The beginning of a new year offers a time to reflect, review, and renew our spirits. We are given a “clean slate” on which to draw the outline of what we want the year to be. We are full of hope – hope that “this year won’t be anything like the last.”
But…how do we make that happen? How do we make this year better than the last?
The answer is simple. Start every day with an attitude of gratitude.
GRATITUDE – the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and return kindness
How much of life do we simply take for granted?
Electricity at the push of a button.
Water at the turn of a knob.
What about…sleeping & waking?
We go to bed thinking about all we want to accomplish “tomorrow”. Our focus is on “tomorrow”, not on whether or not we’ll actually wake up. Admit it, we take waking up each day for granted.
We need to be grateful for each and every day we are given. Each day we receive is a miracle, but we don’t act as if it is…and that’s sad. This needs to change!
Change how? By practicing gratitude.
Practicing gratitude daily is like creating a giant snowball – you begin with a small ball of snow and just keep rolling and rolling and rolling until you can roll the ball no more.
It works the same way with gratitude. You start small, say, by being thankful you woke up. After a few days of being thankful for that, you’ll add other things you’re thankful for like coffee or friends or maybe even your job (what??) and the list just keep on growing!
So, why not begin each day by asking…
“What do I have to be grateful for today?”
…and giving thanks for it?
Make it your goal to start each day in 2021 by being grateful for “waking up”. Heck, roll “morning coffee” into your “gratitude ball” too! It’s simple. It’s easy.
That’s how I’m gonna roll my “gratitude ball” in 2021 – a little each day.
Join me and let’s see just how large a “gratitude ball” you can roll 2021!
Dan’s View 
Great post Dan! It’s 10:33am and I have many things to be grateful for today: waking up, my wife likes me, zeal in my cup, I was healthy enough to walk three miles wearing new shoes, the sky is bright and the air is clean and I love my work in worship and wellness, and I have friends that connect on a meaningful level several times a week, and so much more!!!!!
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