On Being Thankful

thank·ful/ˈTHaNGkfəl/

Adjective:

Pleased and relieved: "they were thankful that the war was finally over"; "I was very thankful to be alive". Expressing gratitude and relief: "a thankful prayer".

Joyce Meyer tweeted a few good ones yesterday:

"Is your problem really your problem, or is it your attitude towards the problem that's your problem?"

"Your attitude is your thought life turned inside out."

"The best thing about your attitude is that it's yours, and you can choose to change it!"

"It's your attitude, not your aptitude, that will determine your sucess in life."

Part of the change I need to make in my life is to be actively thankful every day. So as part of that I'm going to start doing this:

• I am thankful that I am alive today, with food to eat, water to drink, clothes to wear and shelter from the rain. So many people don't have these things.
• I am thankful for being born into a family that loves me and nurtures me and supports me through the tough times and celebrates with me in the good times. That I was not abused as a child or neglected as so many children are.
• I am thankful that I grew up in a country where it is normal for children to go to school and not have to walk miles or bankrupt my family to do so. That I can read. That I can write.
• I am thankful that I am married to my best friend, that he has been so patient and loving through this latest season of rubbishness. God knew you were perfect for me!
• I am thankful that I live in a country where I do not live in fear of being killed for my beliefs, the colour of my skin or my tom-boyishness.
• I am thankful for our family's financial situation. We might be on the edge of struggling by some people's standards, but we are probably in the top 2% of income earners worldwide, definately the top 10%
• I am thankful that I was born with four working limbs, that I still have them and am on the whole pretty healthy, that I can walk, run, climb trees, swim, dance, and use all of the London Underground tube stations (take a look at the step-free tube guide here)
• I am thankful for my bonnie little boy, who is waking up. Better publish and go...