The Gift of Gratitude

In these economically challenging times, most of us are struggling to make ends meet. We’ve become so accustomed to a world full of beautiful things that it is hard to find ourselves struggling to provide just the basic needs for our families. Now is a great time to develop an “attitude of gratitude”!

When I was a little girl, I remember my mama talking about growing up during the Great Depression. She would tell me about how her mama could cook up a simple meal that would fill their tummies from just about nothing. A little bacon grease, some flour, and maybe a little bit of milk would make the best gravy! And over a slice of bread, that would be enough to help a little girl sleep soundly aLL night. Now, we all know that this isn’t the most nutritious of diets, but it kept them going during the hard times.

My grandma and grandpa ran a neighborhood diner on Main Street, in Small Town, USA . . . . before the Great Depression, when they lost the business. My mama told of days of uncertainty, fear, and just learning to do without. One of her favorite sayings throughout her life was, “Use it up, Wear it out, Make do, or Do without.” I guess that is what she learned growing up in the dark days of the Great Depression. So she valued even the simplest things in life, when she was fortunate enough to experience the blessings of abundance.

So often, in our more recent experiences, we’ve all become accustomed to having just about anything we wanted or needed, whenever we needed or wanted it. Our kids have learned that if they just ask us long enough and loud enough, they will probably get what they want. Even if we feel a bit stressed over the finances, we still try to keep them happy. But it’s time to set some boundaries around all of this excessive consumption, as we are all facing difficult financial circumstances. And one of the first things we can do is help our kids have an understanding of the difference between our “needs” and our “wants.”

Here are a few suggestions to keep us focused on the important things in life. For some of us, the most important things in life are our families, our home, and our relationships. But whatever is most important to you, it is hard to stay focused when we are anxious about finances. So, let’s make a plan, set some goals, and get started! It’s time to develop the Gift of Gratitude.

STOP LOOKING: It is almost always dangerous to go “window shopping.” Because whenever we are “just looking,” we suddenly discover something, or several things, that we just HAVE to buy. Things that we had no idea that we “needed” before we saw them. The easiest way to control our desire for more and more stuff, is to simply stop looking at it!

Limit yourself to shopping ONLY with a list, and stick to it. I have found that I save about 1/3 of my grocery bill if I go to the store all by myself, and be sure to have my list with me. If our girls need new clothes, we make a list of just how many tops, jeans, dresses, shoes, sox, etc. that we really think we NEED, and they have learned to stick to the list. If we decide before we see all of the enticing goodies available everywhere we look, it will be easier to stay within our budget. So, for starters, just stop looking all the time!

START BUDGETING: This goes right along with limiting our looking. Write down how much you have coming into your family account, and then write down how much you have going out. It is not easy to see that often you have just about as much going out as coming in. But it is a place to start, to be able to make wise decisions about spending, and to be able to make some necessary cuts where you can. The whole idea of gratitude is to focus on what you HAVE instead of being miserable because of what you DON’T HAVE. And it is an attitude that children pick up on very quickly!

The true benefit of this attitude adjustment is the peace that you will experience when you know that you don’t have to worry that your next check is going to bounce, or that your credit card will be declined. And speaking of credit cards, if you can begin to pay off those high interest cards, that will just be one more thing for which we could all be grateful!

SIMPLIFY YOUR LIFE: We could write a whole book on this topic. Life can be so rushed, busy, crazy, chaotic, stressful, and downright frustrating! We pack our days with too many activities – but mostly life is just busy, whether we plan it that way or not. So, in order to slow things down, be aware of the everyday miracles all around you. To appreciate the important things in life, we really have to take the initiative and get some control of all of this craziness.

As difficult as it may seem, we can all simplify our lives by just saying “No” to many of the activities and demands that pull us in so many directions. Set up some boundaries in this area of life, and be selective on what you will do and when you will do it. Think about how important any activity or event is in the overall scope of your life . . . . . and then choose accordingly.

CELEBRATE TODAY: By becoming more aware of the small miracles and gifts that we all experience every day, we can begin to celebrate every day. Even in the midst of difficult days, we can be thankful for a smile from a friend, or the touch of a child. And if no one reaches out to touch you, then it’s time for you to take the initiative! We all have something we can share with others, even if it is only a hug or a quick phone call. So celebrate the little wonders of your day, and be grateful for them all.

COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS: At the end of every day, take a minute to count your blessings. Don’t dwell on what you don’t have, but enjoy and appreciate what you do have. We all have sadness and struggles in our lives, but if you focus on the blessings, it will make your day so much brighter. Of course, that won’t solve every problem that you are worrying about, but it will definitely make the solutions to those problems easier to see. Count your blessings - the people you encounter in a day, the sunshine on your face or the rain to refresh the earth, a warm coat in the winter and the snowflakes on your nose. It’s the little things that keep us centered and stable, so develop an attitude of gratitude for every season on the year!

Article Source: http://www.wahm-articles.com

Nina Newton is the designer and creator of beautiful children's boutique clothing and accessories, available at www.mamaslittletreasures.com as well as in her Etsy shop, Mamas*Little*Treasures. She is also a writer of eBook patterns for fun and whimsical children's clothing and home decor. As a mother of two beautiful daughters adopted from China, Nina's home is a busy place, but there is always time for creativity! Learning to take one day at a time and treasure the little things has helped Nina to stay focused in the midst of some crazy days. Visit Nina at her blog, www.mamaslittletreasures/typepad.com

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