Yesterday's message from our prophet was wonderful and inspiring. He invited us to flood social media with expressions of gratitude using the hashtag featured in the title of this post.
A dear friend gave me a gratitude journal for my birthday in 2019. I used it for a few months and then set it aside when negative feelings overwhelmed me and made it difficult to feel grateful. I picked it up again this past summer determined to overcome negativity by thinking of three things to be grateful for each day. Here a sampling:
glorious summer weather with low humidity; open windows and birdsong; habits that help me do the "hard" thing; tender mercies (car stalled instead of moving forward which would have caused a collision); fireflies; Farmers' Market; fresh fruits and vegetables: Rainier Cherries, beets & greens, string beans; miracles of technology-sharing files on Google Docs; AC when it's hot and humid outside; inspiration for a quilt from scraps; TopDad's hard work to make the yard nice; crockpots-Fix it and Forget it!; General Conference talks; Noble's help rearranging the kitchen; pretty, colorful tablecloths; worms and all the other organisms in my compost pile; goals to guide me; appliances: washer, dryer, iron; good books to read; protection while driving my car with the broken suspension; finding pretty composition books; cool weather; seeing the comet with Noble; the wide open prairie sky; lush fields of corn and soybeans; pioneers old and modern; The Word of Wisdom; birds; Mr. Movie fixing my truck; brother-in-law giving his insights and help; water-to drink and to give my flowers; watermelon-the taste of summer; technology for viewing past general conference talks; losing 5.2 lb.; my new sewing machine; fresh vegetables; telephones and free long distance calling; pudding made with heavy cream; squirrel traps; Noble (on her birthday); clouds; emails & texts; evening walks; competent tow truck drivers; cameras; lotion and body butter; courageous patriots; Constitution of the USA; water to drink; waterfalls; peaches; thrift store treasures; bright moonlight; good roads for traveling; talks on cd; priesthood blessings; competent and compassionate surgeons; glorious late summer weather; Craigslist; competent mechanics; Amish popcorn; jackets; oatmeal; fresh peaches; rain that watered my flowers; cheese; well-stocked grocery store; God's protecting care through the storm; family; tender mercies of pain relief; competent physical therapist; books to read and learn from; cooler temperature; gorgeous weather with low humidity; frozen pizza; the right to vote; JET on his birthday; rain; microwaves to heat food; prosperity; prayer; patriots; birds; grocery stores and prepared food; pretty pictures; frozen pizza; summer fruits; low humidity and open windows;
So much to be thankful for! And there's more to come.
I ALWAYS feel better after a recitation of blessings.
