What Are You Grateful For?

Episode 59

As I sit down to count my blessings this year… you’re top of mind, dear listener. And I want to know, “What are YOU grateful for?“

I am grateful for YOU, your warm heart, your faithful commitment to homeschooling, and your dedicated spirit to help make this world a better place.

I’m grateful to you for joining me on social media, reading my newsletters, and listening to my podcast.

You’re the reason I do what I do and my heart overflows with gratitude for you.

Thank you for tuning in to this episode of the Art of Homeschooling podcast for a conversation about gratitude.

If you want to take some inspiration with you, here’s a FREE PRINTABLE from this episode with quotes about GRATITUDE:

Gratitude

So… let’s start off with some raw honesty here. I used to think intentionally focusing on gratitude was a little silly and maybe even a waste of time.

When I was frustrated or down in the dumps, and that was all I could feel, I wondered how in the world it could help to try to find something I’m grateful for!

But then my friend Jane gave me a tiny blank notebook to write down the little things I was grateful for. She wrote on the cover: Signs of Awe and Wonder.

She inscribed this quote on the inside cover from author Neale Donald Walsch:

“The struggle ends when gratitude begins.”

So I gave it a go. Simply writing down three things I was grateful for at the end of each day before drifting off to sleep.

I’m so glad I was willing to give Jane’s little notebook a try. Because I learned that no matter how I’m feeling, I can still find things I’m grateful for.

Honestly, even on my worst days, I can always find something that brings a smile to may face or helps me to feel more hopeful.

Just like Melody Beattie writes in her book The Language of Letting Go:

“Gratitude turns what we have into enough.”

How do you define gratitude?

According to the dictionary, gratitude is: “…the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness…”

And I just love that second part, “readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness.” Because that’s been exactly my experience. The more gratitude I feel, the more appreciation I feel along with a desire to be kind, and to return kindness.

So here are my tips to help you in your gratitude practice. And then I want to hear, what are you grateful for?

Be thankful when you learn something new.
Recognize that mistakes are opportunities for learning. I like the mantra: there is no failure, only feedback.
Be grateful for the time you have to spend with your children and family.
Make gratitude a part of your daily family life. Perhaps by sharing gratitude with at mealtimes.
Try starting a fun gratitude tradition at your house, like Rose, Thorn, Bud.
Keep a gratitude journal and add to it every day.
Practice gratitude at the same time everyday to make it a habit.
Bookend your days with gratitude. For me, it’s a morning prayer when I first wake up and then writing down 3 things in my gratitude journal at night.
Remember, what we call problems, some would call blessings.
Motherhood can feel like a thankless job, but let’s teach our children to be grateful. A simple “thank you“ goes such a long way. Model that for your kids.
Thankfulness is Not Just for Thanksgiving!

We hear a lot about abundance these days. And honestly, the way to have a mindset of abundance is by practicing gratitude.

“Practicing gratitude in a conscious way helps it grow!”

What are you grateful for?

So here’s my challenge to you: take a moment right now to think about what you’re grateful for. Press pause or close your eyes for just a moment.

And name three things you’re grateful for.

Ok, ready?

Here are my three things…just in this moment…

I’m grateful for…

Gaining a new daughter-in-law because my oldest is engaged!
Vegan, gluten-free pumpkin pie
All the moms and a few dads in my Inspired at Home membership community

Maybe you find that gratitude is a difficult practice for you, too. Think of it this way: practicing gratitude is not meant to wipe away our problems and struggles, or to belittle them. In fact, we want to accept all the feelings whether that be resentment, disappointment, or frustration.

But practicing gratitude can show us that no matter what our challenges and struggles are, we can still find things to be grateful for. It’s Both/And!

As we wrap up, I wanted to share this inspiring quote from Rudolf Steiner, the founder of Waldorf education.

Steiner said,

“One can develop love in the best possible way through gratitude.”

I’m grateful for you!

You are doing important work in this world, mama, and I so appreciate you!

All you do to care for your children, to nurture those little humans and help them discover their gifts. So that they can go out and share those gifts with the world and help make it a better place.

Thank you for being the fearless leader you are and thank you for being part of my community.

I’ll leave you with one last quote from John Milton:

“Gratitude bestows reverence, allowing us to encounter everyday epiphanies, those transcendent moments of awe that change forever how we experience life and the world.”

There’s more support for you here:

If you want more simple, doable ways to start a gratitude tradition at your house, check out last year’s episode “Practicing Gratitude as a Family.” In this episode, I share three simple ways of practicing gratitude as a family including how to make a Gratitude Tree for Thanksgiving, making a Jar Full of Gratitude, and setting up a Thank You Basket.

The Inspired at Home community is my membership community where you’ll find classes, coaching, and a community of like-minded homeschoolers that I’m truly grateful for! You may join (and cancel) at anytime.

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