Hi Neighbor!

As you know, Thanksgiving is three weeks from today, but did you know that November is the National Month of Gratitude?  I ‘ve always thought of Thanksgiving Day as a day of thanks, but until I read an article about trying a gratitude challenge, I had no idea that the entire month of November was dedicated to gratitude.  I do try to be grateful every day, but lately, some days are harder than others.  My no gratitude attitude is in desperate need of an overhaul!

Enter the 21-day Gratitude Challenge.  In case you haven’t heard of this challenge, the idea is that every day for three weeks, you focus on finding things (or people) you’re grateful to have in your life, and then you express your gratitude for them.  There are multiple ways to do the challenge. Some are as simple as “write down three things that make you happy each day for three weeks”, others involve specific exercises to follow each day in search of your inner gratitude.

Between my family, working, and prepping for the Holiday season (which I love to do) I was worried I wouldn’t have time to fully commit to some of the challenges that I found.  But, the more I read about the benefits of practicing gratitude – which include greater happiness, a positive attitude, and emotional well-being to name just a few, the more I wanted to try one.  So, instead of focusing on the people and things that I’m grateful for on just one day this year (Thanksgiving), I’ve decided to try a Social Media Gratitude Challenge.  I was looking for something that I could incorporate into my daily routine, and for better or for worse, checking my social media is something I do every day, so I think this will be the perfect way to express my gratitude.  The concept of this challenge is simple:  starting today, and every day for the next 21 days I’m going to post what I’m grateful for on my social media.  It’s so easy to get caught up in the negativity that social media sometimes serves us, so why not try something that might bring a little positivity to each day?  I don’t really have anything to lose by trying it; my goals are simple: develop a greater sense of being happy in the moment, and providing happiness or inspiration to someone else that just might need it.

This month, and on Thanksgiving Day, when I count my blessings, I will be including you, Neighbor!  I am so grateful to you for reading this as well as my other stories!  I wish you and your families a Happy, Healthy and Heartfelt Thanksgiving!

Gratefully Yours,
Chris
PS -If after reading this you decide to take a gratitude challenge, or if you have taken one in the past, I would love to hear about it!  Comment below or send me an email @ Ch***@ma***************.com.