November
Be thankful that you don't already have everything you desire.
If you did, what would there be to look forward to?
Be thankful when you don't know something,
for it gives you the opportunity to learn.

Be thankful for the difficult times.
During those times you grow.
Be thankfor for your limitations,
because they give you opportunities for improvement.
Be thankful for each new challenge,
because it will build your strength and character.

Be thankfor for your mistakes.
They will teach you valuable lessons.
Be thankful when you're tired and weary,
because it means you've made a difference.

It's easy to be thankful for the good things.
A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who
are also thankful for the setbacks.
Gratitude can turn a negative into a positive.
Find a way to be thankful for your troubles,
and they can become your blessings.
--Unknown

October
There's something about the warm, rich colors that begin to arrive in October that makes us even more aware of how warm and rich our lives are. Pumpkins and Indian corn abound, and the apples fresh from the tree are as crisp as the cooler temperatures. A change of seasons brings a change of wardrobe as we rediscover a favorite sweater and fuzzy socks. What's not to love about fall?

This season of harvest relates to our Gratitude Project, too. All year we've been planting the seeds of gratitude, training ourselves to see the good that surrounds us, and we should be reaping the benefit of that hard work now. We're seeing our lives with eyes schooled by all we've learned since the beginning of the year and realizing we have much to be grateful for.

The days may be shorter this time of year, but our appreciation for the blessings in our lives grows longer and longer. Happy fall!

September
There's something about September that is much like January...a fresh start. We have our school years to thank for that with the excitement of a new grade, the smell of new school supplies and the optimism of new learning opportunities. The lazy days of summer give way to a more structured schedule.

Our Gratitude Project is, in reallity, a learning opportunity. We're learning to examine our lives more closely and find the good in them. It's an easy assignment when things are going our way but the real challenge comes in finding positives in the difficulties that come our way. This month's video contains a wonderful quote to help us as we learn this lesson.

If you've taken a summer vacation from your Gratitude Project, let September be the time to get back into the routine of appreciating the blessings in your life. It's not about catching up pages although that's an admirable goal and evidence of our efforts. The focus is on the inner journey of being thankful for what life brings our way as a means of finding happiness.

There's no homework, tests or grades associated with this learning opportunity but it is a lesson that will stay with you forever

August
We're well past mid-way on our yearly project, and hopefully by now it is easier to see the blessings in our life. Our eyes have been opened and we're experiencing gratitude for little things we might have once overlooked. But have we moved beyond the little things to living with an attitude of gratitude?

Here's an experiment to fill your heart and mind with gratitude. When you arise in the morning, spend a few minutes with affirmations...stating aloud all the people and things in your life you are grateful for. Say it will deep feeling and enthusiasm. Then as you go about your day, keep the love and appreciation going toward everyone you meet. Tell co-workers how much you value their contribution. Share something more than a simple "I love you" with family...let them know their unique personality traits are special. Compliment a total stranger. Don't fake it and go through the emotions...be genuine.

You will find two distinct benefits: Your own heart is lifted at bring such joy into the lives of others. And what goes around, comes around. The kindnesses you sent out into the world will be repaid in offers to help when you need it, compliments out of the blue, and any number of other nice surprises.

The wisdom of gratitude is in the genuineness of the heart that is expressing it. And when you express real gratitude, it will come back to you many times over. Now all you have to do is repeat the experiment on a daily basis and you're living with an attitude of gratitude.

July
Apple pie. Family picnics. Fireworks. The Stars and Stripes. They're all symbols of the Fourth of July and the heart of summer.

This is the month to express our gratitude for the great country in which we live. It isn't perfect by any means, but we have the freedom to enact change in our effort to get closer to that perfection. And it's a time to express our appreciation for those who have and are currently serving in the military. The freedoms we enjoy come as a direct result of their sacrifices.

As you're raising the flag at your home or watching the neighborhood parade this holiday, think about what this country means to you. Say a pray for the safe return of those who've left their families to serve elsewhere and appreciate the blessings of the freedoms they are protecting. And when the fireworks are over, keep that gratitude you feel for all those things dear to your heart. They are blessings to be celebrated all year long.

We're halfway through our Gratitude Project...the first six months seemed to fly by. I hope you're feeling you have much in your life to be thankful for


June
Wish you were here. The phrase may be a little trite but it's an easy one to add to the end of a postcard home. Summer travel days are at hand, and we send those notes to the people we left behind in part to share our adventures but also to let them know we are thinking of them.

You don't have to leave home to let people know they are in your thoughts. We're all stretched too thin to keep up with everything we need and want to do, and it's easy to lose touch. Let this be the month we change that...to put our gratitude at the top of our to-do list and say thank you to those who have touched our lives.

Go beyond a simple I love you in your Father's Day card and thank Dad for the lessons and values he taught you. Do more than forward a cute joke to your good friends; tell them how much it means to you to know they'll be by your side no matter what. Buy a box of pretty cards and write short notes to you former teachers, co-works hair stylist...anyone who has shown you kindness and makes your life better.

