Anyone who really knows me knows that Thanksgiving is the Holiday I like the least. Okay, I've been known to actually say, "I hate Thanksgiving." I know, it sounds horrible, but the fact of the matter is that I am grateful every.....single....day. I might also dislike Thanksgiving because something ridiculous always seems to occur on that day. Kind of like the curse of Thanksgivings past. Having said all that I do cook a full Thanksgiving Dinner for friends and family and partake in the traditions of the Holiday.
A couple of years ago, I decided to embark on a Fall project with my immediate family. It was probably done during the month of November and I have to say it is one of my most treasured posessions. For the sake of a name we will call it the "Grateful Project". I originally saw this concept on another blog and thought what a great idea. I asked my family to write something on a piece of paper that they were "grateful" for. We did this every night after dinner or before heading off to bed.
I simply purchased a 16 x 20 picture frame and poster board. Cut the poster board down to size and placed it in the frame with the glass in the back. This allowed me to hang the frame while the project was going on and have access to write on the poster board. When the project was complete we flipped the glass to the front.
Every evening, we would take a black marker and simply write in our own words and handwriting what we were grateful for. After about 10 days of doing this it began to get tricky. What were we really thankful for that no one had said yet, besides the obvious, what could we come up with to top another family member.
At the time my kids were 10, 7, and 2. It's fun to look back at not only what they were grateful for at that time in their life but also at their handwriting.
I have decided this year to take on this project again (this time inserting the word thankful). After 4 years are we grateful for more? Is our cup full? What will my 6 year old be grateful for and how will she embrace this project differently from when she was 2?
Every day we teach our kids to be appreciative but some times it's so easy to say what our friends do or the first thing that comes to our mind instead of taking the time to give it some thought. When you sit back and take a moment to really think about your blessings and where you have come from that is when it is truly Thanksgiving.
Some things my family wrote in 201o: love, peace, Steelers football, pilgrims, sisters, sunshine, Sewickley Academy, teddy, happiness, friends, clean water, smiles..... What are you Grateful for?
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