Giving Thanks Is Right Around The Corner
Monday, November 16th, 2009
One day a year we sit with our family and friends and express how thankful we are. Doesn’t this seem a bit absurd that once a year we do this because of the tradition? When I bring gratitude into my daily life, it seems to feel better on all levels. Yes, Thanksgiving is a great time to be with family and friends and bring gratitude to the forefront of our lives, but why not everyday.
We have so many things to be grateful for that I believe we need everyday to express them to be able to acknowledge them all. We move through our life without intention, going to work, school, cleaning the house, fixing dinner, watching TV, going to our kids sporting events, and then throw our self in bed at the end of the night, happy to have the day over.
What is this doing to us and what is it teaching our teens? If we aren’t enjoying our daily schedule we have set up for our self, then what is the point. When we bring intention into our daily activities, and shine our gratitude on them, it makes them more impactful. Even a job that seems crummy, like poop patrol. Now, your thinking how can one be grateful when doing something like poop patrol. Lets see if we can find the gratitude in it. Well, I go to the place of how happy my dogs make me, and how grateful I am to have them. They aren’t going to be with me forever, and I want to cherish the time we have together. So, when I am picking up poops, it makes me think of the time I still have with them and I am grateful.
Gratitude goes hand in hand with teens having the atitude that they deserve what is given to them. When teens believe they are entitled, this shows a lack gratitude. As parents we have to be careful about how we give our kids the things they need and want. I remember when my girls were teens and my oldest would thank me for buying groceries, and at first I said no problem, it’s my duty, but then I thought about it, and although it’s my duty as a parent, there are plenty of parents not providing for their kids. So, I would start saying your welcome and thank her for being grateful that I was feeding her and not think that it was entitled. Strange because if anything should be entitled you would think that this would be.
Here are Ten Tips to helping yourself and your teens be grateful:
1) Talk to your teens about the less fortunate
2) At dinner, have everyone express one thing they are grateful for, everyday
3) Don’t give your teens everything they want
4) Make your teens work for some of their things
5) Teach them about being a team and helping around the house, for nothing in return
6) When they say thank you, tell them how much you appreciate their gratitude
7) When doing menial jobs, look at the silver lining in it and what you have to be grateful around it
8) Set an example by showing gratitude
9) When your teen shows sigh of entitlement, have a conversation around it
10) Live in the moment and realize that everything is a lesson to be learned
I hope these tips help you feel more grateful and you help your teens be more grateful. And on that note I want to thank everyone for tuning into my blog and giving such great feed back. Don’t forget to sign up for my newsletter for more fun stuff.