Baby it's COLD outside!
In the part of the world where I currently reside, it's cold. REALLY cold. And I don't particularly enjoy being cold. Honestly, I normally love snow and winter, but this has been one winter in which it has been extremely tough not to complain. In fact, it has literally been the longest, coldest winter of my life. (It can only get better from here, right?)
With temperatures dropping below -30 C without windchill (and down to -50 C with windchill), newspapers are daily reporting things such as "Colder than Mars, Colder than the North Pole!" and "The second-coldest winter in Winnipeg in 75 years...only the year 1939 was colder," or "Current temperatures are hovering close to -20 C below normal." Yay...
The weather has always been a common topic in conversations, and these days are no exception, but none of it is positive. “It’s too frickin’ cold, that’s the problem,” said one Winnipegger in a local newspaper. Another local resident told CTV Winnipeg that the cold weather is testing everyone’s patience. "I think lots of people have had enough,” he said. “It's not really funny anymore. It's March 1st."
While it's easy to complain daily, how often do we stop and reflect on our many blessings in life? You might be thinking, "how is this cold weather possibly a blessing?" Well, for one, it means no mosquitoes. :) But seriously, I came across a quote today that caught my attention.
"Attitudes are contagious. Are yours worth catching?" ~Dennis & Wendy Mannering
When everyone around me is complaining or being negative, or when my circumstances or environment are less than ideal, it's soooo easy and natural to get caught up in that and join in the complaining. I am definitely guilty of it, just ask my husband. But is that really what I want? Do I enjoy being around people who complain a lot? No. So why am I doing just that? I have decided that I want to start intentionally practicing gratefulness daily in my life, despite my circumstances, despite the weather, and despite what everyone else is saying, and I invite you to join me.
In the part of the world where I currently reside, it's cold. REALLY cold. And I don't particularly enjoy being cold. Honestly, I normally love snow and winter, but this has been one winter in which it has been extremely tough not to complain. In fact, it has literally been the longest, coldest winter of my life. (It can only get better from here, right?)
With temperatures dropping below -30 C without windchill (and down to -50 C with windchill), newspapers are daily reporting things such as "Colder than Mars, Colder than the North Pole!" and "The second-coldest winter in Winnipeg in 75 years...only the year 1939 was colder," or "Current temperatures are hovering close to -20 C below normal." Yay...
The weather has always been a common topic in conversations, and these days are no exception, but none of it is positive. “It’s too frickin’ cold, that’s the problem,” said one Winnipegger in a local newspaper. Another local resident told CTV Winnipeg that the cold weather is testing everyone’s patience. "I think lots of people have had enough,” he said. “It's not really funny anymore. It's March 1st."
While it's easy to complain daily, how often do we stop and reflect on our many blessings in life? You might be thinking, "how is this cold weather possibly a blessing?" Well, for one, it means no mosquitoes. :) But seriously, I came across a quote today that caught my attention.
"Attitudes are contagious. Are yours worth catching?" ~Dennis & Wendy Mannering
When everyone around me is complaining or being negative, or when my circumstances or environment are less than ideal, it's soooo easy and natural to get caught up in that and join in the complaining. I am definitely guilty of it, just ask my husband. But is that really what I want? Do I enjoy being around people who complain a lot? No. So why am I doing just that? I have decided that I want to start intentionally practicing gratefulness daily in my life, despite my circumstances, despite the weather, and despite what everyone else is saying, and I invite you to join me.
What is gratitude?
Simply put, gratitude is thankfulness. It involves being aware of our blessings and the simple pleasures of life that we too often miss. It means shifting our focus away from what our lives lack and towards the abundance that is already present. I know that for me at least, this does not come naturally. It is something that must be intentionally learned and practiced. But I believe it's worth it.
Health benefits of being grateful.
Did you know research shows that being grateful not only makes people happier, but it also reduces stress, strengthens the immune system, makes people more resilient, and enhances relationships? Well, now you do. :)
Simply put, gratitude is thankfulness. It involves being aware of our blessings and the simple pleasures of life that we too often miss. It means shifting our focus away from what our lives lack and towards the abundance that is already present. I know that for me at least, this does not come naturally. It is something that must be intentionally learned and practiced. But I believe it's worth it.
