Attitude In Action
Attitude drives behavior. Behavior creates and reinforces attitude. Does your behavior demonstrate your gratitude? Beyond mere words, what do you do to show yourself grateful? As you profess an attitude of gratitude, today is a good day to think about how you put it into action.
Be Specific
Is it possible to be "generally thankful"? Perhaps. Attitude is important, and a propensity to be thankful is an attractive and healthful personality trait, but being constructively thankful involves being giving thanks to someone for something specific. Fifty-three Plymouth colonists, along with 90 Native Americans, did not celebrate that "First Thanksgiving" in 1621 because it seemed like a good party theme.They were thankful for the harvest, for their new lives in the new world, and for life itself. In the United States, Thanksgiving Day has been officially observed since 1863. While the nation was plunging into some of its darkest days during the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national day of "Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens". Today is a good day to express your gratitude to somebody specific, in heaven or on Earth, for something specific.
Just Say "You're Welcome"
When somebody says "thank you", do you say "no problem" or "it was nothing"? Don't. That devalues whatever you did to earn the "thank you." It says, "well, if it had been the least bit hard or inconvenient for me, I would not have done it for you". It says, "your gratitude is unimportant, because what I did for you was unimportant to me." Don't do that. When somebody says "thank you", assume that they mean it. Let it mean something to you. If you were happy to help, say so, or just say "you're welcome."
Thanksgiving is Thanksdoing
As you are able, show yourself grateful through more than words, do something for another that they cannot possibly repay. Create situations for others to be thankful. Just do it.
Happy Thanksdoing!
