Attitude of Gratitude Check-In {Week One}

Earlier this week I wrote about my desire to explore Gratitude and how changing my focus to positivity might impact on all areas of my life.  One of the steps I am taking is posting each week and will be linking up with Maxabella Loves for “I’m Grateful For”. I am also going to share any resources I find so that anyone else who is interested can explore this further as you develop an “attitude of gratitude”.

This week I am most grateful for:

Jacaranda trees! 

When we lived in Sydney we moved from the beach when we had Lulu and ended up in suburbia. I missed seeing the water everyday (my happy place is Balmoral Beach), but loved being in a neighbourhood that turned to a sea of purple during Spring. We had a huge jacaranda along with a magnolia tree the kids climbed.  We bought this house in Brisbane in December and, just this week as jacaranda season hit us, I looked out my home office window to see my next door neighbour’s tree blooming purple right there in her front yard! I am no green thumb (more like black) so without the blossoms I had no idea this surprise was waiting for me. I still miss the beach, but am so grateful for the pleasures of this beautiful tree. As I drive around for the next 2 months I can be seen in my car smiling as I drive down certain streets that roll out the purple carpet for me as these blossoms drop to the ground. When I look back on that house in Sydney, where I suffered so long with PND, I am grateful that I have such a powerful positive image also associated with that house – beyond tears and anger and lost time!

Making connections!

This week has been amazing for me connecting with people – my gang on facebook has grown hugely (for me) this week with so many lovely people connecting about gratitude, organising, family life and day to day bits and pieces. I am grateful for each person that finds their way to my virtual door and I only wish I could hear more from them.

I also made connections with some Brisbane bloggers and business owners. I went for a school mom’s girl’s night out recently and organised one with a different group of women for later this month. I feel invigorated.

A husband who loves to cook! 

I did not cook until I was in my 20s and then badly.  Hubby did 99% of the cooking right up until we moved to Brisbane 4 1/2 years ago. He knew he would be busier with work (gets home between 7:30-8pm most nights) so I had to start picking up the slack. I started small and now I have a recipe binder full of great meals I cook.  BUT – there is always a but. I still don’t like cooking and only do it because it is required. My husband cooks at least 2-3 days- usually Friday to Sunday, but some other days (like this Wednesday) he walks in the door and I (who don’t even go out to an office) say I am just too shattered to think about cooking – here is the recipe I had out, the ingredients are there, would you mind putting it together for me? And he does! He sends me off to read bedtime stories to the girls, rolls up his sleeves and either cooks my recipe or creates his own dish (he is seriously talented in the kitchen). He does not say – but hey you have been home all day or I thought we agreed you would do this. He simply cooks and nourishes me and is a blessing! I am forever grateful!

Overall changes in myself

I have noticed more energy this week. I have definitely been more in tune with what is being said and focused on. At Lulu’s drum lesson we were all climbing a long flight of stairs to get to the room and Alice commented on how her legs were aching. This started a complaining session and I found myself saying, “Aren’t we lucky that we have legs that are strong enough to carry us up all these steps?” and not another word was spoken. I know I was then reflecting on my trip to the gym that morning and remembering why my own legs ached. I think we all reached the top of the stairs focused on how strong we were rather than why the class has to be upstairs!

 

Some attitude of gratitude resources I found this week:

I am thankful.com:  There is a whole site dedicated to being thankful and offering free ecards to send out to those you are grateful for, an online gratitude journal (that you can make public or private) and other resources to support you on this journey.

A great article from Dumb Little Man‘s archives all about how to adopt an attitude of gratitude.

Another article, this one from Abundance Tapestry debating gratitude vs. appreciation and offering tips to help you cultivate the attitude of gratitude.

 

 

image credits:

Jacaranda tree by flickr user sassamifrass

Look at all the beauty in your life

Tagged as: gratitude, mindset