Health benefits of being grateful.
Did you know research shows that being grateful not only makes people happier, but it also reduces stress, strengthens the immune system, makes people more resilient, and enhances relationships? Well, now you do. :)
Things to be grateful for.
There are SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO many things we can be thankful for but that we often take for granted instead. Some examples include:
-Access to clean water: A luxury that millions of people don't have
-Wealth: You may not consider yourself wealthy by North American standards, but compared to the most of the rest of the world, we are abundantly rich.
-Education: Be thankful for the fact that you can even read this blog, while nearly a billion people can't read a book or even sign their names.
-Music: And it's ability to soothe, motivate, or uplift.
-Beauty: Look all around you! Take time to look at the snow and notice the way it glistens in the sunlight. Take a look at the intricate, delicate, and unique snowflakes. Or the beautiful blue sky on a sunny day. The mighty storm clouds. Rain drops in puddles. Mountains, fields, animals, people. Beauty is everywhere.
-Chocolate: Mmmmmmm. Nuff said. :)
-Our senses: Sight, hearing, taste, touch, smell. Can you imagine life without them?
-Friends and family: Think of what they mean to you. Better yet, let them know!
-Hardship and loss: We can still be thankful for these things as they help us to learn and grow.
-Life: A miracle in itself.
-The incredible love and grace of God
What to do about it.
I haven't personally tried this myself yet, but keeping a daily "journal" can be extremely helpful in adopting an attitude of gratitude. Taking the time to jot down even 5 things a day can help you re-focus and form the habit of gratefulness. Having these things written down on paper also serve as reminders that you can look back on. The things you write down don't have to be big and profound either. They can be as simple as, "paint brushes, popcorn, dogs, hot tubs, cuddling," etc. etc.
Another idea is that when things go wrong, instead of complaining, try asking yourself, "What is good about this?" or "What can I learn from this?"
I'll leave you with these thoughts:
"To say we feel grateful is not to say that everything in our lives is necessarily great. It just means we are aware of our blessings." (Dr. Robert Emmons)
"If you don't get everything you want, think of the things you don't get that you don't want." (Oscar Wilde)
Now I'm gonna go paint somethin'... ;)
~Nikki Toews
There are SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO many things we can be thankful for but that we often take for granted instead. Some examples include:
-Access to clean water: A luxury that millions of people don't have
-Wealth: You may not consider yourself wealthy by North American standards, but compared to the most of the rest of the world, we are abundantly rich.
-Education: Be thankful for the fact that you can even read this blog, while nearly a billion people can't read a book or even sign their names.
-Music: And it's ability to soothe, motivate, or uplift.
-Beauty: Look all around you! Take time to look at the snow and notice the way it glistens in the sunlight. Take a look at the intricate, delicate, and unique snowflakes. Or the beautiful blue sky on a sunny day. The mighty storm clouds. Rain drops in puddles. Mountains, fields, animals, people. Beauty is everywhere.
-Chocolate: Mmmmmmm. Nuff said. :)
-Our senses: Sight, hearing, taste, touch, smell. Can you imagine life without them?
-Friends and family: Think of what they mean to you. Better yet, let them know!
-Hardship and loss: We can still be thankful for these things as they help us to learn and grow.
-Life: A miracle in itself.
-The incredible love and grace of God
What to do about it.
I haven't personally tried this myself yet, but keeping a daily "journal" can be extremely helpful in adopting an attitude of gratitude. Taking the time to jot down even 5 things a day can help you re-focus and form the habit of gratefulness. Having these things written down on paper also serve as reminders that you can look back on. The things you write down don't have to be big and profound either. They can be as simple as, "paint brushes, popcorn, dogs, hot tubs, cuddling," etc. etc.
Another idea is that when things go wrong, instead of complaining, try asking yourself, "What is good about this?" or "What can I learn from this?"
I'll leave you with these thoughts:
"To say we feel grateful is not to say that everything in our lives is necessarily great. It just means we are aware of our blessings." (Dr. Robert Emmons)
"If you don't get everything you want, think of the things you don't get that you don't want." (Oscar Wilde)
Now I'm gonna go paint somethin'... ;)
~Nikki Toews