“There’s Always Something to be Thankful for”

I saw this quote recently, and while I know it to be true, it was a good reminder that I wanted to pass along. Times get tough and life gets busy, so much so that we tend to gripe and complain instead of focusing on the things that we can be thankful for. When the kids are screaming at each other we may lose sight of the fact that here are two beautiful children with very healthy lungs! When work feels like it takes every ounce of energy, we may forget that we have the opportunity each day to do our best.

Even if you do not feel that you are making a big difference in the world, you are impacting those around you and maybe people you do not even realize you are reaching, and that is something to be thankful for.

Now, this being a blog related to life and finances, I would be remiss if I did not talk about how thankfulness relates to our finances. You may be surprised to find that being grateful can have a tremendous impact on your bank account. You see, often when life is tough we tend to spend money on “band-aid” types of fixes, for example going on a vacation to escape life’s pressures or heading to therapy when marriage gets tough (I’m not saying this is never a good idea, but not always necessary). What about something as simple as shopping or eating to feel better? Unfortunately, when you get back from vacation life is still there, and now you have to make up for lost time from when you were gone.

If we could take time each day to really think about the things we are thankful for, we could maybe avoid the trap of spending on these band-aids and instead use our hard-earned money for things that are important to us. If, instead of wishing your spouse would just one day listen to you for once in his life, you were to list the qualities of your spouse that you really enjoy and think about how great it is that he helps out with the kids, cooks dinner often, keeps the yard looking fantastic, and so on… you might save yourself from arguments and those visits to marriage counselors. And you could spend that saved money on something important to your family, like a true family vacation or braces for the kids or a new car with no loan. The possibilities are endless.

What is the best way to start? Well, to be honest, I thought about a year ago that I would like to try a journal to jot down 10 things a day that I was thankful for all the way up to 1,000 things (an idea from the book One Thousand Gifts). I actually went out on a limb and asked my husband to do this with me. We each ended up writing 5 things a day and went to 2,000 items. He was not thrilled with the idea at first but decided to humor me, and as time went on we got to talking about the things we were each thankful for in our day. We told stories about things the kids did or what happened at work. It not only helped each of us be more positive and constantly watching for our 5 things each day, but we grew closer together and happier.

So pull out a journal and try writing just a few things each day that you are thankful for. Maybe jot down a note here or there when you notice what that positive gratefulness does in your life or if you notice an effect on your finances (or avoid spending on a “band-aid” solution in some way thanks to this process). Be sure to come back and let us know what you discover!