“Gratitude turns what we have into Enough”

There’s something beautiful about Thanksgiving, a holiday that is becoming one of my favourites simply because it is rooted in gratitude rather than gift giving. I love Christmas, New years, birthdays … pretty much any excuse to celebrate and eat a lot of food with the people I love, but there’s truly something amazing about celebrating gratitude that makes Thanksgiving so unique. So I thought I would find the time to share a little something I’ve started to do that brings a little bit of joy and light to the lovely things we experience in the midst of our seemingly mundane everyday lives; The Gratefulness Project.

The Gratefulness Project is something I started about a month ago, I was feeling a bit stuck; sad to be leaving my little ones and going back to work and frustrated about what the future held. So much about what was happening felt out of my control and I was having a hard time finding joy in the everyday. So, instead of becoming overwhelmed and letting these feeling of frustration take over, I started to think about things a little differently, I started to realize that while some of the big things that were happening in my life seemed tough, stressful or unfair, I did have the power to see the joy in the little things, in the everyday. And like so many already have, I started to realize that those seemingly “little” things really are the big things.

The project is a relatively new thing, and while I don’t share it every single day, the process of reflecting and taking the time to see the good and be grateful is already making such a huge difference. On those days when I get bogged down, stressed out about work, parenting or life in general, I am learning to stop what I am doing and try to be grateful for what I have. See the joy in my little one’s smile, laugh with our toddler when something simple and silly happens and be in the moment. Simple things like a fresh pot of coffee, a walk at sunset with my family or just the beautiful colours on the trees pouring radiant red light into the windows of our home become more than just simple little things if you let them, they become The Big Things.

I’m not sure where this project will go or what’s in store for the future of The Gratefulness Project, but I do know that I am seeing things so differently since I started it and I hope that by sharing those things I can bring a little light to the lives of others too.

What are some of the simple things that make you smile? What are you grateful for? I’d love to hear some of those beautiful things.

Wishing you all a very Happy Thanksgiving!

Xo

Vanessa