After spending the last 29 days thinking, reading, talking and writing about gratitude, I’m pleased to say that I’ve accomplished a big part of my Gratitude Challenge. I can now say that I’m definitely more grateful for every single thing—big and little—in my life. Similar to when you decide you want to buy a new car and suddenly, everywhere you look that same car pops into your view, I now see gratitude in all sorts of places that I never imagined before. It is my sincere hope and desire that each and every one of you reading this blog feels that your gratitude level has been heightened and improved as well. But just in case you still need a little gratitude pinch, this post will include a final thought on taking your gratitude even deeper, AND my first ever Blog Hop.
First, what is a blog hop? If you ever decide to do a blog yourself you will eventually notice that some web pages feature a blog hop now and then. A Blog Hop includes a thumbnail photo and link to other bloggers who are writing on a particular topic. Mine of course will be on gratitude, thankfulness and thanksgiving. If you are a blogger and want to post your article on my blog hop I would be honored. For everyone else, I’ve already linked all the blog posts I’ve listed in earlier gratitude articles to make it easy for you. Please revisit any you missed on the first go around and then check out all the new ones. Read, share and be grateful!
Secondly, it occurred to me that there was one final option related to gratitude that I hadn’t mentioned yet. This short Japanese parable offered by Alan Cohen in his book, I Had It All The Time says it all.
A hundred and fifty years ago there lived a woman named Sono, whose devotion and purity of heart were respected far and wide. One day a fellow Buddhist, having made a long trip to see her, asked, “What can I do to put my heart at rest?”
Sono said, “Every morning and every evening, and whenever anything happens to you, keep on saying, “Thank you for everything. I have no complaint what so ever.”
The man did as he was instructed for a whole year, but his heart still was not at peace. He returned to Sono crestfallen. “I’ve said your prayer over and over, and yet nothing in my life has changed; I’m still the same selfish person as before. What should I do now?”
Sono immediately said, “Thank you for everything. I have no complaint whatsoever.”
On hearing these words, the man was able to open his spiritual eye, and returned home with great joy.
I have no idea where any of you started in regards to your level of gratitude and where it’s gone from there during this last month. Ultimately, when we take gratitude to a deep soul level it benefits us the most. However, as I’m reminded by so many examples in the world today, “You can lead a horse to water but you can’t make them drink.” Ultimately the path to peace, the path to gratitude, rests firmly on our own shoulders. Nothing at all will change until we do. But when we do I think it is both SMART and possible to say, “Thank you for everything. I have no complaint whatsoever.
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Now! To the Blog Hop!
This blog hop is now closed and has been converted to a link to every post that was entered in the “hop”. If you want to check out some great posts about gratitude, here they are.
- GRATITUDE IS COFFEE
- Gratitude – MY Way Of Life!
- Radical Gratitude
- An Unconventional Gratitude List
- GIVING THANKS TO A HEALTHY LIFE
- Gratitude, An Attitude Easier Said Than Felt
- Travel & Being Grateful
- The Season to be Grateful
- Five Myths Of A Thankful Life
- Thanksgiving: Give More
- 55 Simple Pleasures That You Lost When You Took Them For Granted
- Thanks Greening
- Gratitude Is About the Future, Not the Past
- Be thankful and stop complaining
- How Gratitude Boosts Happiness
- 3 Blocks That Keep Us From Living A Grateful Life
- Feeling Gratitude For All the People We Sleep With
- 4 Virtues Necessary For A Sustainable Season of Thanksgiving
- Gratitude Attitude
- No Matter What Happens, You Can Always Be Grateful
- What Do You Think About
- Getting to ‘Thankful’ Can Help Get Through Hard Times
- On Being Content
- SMART Living 30-Day Gratitude Challenge
- Learning to Consider Gratitude a Discipline
- 50 Things Im Grateful For Today
- 30 Days of Gratitude Quotes
- SMART Lessons From Gratitude
- Grateful–The song & video
- Thankfulness & Gratitude from a Writers Life
- 3 Things I am Forever Thankful For
- Everyday Thanksgiving
- Radical Gratitude #4
What a sun shine attitude in this age of depression and desperation. Gratitude is extinct in our lives. But your blogs about the Gratitude in such a brightening one in the dark night. I appreciate your valour and your philanthropic attitude. and i like it very much that people are appreciating ou and recognizing your true and pure spirit. Hats off to you.
