National Thank You Month

Why should we set aside time during the month of January to celebrate National Thank You Month? That's easy, in our world we often think only of what we don't have, what we want, and how what we have isn't what we want. Instead of just dwelling on the fact that we don't have everything we want, we should take time to be happy and thankful for what we do have.

Everyone has something to be thankful for, everyone. Do you have a home? Many people don't. Do you have a car? You are better off than many people across the world. Do you have family? Many, many people I know don't have families. Are you relatively happy, healthy, and prosperous? Then be thankful!

Embracing the power of being thankful for what you have makes your life better, but it can be difficult at first to see what you can be thankful for. Here are some ideas to get you started:

1. I am thankful to be healthy.

2. I am thankful to feel focused right now.

3. I am thankful for grace.

4. I am thankful that I have time to do what I need to do.

5. I am thankful to be loved and supported.

6. I am thankful for the skills I have developed over my life.

7. I am thankful for doing my artwork.

8. I am thankful for making emotional deposits.

9. I am thankful for remembering that I am loved.

10. I am thankful for today.

11. I am thankful for seeking to understand.

12. I am thankful for the choices I have made.

13. I am thankful for my friends.

14. I am thankful for forgiveness.

15. I am thankful that I've lived this long.

Hem your blessings with thankfulness so they don't unravel.

~Author Unknown

Let your friends and family know you appreciate them. They might not be around tomorrow, and how will you feel if you never get a chance to really let them know how much you truly appreciate who they are?

Let your children's teachers know you appreciate the hard work they do. Teaching children is never easy, and our teachers are chronically unappreciated.

Let your neighbors know you appreciate that they are good neighbors.

Let your local fire department know you appreciate that they'd run into a burning building to save you.

Let your local police department know you appreciate the fact that they protect your family.

Send thank you for to those who gave you Christmas presents.

Give a thank you note to your pastor.

Leave a note with your tip for a server who did a good job.

Send a thank you note to your favorite store, telling them you appreciate the good job they do.

Leave a little note on the doorstep of your neighbor who is a wonderful friend.

Let the soldiers overseas know you appreciate them protecting the US, even when it means they miss holidays with their families and endanger their lives.

Let your god know you appreciate the life he/she gave you.

Let yourself know you appreciate yourself. We always forget all we ourselves do, and just as we don't thank other people enough, people don't thank us enough either.

Still not sure what you should be thankful for? Everything around you. No matter how bad things are, there is something to be grateful for.

Want new clothes? Be thankful you have at least have some choice in what you can wear.

Didn't get what you wanted at Christmas? Be thankful that you got anything, many didn't.

Lost your home this year? Be thankful that you have some sort of roof over your head.

Feeling lonely and sad? Be thankful, there is always hope of a better tomorrow.

Are all your kids alive and healthy? Be thankful, you never know when you could lose one.

Is your job a pain? Lots of people don't have jobs right now.

Is your car ugly? Be thankful you have one and don't have to walk or take the bus.

We all have something we can be grateful for, even if it's just that we are still breathing.

If you are religious, in the month of January, don't ask God for things in your prayers, thank him/her for all you have been given. Be grateful for what you have.

What if you gave someone a gift, and they neglected to thank you for it - would you be likely to give them another? Life is the same way. In order to attract more of the blessings that life has to offer, you must truly appreciate what you already have.

~Ralph Marston

January may be National Thank You Month, but you can show your gratitude for life all throughout the year.

Make sure to acknowledge birthdays. Even near strangers appreciate it.

Hold doors.

Smile :)

Tip well.

Save animals.

Help others.

Give a flower to a stranger.

Say grace-and mean it.

Try to understand where other people are coming from.

Be generous.

Be kind.

Be gracious all throughout the year and be a happy and better person.