November Gratitude Invitational

I’ve already overbooked myself for November and we ‘re less than 24 hours into the month.

For instance I’ve accepted a walking challenge. This involves either several walking marathons or consistent walks every day for the entire month. Seems like a great idea since I need to get more outdoor time and exercise, so this is good. I already forgot this morning, must have something to do with sugar overload and a way too late bedtime.

Also November is, once again AnClOuGaSoMo. Not familiar with this one? It’s been going on since MSH and I became a family. Seriously, he had a storage unit when we married back in the Neolithic Age.) It stands for Annual Clean Out the Garage Sometime Month. Which means I plan to clean out the garage, (yes, again already) sometime in the next 30 days. That could be scary or very cathartic. Or tragic, well, probably not really tragic. I just don’t really want to do that much work.  Maybe I’ll just shove it all out into the driveway and post a big garage sale sign. Except I despise garage sales.

There’s some convoluted travel plans mixed in the schedule this month, too.

And there’s the Thanksgiving holiday!!  A delightful holiday which involves a day of baking pies, and a separate day of cooking, and a day of recovery, and lots of shopping and cleaning ahead of time. All that for a few glorious hours of Family and Friends, noise and love bouncing off the walls, dishes piled high, dessert overload and abundant joy.

Otherwise, it’s simply a normal month with the usual comings and goings and dervish-like whirling.

I love me some November! Why? Besides all of the above reasons?

For me November rotates around gratitude every single day.

So, once again, I’m committing right here, out loud in front of everybody, that every day this month I’m going to blog or Facebook or both, something that I’m grateful for.  And I’ll still do my usual Gratituesday posts.

That sounds like a lot but if I’m only mentioning one thing a day and I’m not going into elaborate explanations, then I can succeed. Right?

At the same time I’m setting up this challenge, correct that, invitation,  I’m throwing this challenge/invitation out to anyone who’s  interested in joining me.

I’ve written a bit about the benefits of adding gratitude to your life on this post. If you want to see if I really know what I’m talking about or if I’m just blowing smoke, you could  join in with me. One thing a day. That’s all. Unless you want to overachieve and do three or five.

It doesn’t have happen publicly. You don’t have to post on Facebook or Twitter or a Blog. That’s just how I do it so I feel like I have some accountability. You can simply get out a sheet of paper or a little notebook and list your daily item that makes you smile, brings you joy, lifts your spirits, puts a zing in your step or makes your heart go purr.

Gratitude changes everything (Photo credit: symphony of love)

At the end of the month what will you have? At the very least, a list of thirty great things about your life. Or more likely, you’ll have gained a slightly changed perspective about how your life does not stink. Or even better, you’ll see life through a lens of thankfulness.

Think of it. If ten of us did this there’d be three hundred grateful vibes mixed up in the universe of grouchiness. If fifty of us did it there’d be fifteen hundred thankful thoughts floating about. If a hundred people joined in there’d be three thousand smiles to offset all the frowns that exist out there.

Don’t you want to try it? Ah, come on, say yes!

Say, “Today I’m thankful for _____” and fill in the blank, every day, all month-long. You can do this!

It can’t hurt.

Give it a try.

Two other posts I wrote that sort of tie in, that you might want to check out.

• My ABC’s of Gratitude
• November is the Best Month Ever (2012)

Related articles by other cool bloggers that show I’m not the least bit original and that this idea rocks.

• Welcome to Gratitude Ambushing! (gratitudeambushing.wordpress.com)
• THANKFUL THIRTY – Kick Off! (spumonicaddo.wordpress.com)
• 10 reasons to love November (examiner.com)
• Our Month for Gratitude (blogtowork.wordpress.com)