Thanksgiving is such a lovely time of celebration. It kicks off the holiday season with a focus on togetherness, hospitality, and, of course, gratitude. The weeks leading up to Thanksgiving mark the perfect time to shift the focus in your home to an appreciation for the great abundance that you and your family enjoy and the many blessings in your life.
Here are some ways to do just that:
Thanksgiving Tree
Head outside for a nature walk with the kids and instruct everyone to keep their eyes peeled for the perfect branch for your Thanksgiving tree. A small branch that can fit in a vase, with numerous arms would be great. Display your branch in the vessel of your choice in a prominent place. Each day, hang leaves cut out of card stock with something each family member is thankful for written on them. As Thanksgiving approaches, encourage your family to keep adding leaves to your “tree” and watch it grow as your appreciation for your many blessings grows along with it.Share Your Blessings
Search in your community for places of need and enlist your family to contribute. Facebook groups, neighbors, local school groups, religious centers, and volunteer organizations can be great resources in your quest. Find a cause that resonates with you and your family, and give it your all. The opportunity to share your blessings will surely expand everyone’s sense of gratitude.Say ‘Thank You’
As simple as it sounds, we probably don’t express our thanks as often as we could. Challenge each member of your family to say “thank you” to someone every single day leading up to Thanksgiving. When you shift the focus to thankfulness in this way, you may be surprised by how many times you have the opportunity to express thanks each day. Whether you’ve received service at a store or restaurant, or a stranger held the door for you as you were entering a building, or you received a compliment, or someone blessed you as you sneezed—count your thanks and revel in the beauty of your connections.Send Thank-Yous
Kicking it up a notch, get back to the age-old tradition of sending thank-you notes. Set out thank-you cards, envelopes, pens, and even stickers and crayons—whatever will make it fun—and encourage your family to write thank-you notes to loved ones and acquaintances. Think about the special birthday gift you thoroughly enjoyed, or the warm welcome you always receive in a relative’s home. Maybe a note to Dad hidden in his lunchbox thanking him for working so hard would be appreciated. Taking the time to send out heartfelt thanks will be a delight for the sender and recipient alike.Continue Throughout the Year
Practicing gratitude has been shown to improve both health and happiness in people of all ages. Why not extend the practice throughout the year? Whether you continue to add to your tree, or simply end each day asking every family member what they’re thankful for today, maintain a heart of gratitude in your home and see how it affects your entire family for the better. Happy Thanksgiving.
