Here in Utah we've been blessed with a glorious fall so far. It looked like it was going to be short when we had that one weekend of early snow, but it's been nothing but sunshine, falling leaves and cool weather since then so it has been blissful!
I finally took the Halloween decorations down today because they had seriously warn out their welcome. I don't know when it happened, but it's like I woke up today and wanted them O-U-T!! I don't really have any Thanksgiving type stuff though, so I'm making do with the fall-looking stuff I have and calling it good. This sort of makes me a little sad for November because Thanksgiving is a good holiday, with a good reason for having it. It seems like there should be more fanfare involved. I'd like to declare it National Gratitude Month (perhaps I'll do this at home) with all sorts of ways to recognize and share things we're grateful for. Hmm.
This is making me wonder how the rest of the world views November. If you don't celebrate Thanksgiving, is November a kick-off to Christmas or just another month of fall? I'm mighty curious.
{Gratitude Journal Michelle made for me}--Write daily in a gratitude journal (list at least 5 things you're grateful for).
--Send notes to people you're thankful for and tell them why.
--Revel in the things you're thankful for each day (reading in the cozy, eating, exercising, family).
--Take pictures of specific things you're thankful for then scrapbook or blog about them.
--Say more prayers of thanks instead of always asking for things.
--Do your visiting teaching!
--Point out things daily to children and self.
--Choose to be happy.
**Do you do anything special for November?
Any suggestions for celebrating gratitude this month?**
Any suggestions for celebrating gratitude this month?**
18 comments:
Did you know in AA that November is gratitude month? So some people are celebrating! I love the idea of focusing on it- and the suggestions you offered are great, esp the last one.
I would add on public service- like volunteering at your library. Something selfless that is out of the normal circle of people we serve. Or just coming up with a family service project.
Great post, Jill. The thing that occurs to me is that I'm glad Thanksgiving has little fanfare. Just think about how people are always complaining that Christmas is too commercial, etc, etc, etc. It's nice to have a quiet little holiday that we can celebrate with just our friends and not feel pressure to think up great gifts, do too much baking, and shop for things that we really don't need. I'm grateful that Thanksgiving is what it is. That being said, I love your list of things to do in November.
Annalisa posted about a great gratitude activity with fall leaves so it's also a decoration.
I think it is sad that Thanksgiving gets "skipped" a little. My mom always decorated for Thankgiving and I love that...but now I can't even find anything because Christmas invaded the stores before Halloween was even over! I love your ideas and think this is a GREAT month to remember all that we have. Definitly a good thing to teach the kiddos, esp. with Christmas and gifts around the corner!
I cannot believe it's already the 6th. I feel like it should still be the 6th. I love November, especially when it's not snowy yet! I tend to think of it as gratitude month, I guess. I do love Thanksgiving, such a quiet holiday, it seems none of the meaning of it has been stripped away. Your question about how the rest of the world views November piqued my interest, I never really thought about it. Perhaps you should start a campaign for a world-wide National Gratitude Month!
I can't believe it is the 6th either, but mostly becuase I have too many bills due at the first of the month. I hate when it rolls around.
I enjoy November. I like that Thanksgiving is a quiet day without all of the craziness of some of the other holidays. Thanks for the gratitude ideas.
**Do you do anything special for November? well my bday on the 25th always makes november fun!
Any suggestions for celebrating gratitude this month? i think you've got some good ideas going..i enjoy that its NOT SO COMMERCIALIZED!! im anxious for the grubbing to begin--we even "practiced" on sunday with chicken/stuffing & yams w/ marshmellows! we're good to go!
I'm dying that it's already the 6th. Today is Nathan's birthday, I haven't posted about it yet, am working on dinner and feel so out of it with being gone this past weekend. Help, the month will be over before I know it!
Love your gratitude ideas. We talked about gratitude at FHE last night. I hope the kids grasp some of that, we have much to be grateful for.
Do you do anything special for November? november is always special for me, because i am grateful for my family at my birthday. i know it sounds bizarre, but i feel like my birthday is more about family than me.
Any suggestions for celebrating gratitude this month? i'm with writing in a gratitude journal. i tend to forget to do that.
Canadian Thanksgiving is in October, so our November is wonderfully blank. I (try) to use the time to get in gear for December so that December is a fun month for me instead of a working month. For example, I get lots of shopping done in November, I plan out our advent activites calender, I make the gifts that I am making, I get the cards ready to mail out, etc. Then when it is December I am ready to enjoy everything, for which I am grateful. The only catch is, while I am doing all of these things to prepare for Christmas, there isn't any visible sign (except my notebook) of the aproaching holidays. We don't decorate or listen to the music until Dec 1st.
we got the thanksgiving advent calendar from pottery barn kids and it is beautiful. this is worth watching to see if it goes on sale. it is so well made!!
we fill out the "I am grateful" card every night with the year and kids age, we will go through them year after year. i think it will be fun
i do feel like i getting a christmasy already. i bought stocking stuffers today and the rest of the girls gifts. we are really gearing up for a month of service downtown and i wanted to get anything for our family out of the way as hopefully that won't be our focus.
you buffet table looks awesome
I love your "choose to be happy."
Michelle is so sweet and crative! Love the journal. I'm kind of struggling with being over Hallowen, but it's too soon for Christmas decor. I'll be interested to see any ideas about this one. You shared some great ones!
I too am blown away by how fast days are flying by. My head is reeling with Christmas stuff I want to get done, but I DO want to try and "live in the moment" and enjoy Thanksgiving and all that is means. Thanks for the suggestions.
YOUR AWESOME VISIT MISSY
Great ideas Jill! I think Thanksgiving does get squashed a bit by the Christmas rush. Thanks for reminding me to savor it and express my gratitude in a variety of ways.
This is something I've been thinking about too. On Nov. 1, when I realized that the mainstream focus was skipping straight to Christmas, I decided to make a list of 100 things I'm thankful for. It's in progress and will be posted the week of Thanksgiving.
I love your list of ideas!
I like your idea of things to do to keep a reminder of the holiday. I hate feeling like Thanksgiving just gets skipped. Crazy to think it's only 2 weeks away.
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