An Attitude Of Gratitude In The New Year

What does it mean to be grateful?

An attitude of gratitude means making the conscious habit of expressing appreciation on a regular basis for big and small things alike. We may be grateful for our relationships, health, business, material items, food in our cupboards, running water in our homes, and our overall sense of well-being.

In this new year, we should make gratitude a daily habit. We may not have all we hoped for yet, but we should be thankful that we are not where we used to be. It is in appreciation of the seemingly 'little' things do we develop the skill of being content.

One skill I have learnt of the last couple of years is to list five things I am grateful for whenever I feel down and begin to compare my life with others. I list them in no particular order and sometimes add 'mundane' things that I usually take for granted. For instance, I ask myself "what is Diana grateful for today?" And the answer I come up with sometimes include "I am grateful for running water", "I am grateful for trees that give me oxygen", "I am grateful for the dress I am wearing now", "I am grateful I can hear that child crying" and "I am grateful I am not bald", etc. Telling myself these things remind me how blessed I am and how not to take these things for granted.

As we have began a new year, let us consciously be grateful to God. Let's give ourselves a pat on the back when we are able to accomplish something, no matter how small. Let us show appreciation to those who go out of their way to do us good. Let us thank the people who do the 'little' things for us. For in a few years down the line, we will begin to realise those were the things that matter. Let us go out of our way and show appreciation for what we have now even as we aim for more.

Happy New Year Folks!! It is going to be an awesome year!!