Friday, January 28, 2011

Gratitude Experiment

I have an experiment that I would like to ask you to do with me. I have already started, and it has changed my life. I know there are other ways to do this, like the "Gratitude Journal" that my husband's Aunt gave me. But this came to me after pondering the television show I mentioned a few posts ago.

I thought about the one thing the man who had survived the plane crash said. He said that we need so very little to make us happy, but we demand so much out of life. I have been thinking for some time that part of the reason we want more and more is because we aren't appreciating what we already have. Sometimes when I go to the store, and I see some cute clothing that I am tempted to buy, I remind myself that I have good clothing already. And this next part is the key to my gratitude experiment. I tell myself to enjoy what I already own instead of buying more.

My dog does something that really drives me crazy. When I give her a table scrap, she swallows it down without even tasting it. It doesn't matter what I give her, she swallows it as fast as she can, and doesn't take time to taste it. But I realize that we humans do the same thing. Today I made some cinnamon rolls. I took one in a bowl for me, and one in a bowl for my son when I went to pick him up from school. I ate mine on the way there. I got kind of distracted because of traffic while I was eating, and I don't even remember eating the last half of it. I've become my dog!

One more story before I get on to the challenge. I remember very clearly when my second child was born, that I was always afraid something dangerous might happen to him. As it turned out, he did have many close calls in his life, so I wasn't too far off the truth. :) But when he was a baby, I remember sitting rocking him before laying him in bed at night, and I tried to really savor the moment in case something happened to him. I know that sounds morbid, but I really wanted to treasure the moments with that baby in case they were taken away from me.

Now to the challenge. I have been thinking all these thoughts this week, and I have been really focusing on savoring the moments in my life. The other night I laid down in bed and it felt so comfortable that I just laid there and tried to savor it. Another time I was taking a shower, and really tried to focus on the soothing hot water. When I have spent time with my husband, I've tried to really be in the moment and focus on enjoying that time we have together. When I eat (except for the cinnamon roll ;P) I've tried to really chew and taste what I'm eating, and savor it. I would like you to try this with me. See how it changes your ability to appreciate the blessings in your life. I think it has really helped me to be more grateful, and to really enjoy more the blessings that I already have. And when you really do find one of those choice moments when you really enjoy what you have been blessed with, don't forget to take time to thank God! And then come back and tell me your thoughts!

7 comments:

Nene said...

When we came back from Ireland, we experienced a season of gratitude. We were so happy to be back home that we relished everything we did. I remember my husband and I talking about how nice it was to be able to do this or that, or see this or that, or just do things in our home. I can remember just walking down the aisles of the grocery store and LOOKING at all the varieties of food we can buy here. I kept having to remind myself that I was there to buy groceries, not just look at them. :0) At the same time we were experiencing that, we were also thinking back to our Ireland experience and remembering how blessed we felt to be over there and to get to see and do all the things we did. I remember when we were in Paris, standing in line to go up on the Eiffel Tower. We were so excited to actually be there. My husband said to me: "Can you actually believe that we are standing here under the Eiffel Tower?" It really seemed like we were in a dream. We kept saying that over and over on that trip and others. I can remember trying to savor the moment as we toured around to each incredible sight. I cried when I left Ireland because I was so thankful that we had been able to have that experience, but then I also cried as we landed in Atlanta - glad to be back in the US.

Ramana Rajgopaul said...

This is a beautiful post Delirious. I thank you for reminding me to be grateful for all the good things in my life. i do tend to focus on the bad things and this is a timely reminder.

Inklings said...

I have actually had many of these same thoughts these past few years, and have been trying to do this.
I first began to feel this way after reading Corrie Ten Boom's book THE HIDING PLACE. Have you read that? It's a great book, one of my favorites.

Marla said...

I so agree with you. I can get moving so fast through life that I miss the blessings of now. I have really been trying to slow down and not only savor the moment and experience but also thank God for you. Thank you for writing this and reminding me again.

dixiegrandma said...

Thanks, Delores. I'll try to do this more. I think it will help me not to let my worries get me down. Everything can't be perfect, and this shouldn't detract from the wonderful blessings I do have in my life.

Becky said...

Taking time to appreciate our daily moments is so important; thanks for the reminder. You would probably like this post as well - My 2011 Word

Amber said...

i love this idea, its something that i think i already kind of try to do - i like to look for the beauty in the everyday, it really does make you a more positive, hopeful, and happy person :)