On Gratefulness

I was mindlessly waiting at the cashier's office in the county courthouse today when my eyes focused on the images stuck to the cashier's window. It was decorated with thanksgiving stickers, turkeys, etc. It clicked that Thanksgiving is only weeks away, indeed, we are in the month of Thanksgiving. I decided that this month will be a month of gratefulness on my blog.

A few years ago I picked up an old classic I hadn't read since junior high, How to Win Friends and Influence People. The first chapter which can be summed up by saying, the first virtue of being a good people person is to abstain from criticizing, condemning, and complaining ESPECIALLY criticizing, condemning or complaining of, to, or about people. At that point in my life, that chapter really resonated with me. I started to take a mental tally of how much I condemn things just in my own thought process. The outcome was alarmingly bad. I concluded that I criticized, condemned and/or complained nearly 80% of the time. Hummm. I set about to change that.

Today, by contrast, I took note of my appreciation. I noticed today that I spend a great deal of time appreciating people and things. Perhaps I both criticize and appreciate, but tend to notice what I am looking for.

Here is some of my appreciation du jour:
Today the weather was that PERFECT fall weather. Breathtaking. The street west of the botanical gardens was GORGEOUS. It was warm enough to go outside without a jacket. The bright blue skies were contrasted by yellow, orange and red leaves, which were crisp, but not yet off the trees. Tomorrow it is supposed to rain, and then all the leaves will be gone, so I especially wanted to take it all in.

I had a moment of appreciation for the people I work with; all of them. Tom, the senior partner, has a heart of gold, as does his son. I also appreciate the office manager. I love that she is family oriented and how organized she is.

When I got home Debbie was over. I love it when she comes to visit. I appreciated that Holly called. She called right when I was leaving for the temple. Since being in St. Louis, we've had a tradition of talking while I am on the 20 minute drive to and from the temple. She didn't know I was going. How does she do that? I also had a great talk with Sara. Great conversations are SO amazing, and recharging and I LOVED it. I appreciated how great it is to have friends who draw me up and bring me to higher heights.

And that is only a VERY small portion of my appreciation today. I even appreciate having things to appreciate, because sometimes, let's be honest, life presents a dearth of things to be grateful for. Not so today, thankfully.