“When it comes to life the critical thing is whether you take things for granted or take them with gratitude.” G.K. Chesterton
When I first started keeping my gratitude journal, I didn’t tell my husband. Not that it was any big deal, it was “my thing,” and I knew he really wasn’t into that kind of stuff. A short while after beginning my practice, I began noticing something odd – Scott was becoming more verbally appreciative. Now, I never felt like he was taking me for granted, but his thanking me for doing little things like cleaning up the kitchen or fixing dinner was a refreshing change. He was noticing!
As I thought about what was happening, I realized that without conscious effort, my gratitude practice was positively affecting my relationship with Scott. As I was taking the time to appreciate the world around me, my energy was changing and my husband was picking up on it. We started thanking each other regularly, and our marriage became stronger as a result.
If you’re struggling with gratefulness because you don’t think it’s going to make a difference to anyone, please know that it absolutely will. All it takes is one person to start focusing on all the blessings in life instead of just going through the motions every day. You can be that person. As Gandhi once said, “Become the change you want to see in the world.” Take everything in gratitude today.
