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Well, our month focused on Kindness is coming to a close and it’s time to gear up for November.
My family learned so much over the last 31 days and I really enjoyed watching my kids internalize what kindness meant to them. I hope you and your family found a little joy and some growth as you focused on being kind.
As I was preparing for November’s focus, I had found a characteristic that I was really excited to work on. I started gathering ideas and my creativity really lit on fire! Then life happened and I was led in another direction, funny how that happens. The obvious choice of a focus for November would be gratitude, but the rebel in me wanted to buck the trend… this other idea sounded so much more fun.
Y’all, I’m such a dork.
I have to be honest, I haven’t felt all that grateful inside lately and have had a terrible attitude the last couple weeks. There have been a lot of things going on behind the scenes here and I won’t bore you with the details, but I’ve been feeling pretty darn sad. Though I worked hard to be kind and to share goodness this whole last month, and though it was filled with absolutely wonderful experiences, I just can’t seem to shake the little black cloud that has been hanging over my head. I have prayed every day about the problems that I am facing in hopes of answers, and low and behold, I get asked to speak in church on what else but gratitude.
Obviously, the Lord wants me to focus on the attribute that I have been trying so hard to avoid!
I guess that means I’m bringing my family and the rest of you along for the ride.
So, hop aboard the gratitude train.
The more I think on it, the more I believe that gratitude is a universal struggle.
We each go through dips and valleys when it’s hard to see the good stuff and easy to focus on the bad. Let’s work together for the next few weeks to set our eyes on what matters most.
Barry Neil Kaufman once said, “Gratitude is one of the sweet shortcuts to finding peace of mind and happiness inside. No matter what is going on outside of us, there is always something we could be grateful for.”
Here are some activities, ideas, and quotes to get our creative juices flowing…
How Gratitude Affects the Human Body
via Huff Post
Chalkboard Art: You can find a absolutely darling Gratitude Chalkboard Printable over at My 3 Monsters. She’s asked bloggers not to post her printables to their sites so I’ll let you just click over to her blog to see that cute design. You could print it and put it in a frame or use it for inspiration for creating your own chalkboard art. I absolutely love it!
Gratitude and Service Family Home Evening Ideas
via Cranial Hiccups
Speaking of Cranial Hiccups, I also loved THIS idea she had for Blessings Mix!
So so cute!
via Cranial Hiccups
This printable from Honeybear Lane is not only cute but it’s got the wheels turning in my mind!
Couldn’t you make a great object lesson from this quote?
What if you wrapped a treat or small gift and brought it with you to family night, then set it down next to you and acted like it was nothing, just ignoring it as you went about your family time or lesson. Then when anticipation becomes just too much for the munchkins, share this quote and let them open it.
I’m totally going to try it!
via Honeybear Lane
Here is a bunch of children’s books on gratitude from Investing in Children for your nightly reading time!
I love The Giving Tree and can’t wait to reread it with my kids. My auntie, Julie, used to read me that book when I was a little girl. It was one of her very favorites and now it is one of mine.
This thought has touched my heart tonight.
It’s so true.
via Life Hack
Inspired by Familia has several ideas for activities involving gratitude.
Find her post HERE.
This little printable reminded me of a gratitude journal that I started for myself when I was away from home for the first time and struggling a little bit. I decided that I want me kids to create a habit of gratitude in their lives, that I have forgotten but so desperately need to start again. I went out today and bough some composition notebooks. Watch for a post on that coming soon!
Lastly, I love this idea of creating a Gratitude Chain!
Go to Nothing but Monkey Business to learn more.
via Nothing But Monkey Business
I hope some of these ideas have inspired you to create an attitude of gratitude in your home this coming month!
Monthly Pinterest Board:
If you need more creative juice, don’t forget to follow my Family Focus: Gratitude board on Pinterest.
I’ll be adding more pins as I find them.
So, what do you think, can we do it? Can we focus this month on the fact that we have a glass and it has something in it?
I’m sure going to try!
