"I'm selfish, impatient and a little insecure. I make mistakes, I am out of control and at times hard to handle. But if you can't handle me at my worst, then you sure as hell don't deserve me at my best." - Marilyn Monroe
For all of you in the US, I'm sure you know what tomorrow is - Turkey Day, aka Thanksgiving. So of course, I think this is an excellent time to talk a little about gratitude.
No matter what the adults want to say, I think most of us are pretty thankful chicas. Maybe we don't say it out loud enough, but you know what you're grateful for - maybe your family, your BFFs, your health, yourself, or your phone. All of that. We can say thanks for all the good things easy enough. But I think it's possible to take gratitude to another level.
What if you could be thankful for the not-so-fabulous things in your life? I know, it sounds crazy. But if you can take on this perspective or gratitude (or at least acceptance), you'll begin to realize that every barrier or obstacle is really just a challenge or a lesson in life. They're something you can overcome - that will certainly make you stronger in the end. And at the same time, those bad things will start to make the good ones seem even more wonderful. Life will be sweeter than pumpkin pie.
So this holiday, take on the FG challenge: Think of something that has been hurting or heart-breaking to you, and see if you can't start to change your view of it. Recognize all of the things that you learned, or how it made you stronger. Say, "I am thankful for this experience because __________." Your heart and your spirit will be that much freer to take in all of those things you're truly happy to have in your life.
There are so many ways to get a makeover. Change your hair, change your health, change your life. But maybe the best way to makeover your life is to not change anything - and appreciate more.
I read about it in Body + Soul magazine, and it totally makes sense. Showing gratitude makes you feel better, and it even improves your health. That's pretty amazing if you think about it. Thankfulness, by the way, does not mean having manners and saying "please" and "thank you" (although I'm sure your mom reminds you about those all the time). It really just means being thankful for what you've been given - unconditional happiness. It sounds simple enough, but it's not always as easy as it should be. We live in a very fast-paced world - fast food, fast results, fast life. Thankfulness doesn't work like that; it doesn't involve going anywhere. It's stable - being right where you are, and being happy with that.
So how do you slow down your life enough to get in on this thankfulness makeover? I can't say I know for sure - I'm testing this out myself. One place to get started is to keep a journal or a list. Try to write down 5 things a day that you really love in your life. Or dedicate each day in a week to a different aspect of your life, like friends, school, and family, and just appreciate the good things you do have in that area. It's definitely a start, and I'm sure it will make you feel better.
A thankfulness makeover is one of the best kinds - changing nothing, but appreciating everything. Actually, it is a change - a change in attitude. Let me know what you're most thankful for.
