” to this list.

Fortunately, my lovely sister had offered to have my oldest over to play so I could have a bit of a break. While I drive over to her house, I am gently prompted to say 3 things I am thankful for. The tears fall.

After I pull myself together, I find 3 things to be thankful for: “I have a wonderful husband who loves me and the kids. We all are in great health and this is temporary. It’s a beautiful day outside, perfect for pushing a stroller with hot coffee.”

So I grab the stroller, tuck the baby in it and get my hot coffee.

And that simple act changed the course of many days. It took the focus off me and onto the good stuff.

What are you thankful for today?

About Tiffany

Tiffany is a wife to one wonderful husband and proud mama of two very busy children. They spend their free time in the outdoors on the snow, water, road or dirt. She is passionate about green living and dragging her family along the journey with her! Tiffany can be found writing at Mommy Goes Green.