5 ways to practice thanksgiving.

  It's November! I love this month- its the real start of the holiday season and cozy clothes and gathering with your favorite people for lots of different fun reasons. But the reason I really love this month because so many people jump on the thanksgiving bandwagon. I love seeing the 30 days of things their thankful for, sappy posts on the actual holiday about gratefulness, and people going out of their way to love others a little better this month!

   Do you do anything during the month of November to gear up for Thanksgiving day? Have any traditions or things you've been wanting to try? I've been keeping a thankfulness journal off an on for 8 years now, but that isn't specific to November. So I found a cute little Thanksgiving Tree in the dollar spot a few weeks ago, so I think I'm going to try to make it family activity around the dinner table (err kitchen counter? 2 kids, two and under doesn't make for a peaceful dinner ever). Tyler is obviously too young to care/contribute, but I'm excited to see if Caleb catches on. And I think it will be something fun for Justin and I to do together. It's one of those things that I'm already giving lots of grace to- we may not get to everyday and I may be the only one in the family that really cares about it by the end. But its a fun way to try to more grateful and mindful this month!

  In case you're looking for a few fun (and EASY) ways to get into the Thanksgiving spirit this month, here are 5 things to get you started. I promise they are easy, anyone can do them, and it will be fun to look back on when Thanksgiving rolls around in a few weeks!


1. start a journal. Ok, journal sounds fancy. What I really mean by this is find some paper (however fancy or unfancy!) and take 3 minutes at the beginning or end of each day to write down THREE things you are thankful for. Guys. This is so simple, but so life-giving. I do this and often used it as a tool in my work as a therapist. We all have three things, big or small, to be thankful for each day!

2. tell someone. This teacher does a classroom version of this, and its so sweet. If third graders can make time each week to tell a friend or classmate why they are thankful for them, grown ups should be able to do it, too! Leave a note on a desk, mail a postcard, or send a sweet text. It takes 5 minutes!

3. change your focus on social media. What would happen if you only posted about things you're thankful for this month? I'm not sure when (maybe a year ago?) I changed my focus on all of my instagram posts. I started only posting/captioning things I'm thankful for. Because there is always something to be thankful for. Why not take time to acknowledge those by being intentional with what we share on social media? So maybe each day this month you post one thing each day that you're thankful for or you simply write in your caption what it is that you're thankful for in the post you're sharing! Bonus? You'll likely encourage whoever follows you to be thankful too!

4. make a tree/chalkboard/family list/jar. It seems as if there are a million versions of this- a tree with leaves to write thankfuls on, a jar to collect notes of thankfuls, a chalkboard you slowly fill up over time, a family journal, etc etc. Pinterest the heck out of this and do what makes the most sense for your family!

5. give out of thanksgiving. This might be my favorite one! Do you find yourself feeling extra thankful for one particular thing? Maybe a friend who has just been a great listener lately- be intentional and do the same for someone else. Maybe you've been extra blessed financially this year- give out of that abundance to a local charity or cause. Have a home that has become a safe, fun place for your family- invite others into your home to experience those same things! So sort of like paying it forward, but first acknowledging where God has blessed you and your thankfulness and then giving out of that very thing. This one has so much potential for fun and creativity!!

  Happy month of thanksgiving!