Thankful November
November is the perfect month to reflect on everything you have and be thankful for the good things in your life. Yes, it also happens to be the month of Thanksgiving so there is definitely extra incentive to feel thankful, but I think it’s a good idea to take the idea of being thankful and extend it beyond just one day and apply it to the whole month. So I encourage you to take a moment this month and think about how you can be thankful for this entire month.
1. Volunteer– This is a great time of year to volunteer for your favorite charity. There are tons of options available during the holidays and plenty of fundraisers being planned. Pick something you are passionate about and devote some time to helping others. Lending a helping hand to someone who may need a little extra help is a great way to reflect on all the things you are thankful.
2. Do something nice for those around you– It’s so easy to be 100% focused on our own issues, problems and goals. Take a moment this month and think about the people in your life, whether it is your colleagues, your family or friends and think about something that will be nice for them. Then just do it. I promise it will make you feel great!
3. Be thankful to your body. I read a lot of healthy living blogs and I am always amazed by the limits that other bloggers push past and how they can create goals and easily crush them. It’s because they train their bodies and their minds to push past plateaus and achieve greater heights than ever before. Take a moment this month and say thank you to your body for helping you achieve these goals and push past barriers. Meditate, do some gentle yoga or get a massage. Just allow your body to relax and be.
4. Be thankful for your freedom. This week I’m going to the polls to vote and it makes me reflect on the fact that I have the freedom to vote and my voice is heard. I live in a country where things may not be perfect but it is fair and we are constantly striving to improve. Take a minute and reflect on your own gratitude for freedom and what that entails.
5. Be thankful for the food that nourishes your body. We have so many options here in the US for food. Food is never scarce and we are well-nourished. Food is vital for survival yet there are people around the world that don’t get enough to eat. There are even people in your own backyard who struggle to make ends meet. Consider how lucky we are to have access to food and don’t waste it. Consider donating food to a pantry this month.
6. Be thankful for your health. Health is never a given. There is no guarantee that you will be healthy and free from sickness and disease. I reflected on my own views of being healthy in The Reverse Why Me? Remember to be thankful for your health this month. Adopt one more habit this month that will help promote your health. Maybe you will actually floss once a day or you will take a vitamin or you will book that annual physical exam. Pick one thing and make it stick!
Readers, what are you thankful for this November? How do you show thanks? Do you usually cook for Thanksgiving?