An Exercise: 50 Reasons to Be Grateful
Can you sit down and in ten minutes write down 50 things that make you happy or grateful? You have to do it quick, that is part of the “fun” or challenge. I was introduced to Dawn Landau, Tales From the Motherland from a blogger/friend of mine, Heidi Sloss, The Art of Living Fully, to see if I was interested in being part of a united gratitude bonanza of blog posts!
The brilliant idea was to write down these 50 things that I am grateful/happy for and write a post and share it. We will all be sharing all of this happy karma and create some contagious gratitude!
Yes, sign me up! After you read my list, try the exercise yourself. I bet that we may have a couple reasons in common. Additionally, take a minute to visit the other blogger’s blogs (say that three times…blogger’s blogs, blogger’s blogs, blogger’s blog). Go to TalesFromTheMotherland.me to find the links to all of the posts. When we reflect on what is most important to us, it can only make our day, boost our spirit and hopefully cause us to spread this good cheer.
I honest and truly set the timer for ten minutes and typed. I only adjusted some spelling and did not change the order, but that doesn’t mean that one is more important than another.
My list of 50 reasons to be grateful written in 10 minutes!
- My family
- Walking my dog
- Fresh air and sunshine
- Healthy body
- Great books
- Barre class
- Hugs from my kids
- The perfect tree
- Cocktails by the fire
- Walking in the evening in the city
- Holiday songs everywhere
- A great movie
- Taking a great photo
- Meeting a new friend
- Having longtime friends
- My brothers, their wives and nieces and nephews
- Birthday messages from my family
- Lululemon
- An unexpected text
- English breakfast tea and honey
- Coconut cream pie from Tom Douglas
- Christmas lights
- Walking to the space needle
- Making my dad laugh (still)
- Calling my mom and making her day
- A fabulous mani-pedi
- Smell of holiday baking
- Great music
- holding hands
- A thank you email from a reader
- My blog!
- Playing with Rocco
- A call from Nick
- A call from Alex
- Buying the perfect gift
- The perfect Cosmo
- Sitting with an interesting magazine
- The progress on our house!
- Planning a new trip
- Going to a new city
- Being upgraded
- Champagne!
- Prosecco!
- An excellent red lipstick
- The feeling of happiness I get when Craig gets home from a trip
- Family time
- Group texting
- Peanuts stamps for the Christmas cards
- Receiving Christmas cards
- My iWatch!
- Going to a beautiful park in Seattle
- Walking on the beach (I miss it)
If you are a blogger and want to join us here are some specific details:
To join the bloggers who have come together for this project: 1) Write your post and publish it (please copy and paste the instructions from this post, into yours) 2) Click on the blue frog at the bottom of this post. 3) That will take you to another window, where you can past the URL to your post. 4) Follow the prompts, and your post will be added to the Blog Party List.
Please note that only blog posts that include a list of 50 (or an attempt to write 50) things that made you feel Happy or 50 things that you are Grateful for, will be included. Please don’t add a link to a post that isn’t part of this exercise.
Final Thoughts~
I loved this idea and am grateful to have been included in this exercise. Last year I participated in 100 Days of Happy where I took a photo of one thing everyday that made me happy. It was a challenge some days because we are not necessarily happy every single day, but it made me truly dig deeper in to the bigger picture of my life.
Suzanne,
I loved it! What a great exercise for all of us…especially this time of year. ‘Tis the season to be grateful. Merry Christmas!
Jan
Yes Jan I felt the same way. Merry Christmas to you! Our card is finally getting mailed today! Yours was fantastic!
I want to do it!
Do it Tam! It did not take that much time.
So glad you opted in Suzanne! Love your list, it inspires me even more. From your picture at the top, I’d swear we’re neighbors! I live in WA state, you? Thanks for joining!
I have really enjoyed the process. I was not as detailed as you , I just could not type that fast! Thank you for putting this together. I am trying to go through each post and follow everyone on twitter too. Yes I am living in Seattle while my house in Southern California is being renovated. Where are you in WA?
Love your list! So glad you opted in. And that I get to connect you and Dawn!
I don’t see a blue frog?
A great list! I’m especially impressed with Barre class and coconut cream pie!
Michele – I need the Barre class so I can eat the coconut cream pie!
I’m grateful for my friendship with you, Suzanne!
Thank you Irene! I am grateful for your friendship as well!
What a great idea, and timely for the season. Really enjoyed this, we’ll have to try it.
I hope you take a minute and write them down. All the best to you in the coming year!
I really enjoyed your list. We all have so much to be grateful for and need to remember it more often than we do!!
Thank you Marilyn. Watching 40 other bloggers send this message out simultaneously was very exciting. There was lots of gratitude being spread across the internet.
Very fun list! I was just thinking a couple days ago that I need to find myself an excellent red lipstick…
Maryanne it sure makes a woman feel fashionable!
I love this idea because gratitude comes in many forms and so often we forget the little things that contribute to our happiness and well-being. I’m going to write out this list and then re-read it New Year’s Day to start 2016 remembering what I’m thankful for!
Anita, I loved the exercise because it caused me to focus on the wonderful things in my life instead of the challenges. I hope you enjoy writing the list. Happy New Year to you!
Peanuts stamps! I’m missing out.
They are such happy little stamps. They remind me of my kids when they were young.
What a terrific idea.And each post reminds you of additional things that didn’t come to mind, but should be on the list. Especially thoughtful this time of year. I’m going to try to join in before I turn in tonight.Thanks Suzanne and Happy Holidays!
I just sent you a FB message with the blue frog clarification! Let me know if you have further questions.
PS-I don’t see the blue frog…..
Great exercise, love your list!
Thank you Nathalie!
I recently read about a study that showed that people who wrote in a journal very day at least 5 things that made they grateful or happy that day report being happier. I’ve been doing it (more or less- missed two days) for about 10 days. I haven’t seen a real change in me but writing it before I go to bed is a nice way to end the day and have me go to bed in a positive state of mind.
Kay, I think that is a great exercise, you end up focusing on the positive instead of other situations that may be stressing you out. I will say that the 100 Happy Days exercise was a phenominal thing for me. It also fed my creativity as well. All the best to you in 2016!