Hi Jason! Thanks for stopping by SMART Living and sharing your thoughts on Gratitude. Did you see my new challenge for November 2014? Please be sure and read it and join in if the idea appeals to you. Trust me, you will get more out of it than you put in. Here’s the link…http://smartliving365.com/3rd-annual-smart-living-gratitude-challenge-2014-ten-things-thankful-ttot/ ~Kathy
*Love* the concept of focusing on gratitude Kathy – what a difference it makes in our life. If we’re seeking it, then we can be sure it’s seeking us!
Hi Elle! Nice to hear from you! I know you are always writing about things that can improve your happiness and wellbeing on your on site…and as you say, “what we seek is seeking us.” Did you find one of your own posts to put in the blog hop? It will be open until early Friday (when my next post goes live) so please do so if you have something that would work! ~Kathy
I am so happy to be here kathy, and thanks a ton for including my post in blog hop. I am amazed at so many other blogger friends blogging on gratitude, would love to read every one of them, thanks for connecting me to a variety of bloggers and including me in this circle, loved your page and your writings… would definitely like to be connected.. thanks dear & god bless you !
Hi G Angela! Yes isn’t it awesome that there are so many great bloggers writing about gratitude–and yet all of them are so different and special. I was delighted with the variety of expressions and that was one of the reasons I wanted to do the blog hop….as I’ve said before, I don’t think any of us can have too much gratitude! Than you for hopping by and for your comment. I too loved your page and am so glad we have connected. ~Kathy
Thank you so very much! Your positive attitude comes across in your words and I’m so appreciative of you taking the time to reach out and share other posts- including mine!
Hi Sheryl….you are VERY welcome. I always enjoy your blog and I’m very happy to share your perspective on gratitude. One of the best things about writing a blog is getting to meet other bloggers and read all the other perspectives that are out there. Thanks for stopping by and joining in on my Blog Hop! ~Kathy
Thanks so much Kathy for including me in this blog hop! Also, looks like I have a lot of great posts to check out and read! 🙂
Hi Erika! You are so welcome…I am so glad that I found your blog this last month and included your great perspective on this very important way of life…oh, and I’m hoping everyone checks out your great website and all your other posts on gratitude and life. Thanks for checking in an leaving a comment! ~Kathy
Kathy, what a lovely way to end the month of gratitude. There are so many things to be thankful for, and this month was no different. I took my annual trip to visit my son and his family. I had my rides arranged to take me to the bus and pick me up when I returned. I thought I did. Then Tuesday night, I received a call that my ride to get back to my apartment fell through. At first I panicked. I thought of all the friends I knew at home who would be away, then I called one neighbor who immediately told me not to worry they would pick me up. I kept thinking later that night that had I not moved where I did, I would never have met these kind people who were there for me when I needed them.
I hope you had a lovely Thanksgiving, thank you for everything.
Hi Lois! Thank you so much for popping in….I’m sure you saw I included your gratitude post in the Blog Hop from before…I think it’s nice to have them all together along with any others that happen to hop along. I’ve always enjoyed blog hops on other websites so I thought it was time to plan my own…and what better than with gratitude.
After every “challenge” I undertake I’m always a bit relieved and nostalgic. Gratitude is such a sweet way to focus that I ALWAYS get more out of it that it takes. But I also appreciate that by only doing it for 30 days I’m able to keep is a bit “special” rather than merely another “to do.”
So thank you for your continual support throughout this and the rest of the year. So happy to hear that you had a good Thanksgiving with your son, daughter-in-law and granddaughter….and yes, isn’t it lovely that someone within your collection of friends once again was there exactly when you needed them. ~Kathy
I love this idea! And it’s the first I’m singing the linking tool- I will have to use that sometime. Our blog post, Everyday Thanksgiving, was written by my husband. We are currently in our 20th month serving with Peace Corps in rural Jamaica, and we have learned so much about gratitude, appreciating the small things, and how absence makes the heart grow fonder. Thanks for allowing us to participate.
Hi Michelle! Thank you so much for hopping in and joining us in celebrating gratitude! It is my sincere hope to meet others who are out in the blogosphere sharing unique and special stories and yours sounds awesome! I can’t wait to check out your page and learning about the work you are doing the world. Thank you for sharing the gratitude! ~Kathy
What a lovely way to wrap gratitude month, Kathy. Loved each of your posts in November and also the links to other grate posts. Thank you!
Thank YOU Nancy! And are you going to post your latest gratitude post on here for us all? Please do so if you get a chance–I would love to think that this post contains all my blogger friend’s gratitude posts and THE BEST of the on the web 🙂 ~Kathy