Park of acknowledging our blessing is saying thank you for what we've been given. Take time today to say thanks to those who have given to you in one form or another. Your travels on the road of life will be better for it.


May
May...it's a beautiful month associated with celebrating motherhood, graduations and the remembrance of family and heroes.

Most of us participating in this project are scrapbookers and as such, we've developed an appreciation for recording the everyday. We've learned (or are still learning) that the most treasured memories aren't just the birthday cakes, Christmas gifts and family vacations, but they include family game nights, the decor and furnishings of bygone days, and the unique personality traits of those we love.

That's how life is..the greatest joy comes from small things, the ones we all too often take for granted or allow to go unnoticed. We're working to remedy that..to live in the present, to take notice of each minute and to realize that some of the smallest things in life add up to become the big things.

By acknowledging our everyday gratitude in whatever form our project has taken, we're finding more and more of those small things. Everyday isn't necessarily the day we would wish for, but everyday is the day we designed. By reminding ourselves that on those days when we look for the good in the smallest things and express gratitude for it, we not only open our eyes to the beauty in life but we also create it...and that's a big thing.

So celebrate those milestones in life that are remembered in May...the special relationship between mother and child, the excitement of a new path that graduating offers, and the appreciation for those who've gone before us. But be grateful too for the little things life offers us every day.


April
Ahhh, spring! It's my favorite time of year...a virtual explosion of color as the grass and trees turn a vibrant green and flowers of all hues burst forth. Throw in some blue skies, puffy white clouds and the sounds of birds warbling happy tunes and I'm in heaven.

Spring is a time of renewal. Plants gone dormant in winter's cold emerge from the ground and begin to grow again. Seeds are buried in the rich earth and soon new plants are peeking through, ready to reach for the sky. And then there are the babies...from livestock on the farm to hatchlings in the nest, it's as though Mother Nature is saying to the world Let's start all over again!

If your gratitude project has gone dormant over the last month or two, now is a great time to revive it and start all over again as well. Over the last few weeks the gallery has been blooming with new ideas as several members have found renewed interest in their projects. The pages are beautiful and the subject matter inspiring. We'll hope you'll joing in too.

And if you don't have time for pages just yet, plant some seeds of gratitude in your everyday life. They're sure to help you grow into a happier person.


March
Is your Gratitude Project much like the proverbial March...it started out like a lion but now it's a lamb? Or maybe you're just discovering this creative adventure and are concerned that since you missed the start, it's too late to get on board. Not to worry; it's a very forgiving format and one you can interpret many ways...ways that will accommodate a late start or some stops and starts along the way.

If you've already set your album up for 52 blessings, let go of any guilt you may be feeling at not having created an entry every week. Jot down notes of blessings now and make the pages later, or abandon the idea of weekly entries and record blessings as time allows.

An option if you're just getting started or want to modify your efforts is to abandon the idea of weekly blessings and create a "book of good things," assembling blessings as your schedule allows. Whether you have 22, 52 or 102, you'll have achieved the benefits of focusing on gratitude.

Any album you create is simply the physical reminder of what is good in our lives, and being aware of those good things is the object of this year-long journey. Gravitate toward gratitude, whenever and in whatever form works for you and your busy life.


February
How's your Gratitude Groove coming along? If you weren't aware you had one, maybe this bit of research into gratitude will acquaint you with yours.

There's a lot of truth to the old saying "misery loves company." That's why it feels good at the end of a bad day to call up your best gal pal and rattle off your litany of complaints. This is good from time to time; done a repetitive basis, however, it reinforces negative thinking. Scientifically this repeated behavior creates a groove in the neural pathway of the brain...in this case a groove of griping and complaining.

The good news is the same principle works the other way, too. Studies show that friends who share an appreciation for the good things in their lives find they experience more positive emotions, overall happiness and a great satisfaction with life in general. Reinforcing this desireable behavior creates a Gratitude Groove.

That's what we're doing here at the Gratitude Project...grooving those positive feelings by sharing the good things with our Grateful Girlfriends (and the occasional Guy-friend, too) in the form of photos, stories and projects.

So now you know...it's time to get your groove on. The new video is sure to get you started.

January
Life is good! It isn't perfect and it isn't without concern for what lies ahead, but there is much to be grateful for as we go about our daily routines.

By taking the time to focus on the good things in our lives, we gain numerous benefits to our physical and mental health. Studies show that people who acknowedge their gratitude on a regular basis don't dwell on their pain and problems but direct their energies in other more positive ways. Best of all, it multiplies...the more you focus on your blessings, the more blessed you feel. We can all benefit from emphazing the good that surrounds us.

Throughout 2009 we'll be looking for and recording the blessing in our lives on a weekly basis. For most that means a photograph and some type of journal/scrapbook for our thoughts, but the actual format remains a personal choice. So while tangible documentation may vary, the thought behind the project remains the same...taking time to recognize the good in our lives.

We'll use this site to connect, share and inspire one another as we take this journey together. Each member is free to add content, making it a true community for the benefit of all.

It's simple: 52 weeks...52 photos...52 blessings. We hope you'll pull up a chair and join us...and see just how good your life is, too.