Thankfulness Year Round

Maybe it’s because I’m getting older that I am more thankful for the simple things in life. Or maybe it’s because I feel like my life is blessed beyond measure which creates my gratefulness for everything. 

Whatever the reason, whenever Thanksgiving rolls around, I often wonder why we have a holiday like this just to remind ourselves to be thankful. 

Sure, the holiday is based on the establishment of America: the sharing of a meal between the Plymouth colonists and Native Americans of the region hundreds of years ago. It is an incredible occasion that deserves to have a holiday of its own.

But, this time of year, the influx of thankfulness memes and “month of gratitude” posts pop up all over social media and I’m a bit nonplussed by it all. 

In a small way, it feels inauthentic. After all, we are given good things all the time. There are beautiful pictures to take throughout the entire year. There are things like the celebration of health, getting through a heavy heartache with family and friends, a good meal, a beautiful sunset, or the perfect cozy blanket you just thrifted. They’re all good things and they happen all the time.

So, why are we not posting that regularly? And why wait until November to list what we’re thankful for?

The longer I live my minimalistic lifestyle, the more I understand why minimalism is such a fantastic life trajectory. The more I’m thankful, the less I want. The less I want, the less I need. And the less I need, the more I can focus on all the beautiful things around me. It’s God revealing Himself in the details no matter how minute. 

Want to add more gratitude to your life? Here are seven ways to add thankfulness to your life all year round.

1. Send a Thank You – The craft of writing is down to practically nothing these days. I rarely write a thank you note, let alone a letter. Perhaps you can thank someone for the meal they invited you to. Maybe that birthday gift really deserves a thank you, as well. Buy a box of thank you notes and start to add more gratitude to your life one note at a time.

2. Take a Photo – Want a way to be thankful for the beautiful day, the beautiful meal in front of you, or even the most perfect sunset you’ve ever seen? Take a photo of it. Every time you look at it, it’s a constant reminder of how thankful you were to see or experience the event. If you’re like me, upload it to your social media.

3. Give it Away – Show how thankful you are to have what you have and then… give it away. Does someone like your sweater? Give it to them. I’ve done this before. My mom loved my sweater, a sweater I didn’t wear often, so I took it off (literally) and gave it to her. She’s never forgotten it and wears it constantly. She’s happy and I’m happy she’s happy. I’m thankful it’s hers now.

4. Write a Poem – Feel moved by the sunrise yesterday? What about that hummingbird that practically sat on your hand? Write a poem about it. The great thing about poetry is that it tends to be shorter than regular prose. It forces you to be sparing and succinct with your words. Poetry is a language that reveals your heart’s joy and the pen writes out of the overflow of the heart.

5. Make a Phone Call – Want to thank someone for something they’ve done for you? How about actually calling them. I tend to be a text kind of gal, but sometimes hearing my friend’s voice – or getting to see them on a Facetime call – fills a void of connection I need so badly. Talking to them is a way I can thank them for being my friend. Imagine that? Talking to a friend!

6. Bake a Treat – Thankful for your postal worker? Bake them a treat. Grateful to have friends and do life with them? Bake something for them. It’s inexpensive, fun, creative, and forces you to thank them with food. Which, for most people, is probably the best gift to give. It is a consumable gift that won’t sit around and collect dust.

7. Send a Text – Thinking about someone you’re thankful for? Text them. I’ve gotten texts like these before. They’re not common, but they sure are beautiful. I still think about them… even five to ten years after the fact because that text filled an empty spot in my life. An empty spot I didn’t even know I had. It made me feel needed and in turn, made me grateful for them, too. 

Minimalism has been the impetus for living the most grateful life I’ve ever experienced. In fact, the “meat and potatoes” aspect of minimalism is predicated on thankfulness. By being thankful with less, and loving that less with all of our heart, we then can truly see how much we have.

If you’re looking to show thankfulness all year (and not just on social media), learn to find the good in every situation. And if nothing goes right (which feels like that happens many days), you still have the choice to appreciate your life. There is always something to be thankful for.

Take a cue from the theme of our holiday Thanksgiving and instead of one month or one day, do it every day of the year.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

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About the Author: Heather Spiva is a freelance writer from Northern California with a penchant for minimalism, vintage clothing, and coffee. When she’s not writing, she’s reading. Her husband and two grown sons are the loves of her life.