2015 03 26 Thank List

Attitude of Gratitude

Brought to you today by the color Red

Why red? Well, it is one of my favorite colors. But it is also the color of the flower in the American Greetings logo.

Why am I interested in the American Greetings Logo? Well, they have a project going on called the Thank List. It seems that 95% of Americans believe that WE (Americans) have a civility problem. And American Greetings proposed solution: Gratitude.

The idea is to encourage people to say thank you. Thank you for the big things. Thank you for the little things. And to start with a Thank list.

So, it seems that American Greetings and I are on similar tracks. The idea is to Write Down the people & things for which you are Grateful. Research shows positive benefits to your brain just by WRITING IT DOWN! American Greetings is more about the people aspect, and remembering to say, "Thank You."

Last night I posted a preview of today's blog on my facebook feed. This is my nephew. I still call him Ronnie...He puts up with it. Take 5 minutes and watch. You'll be glad you did.

Now not all thank yous need to be "epic." They simply need to be Sincere.

Today I am Thankful For:

* My Family. All of them. The Brothers & Sisters-in-law. The Nephews & the nieces & the "greats" (we can't call them the "little kids" anymore as several of them are as tall or taller than ME!). The in-laws & the out-laws. The Aunts, Uncles, and Cousins. Thank You for being you and for the love we share.

* My Hanley. He really is the BEST! And, I've had people ask what our "secret" is.... well, it's no secret. Please and Thank you go along way. Even for the little everyday things like taking the trash out, or mowing the yard, or doing the dishes, or getting the other one a glass of water. Please and Thank You. 

* My SAORI family. It is growing everyday. I am so thankful for each of you and the things that you teach me.

* The Kindness of Strangers. The dude that ran past the dry cleaners (his intended destination) to open the door of the UPS store because my hands were full and countless others like him. 

* My Artist friends. Thank you for your continued inspiration...and the additions to my growing Art Collection.

So think on it. Our country could become a more civil place to live if we simply adopted an Attitude of Gratitude. Making a Thank List is the first step. Saying Thank You is the second. Making it a daily habit is the third.