Beauty Buzz/Blog Biz | A Month Of Thanks Giving
Expressing Gratitude
“It is not joy that makes us grateful; it is gratitude that makes us joyful.”
~David Steinall-Rast
Many people have the wonderful tradition of giving thanks for their blessings each day in November leading up to Thanksgiving. Although it is a very good thing to recognize your blessings and the positive things going on in your life every day, Thanksgiving provides an excellent opportunity to reflect and share good things with those around us.
“A moment of gratitude makes a difference in your attitude.”
~Bruce Wilkinson
This November develop the habit of giving thanks or acknowledging one thing you feel gratitude for each day either before the day starts or at the end of the day—or if you want to find real joy try both. I know I plan to try to build this positive habit.
Things We Might Ponder In November:
What is the biggest blessing you have experienced this year? Think back month by month about what brought you joy, peace, and gratitude. I often have trouble with insomnia, and recently I realized I am wasting a lot of time thinking about or worrying about things in the wee hours of the night that have no positive impact on me or increase my ability to sleep. I have recently commited to trying to either pray or think about positive memories, as I try to get to sleep.
“Never let the things you want make you forget the things you have.”
~Anonymous
What is the most positive change you have experienced? Change can be scary, but it is said life is found in the transitions. Very unexpectedly, and much to my delight, I accepted a new job—at the American Foundation for the Blind. Working at the national level to increase the opportunities for people who are blind to experience a world of no limits is a tremendous opportunity that I am very thankful for. Are you open to new opportunities? Even unexpected transitions have the potential to lead to blessings.
“Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgiving, turn routine jobs into joy and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.”
~William Arthur Ward
Who has had a lasting impact in your life? So many pass through our lives, and often we do not get the chance or take the time to let them know the impact they had in our lives. This year I learned that someone who had a lasting impact on me passed away. It had been a couple of years since I had had contact with this person, so of course, it made me realize how important it is to let people know how much you value them.
“You cannot do a kindness too soon because you never know how soon it will be too late.”
~Ralph Waldo Emerson
Whose life have you impacted in a wonderful way? We all need to and want to feel like our life makes a difference in the life of others. Rather this be as a Mom, a friend, or in your career, each of us makes a difference in someone’s life, and the more we recognize the positive impact we make the more joy we will feel.
“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.”
~John F. Kennedy
We cannot leave out the difficult things either, as those too are often meaningful times that bring clarity and great reflection to our lives. This year my 12 year old guide dog Carmel crossed over the rainbow bridge. Although it was and continues to be a great loss, we reflect on the wonderful and beautiful memories of the many years she guided me and was a special part of our family.
“When we focus on our gratitude, the tide of disappointment goes out and the tide of love rushes in.”
~Kristin Armstrong
What amazing thing are you hopeful for in the future? We are closing in on another calendar year end… and preparing to welcome a new year. Have you considered your plans and goals for next year? Join me in trying to make having an attitude of gratitude a habit!
“Develop an attitude of gratitude and give thanks for everything that happens to you, knowing that every step forward is a step toward achieving something bigger and better than your current situation.”
~Brian Tracy
Embracing The Present
We like to live in the past or future, and often miss the wonders of the present moment… such as enjoying a beautiful fall day, the sound of rain or wind blowing through the trees, the sound of children playing, the ability to relax, the joy of a big win, the pride in a job well done, the taste of a good meal, and above all … time with loved ones.
“The real gift of gratitude is that the more grateful you are, the more present you become.”
~Robert Holden
Happy Thanksgiving and find happiness in giving thanks!
Connecting With Sylvia:
- Facebook: @Sylvia Stinson-Perez
- Twitter: @SylviaSPerez101
- American Foundation for the Blind: afb.org
Author Bio:
Sylvia Stinson-Perez has spent her career in the blindness field, and is the Chief Programs Officer for the American Foundation for the Blind. Sylvia believes the authentic shared experience of living with vision loss can lead to the development of bold confidence in living with blindness. She loves helping others find their beauty and courage on this journey.
Sylvia has Master’s degrees in Social Work, Visual Disabilities Rehabilitation, and Business Administration. Sylvia is blind as a result of Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP), however, she believes that everyone should have the opportunity to achieve their potential.
Sylvia is a wife, a mother, a friend, an advocate, and a professional dedicated to making a positive difference. She enjoys reading, cooking, travel, crocheting, writing and public speaking, and time with loved ones.
Image Descriptions:
- A white ceramic heart ornament adorned with a tiny red heart and text “I am grateful” on a wooden desk.
- Double exposure of a handdrawn painting combined with a close up partial profile portrait of a woman’s face with “Thank You” words embedded on a black background.
- Grateful black woman pressing hands to chest while looking upward expressing gratitude.
- Closeup of text and pen “I am grateful for” written in a notebook on a wooden desk.
- Silhouette of a little girl with arms outstretched and head raised to the sky against a brilliant sunset in the background.
- The author’s bio photo is a glam photo of Sylvia in a pink dress with spaghetti straps. Her hair is in a fancy updo with a pink flower on the left of her bun.