Acts of Gratitude for Ordinary DaysSample

The Morning Shift

My friend Andy told me that he begins each day with gratitude. For the last several years, he’s made it his practice: before he emerges from bed each morning, he sits on the edge and thinks about what he’s grateful for. By the time his feet touch the floor, he’s already listed several items, including his wife and young children, his business and clients, and his health.

Starting the morning with gratitude focuses him on what matters. He’s not grumbling that his preschooler woke him up after a night terror, or that he has a lot to accomplish, or that his alarm sounded too early. Instead of focusing on what has gone wrong, he focuses on what is right.

If I’m honest, the first thing I usually do in the morning is reach for my phone, if only to check the time. Intrigued by my friend’s idea, I decided to try it for myself. The night before my experiment began, I wrote GRATEFUL in capital letters on a sticky note and placed it on my phone.

When I woke up, the little reminder was just the push I needed to find reasons to be grateful instead of focusing on my ­to-​­do list. Instead of complaining to myself about how chilly the room was in the predawn hours, I was thankful for the fuzzy slippers next to the bed. Instead of becoming impatient with how long my coffee took to brew, I spent those few minutes switching on a heating pad and starting up the fireplace so I’d have a cozy nook to sit in once the coffee was finished. Instead of wishing my daughter had slept just a little bit longer so that I could complete my early morning tasks, I curled her into my side and pulled up a fuzzy blanket as we admired the pink and purple hues of the rising sun.

Within a few days of incorporating my sticky note system, I found myself looking forward to the peaceful day breaks. The morning shift was just what I needed to refocus my day.

Kristin

Today’s Act of Gratitude

Place the word “grateful” on your phone or mirror so that you see it first thing in the morning. Then, list three things for which you’re grateful.