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As I am writing this, the sun is setting. I can see it glad a vibrant orange through the window of the tea room where I am sitting and uploading engagement photos to my wedding website. It was quite the week. Honestly, it has been quite the month. October is always beautiful in New England, but despite taking a week off this year for a staycation, I feel exhausted and overextended. The workday ended a busy work week just a short while ago and even though it is the weekend, I have to work tomorrow for my job and I also have a photo shoot on Sunday. I’m tried. But I am also grateful.
I am so thankful to have a job and to be supporting myself in such an uneasy time and environment. While I daydream of a better future and plot away and make steps to make it happen, it is important to remind myself of all that I have to be grateful for right now. I never want to lose sight of that.
This morning I was having a hard time getting out of bed to start the day, when my husband noticed a hot air balloon outside the window. Every so often a hot air balloon will pass by or we will spot it in the distance. One time it even passed by our backyard. The hot air balloon today was getting closer. So close that I threw on the nearest robe (my husband’s robe) and grabbed my camera to run out the door. As I was taking photos the hot air balloon drifted closer, so close that we thought it would land in our back yard! And then the aeronaut pulled the cord to allow more hot air to fill the balloon and up it list, right over us as we stood by the front porch!
“Good morning!” The aeronaut and passengers yelled down to us below.
“Good morning!” I shouted back and laughed while waving my arms above. The balloon soared over head and continued onward toward the neighbor’s farm and fields.
The moment lasted mere seconds. The balloon travels much faster than it would appear form a distance. But that was all it took to change my mood and my perspective for the day. Yes, it was a stressful and busy week, but that moment was right now. It was my present and it was joyful.
I first started sharing my Thankfulness November in 2016 with this post here. I have practiced gratitude for a long time, and really focusing on it through the month of November has done so much for my mental health and happiness. I felt that just one day, Thanksgiving, was not nearly enough for the practice. With the days getting shorter and darker, gratitude has been one of many ways I have counteracted the effects.
There are numerous ways I have practiced Thankfulness November, and there are many more that you can implement for yourself. This month, may I suggest one or even more of the methods I’m spring here?
ONE. Write down three things you are grateful for at the start or end of every day all month long.
TWO. Have a no-spend month to appreciate what you already have.
THREE. Instead of buying something new, ask yourself if you really need the item. If you do, can you thrift one instead?
FOUR. Volunteer your time.
FIVE. Write a letter thanking someone for doing something for you.
Wishing you a month of slowness and gratitude.
With appreciation,
Courtney
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