An Attitude of Gratitude: 7 Day Challenge

"Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it." 

-William Arthur Ward

With the season of Thanksgiving upon us I wanted to take a moment to link our minds and bodies together by setting up a Gratitude 7 Day Challenge.  All it takes is a few moments each day to really notice a difference and keep a positive spirit during the holidays which can usually seem stressed and overwhelming with commitments.  Carve out one week before the end of this year and do these daily exercises to start feeling more love, joy and peace in your life (bonus if you are able to repeat the challenge 2x before New Year!) . 

• Day 1: Write a thank you note to someone outside your immediate family and send/give it to them.
• Day 2: Journal 3 things about yourself you are grateful for and why.  Feel free to be creative and do a painting or drawing also that links these character traits you love about yourself into one image.
• Day 3: Write a thank you note to someone not in your family and send/give it to them.
• Day 4: Journal 3 things about your spouse/parent/friend you are grateful for and why.  
• Day 5: Write a thank you not to someone whom you routinely go to for service (masseuse, hair stylist, teacher, store clerk, accountant, babysitter, mechanic) and send/give it to them.
• Day 6: Journal 3 thing about the world in which we live you are grateful for and why.  Feel free to get creative and put together a collage of pictures or even make a mini movie to express your gratitude and post on social media or add as artwork in your home.
• Day 7: Write a thank you note to yourself (think putting away in a time capsule to look back on next year or at a big life event ahead) or to your "higher power/God" (can be sent up in a balloon or presented during a religious ceremony).

"Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings."  

-William Arthur Ward