November is a time for reflecting on everything we have to be thankful for, but why not encourage your family to practice gratitude year round? It’s easy to get swept away with the commercialism of the holidays and put thankfulness on the back burner once the holiday dishes are cleared.
While Thanksgiving is the perfect time to gather with family and give thanks, here are three creative ideas for embracing gratitude beyond turkey day.
1. Share a Family Gratitude Journal
Start a simple journal with a one-sentence gratitude challenge each day for everyone. Each page can be a separate day and each family member can write one statement of gratitude per day. Take a look at the entries next Thanksgiving and reflect on all the good that has transpired over the past year.
2. Gift a Gratitude Photo Album
In today’s age of selfies and snaps, wouldn’t it be great to use our smartphones for an exercise in gratitude? A gratitude photo album would make a thoughtful gift for someone special in your life. Take and compile photos of the moments, occasions, etc. that make you thankful for that person and create a custom photo album. There are a multitude of online photo companies that offer customizable photo books or you can print the photos and put them in an “I Am Thankful for You” album.
3. Paint a Wall of Thankfulness
Do you have an empty spot in your house for a wall or even corner of thankfulness? Use chalkboard paint to create a space just for writing declarations of thoughtfulness. This would be an encouraging sight in your mudroom or in your kitchen as you start or end your day.
How do you encourage a spirit of thankfulness at your house? What are some ideas you have for making this a practice to embrace beyond Thanksgiving?
Categories: Family