How will you spend your Thanksgiving?

Our family is looking forward to spending another holiday together. As the kids grow up and leave for college, this time of year is especially precious when we are all together as a family. We look forward to time together along with the Thanksgiving meal, but I wanted to let you in on one of our family traditions.  

As a family, we have always wanted to keep the “Thank” in “Thanksgiving,” so we all start off the day around the table after breakfast and make a list of ten things that we are thankful for. The whole family does this on paper, and afterwards we share what each of us has written, and together thank the Lord for His goodness.

This Thanksgiving though, we will enjoy our tradition…but it won’t end there. At the advice of some friends, I read a book that completely changed my mindset on thankfulness. Thankfulness is not a once a year event, nor is it simply ten things on a list. The bible says in Proverbs 17:22, “A cheerful heart is good medicine.” I am always looking for healthy “medicines” in my work, and I have found that a mindset of thankfulness will take care of many woes, whether physical or emotional. 

Be thankful daily and hourly for every single thing God has given you. I continually remind my clients that are struggling with health issues to be thankful that the bible says, “They are fearfully and wonderfully made,” Psalm 139:14. Instead of focusing on the negativity of a sinus or allergy problem, be thankful for the trees that provide us oxygen and that you have tissues to use! Instead of worrying about your gut issues, thank God for your functioning intestine, and for the bathroom you have with indoor plumbing. If you have joint pain, be thankful for your arms and legs to walk around, and if you have trouble sleeping, be thankful for your warm bed and blankets. 

There is always a silver lining to every cloud, and by changing your mindset to thankfulness, you will always see that silver lining and never focus on the cloud again. So enjoy your holiday but make Thanksgiving a daily routine, this will make a significant impact in your health and your well-being!