Positivity

Gratitude Journal – Prompt #4

/ Luanne Shernisky / 4 Comments
food

Photo credit: Krzysztof Puszczynski/StockSnap.io

Day #4 – What food are you most grateful for?

30 Days of Gratitude

The answer to Day 4 of  the 30 Days of Gratitude Prompts is whatever food that I happen to be eating, at any given time. In other words, I’m grateful for all the food that I’m blessed to have!

So many people in our world go without a proper diet, let alone those who are starving. We see these tragic faces on the news reports, as well as in our own neighborhoods. 

It’s incomprehensible that in a world as advanced as ours, there are still people who go without the basic necessities of life. When we see the excess lifestyles of the “rich and famous,” we’re reminded of the vast inequities that exist. 

Yes, there are those people who make bad choices and end up addicted and dependent on the government. But, not all these folks are responsible for their dire straits. Some are victims of terrible circumstances beyond their control, like former veterans, displaced workers, and people with devastating illnesses. We also have a serious mental health crisis that further adds to the problem. As a society, we have a huge amount of work to do in order to alleviate these problems. 

syrian-boy_r

Then there are the countries whose leaders don’t care about the quality of life of their citizens. The most brutal of these are actually responsible for the torture and killing of their own people.

I believe we have a responsibility to be aware of who needs help and do what we can. This could mean donating money or food items to organizations that work to end hunger and poverty. It could mean volunteering for a local food bank or the various events held to raise money.

A good place to start is the Federal Trade Commission Consumer Information. This website offers advice on how to avoid charity scams and what to check before making any type of donation.

With Thanksgiving and Christmas just a few months away, the Salvation Army bell ringers and other charitable groups will be out in force. Feeding the hungry and caring for the less fortunate is the message of the season. 

homelessness

As we hurry about shopping for our groceries and Christmas gifts, I would urge everyone to be mindful of those living a life of poverty. Rather than judge them without knowing their back story, perhaps we can simply offer them a hot meal or help in the soup kitchen. I don’t have much to give, but I give what I can.

And by doing so, my own foods tastes a whole lot better! 

Carpe diem!

 

 

Gratitude Journal – Prompt #2

/ Luanne Shernisky / Leave a comment

 

9yqbfh7pyq

Photo credit: Caio Resende/StockSnap.io

Day #2 – What technology are you grateful for?

30 Days of Gratitude

The second day of the 30 Days of Gratitude Prompts sounds like a trick question; you mean I have to narrow it down to only one? 

That’s quite a challenge when you consider what technology I’ve used so far today…

  • Alarm clock – to wake me up for a 9am new tires appointment
  • Keurig – where I made my morning cup(s) of coffee
  • Car – to get me to said appointment
  • iPhone – to keep me entertained during appointment (along with an actual book) – I left the Kindle at home
  • TV – in the waiting room at tire store, where I listened in on the news
  • Microwave – where I made my oatmeal once I got home again
  • iPhone – which I used to call my mother after oatmeal
  • Mac Air laptop – which I’m using to type this post
  • Logitech wireless mouse – because I prefer mice to trackpads

And that’s only today. Everyday I rely on the refrigerator, a/c, furnace, and lighting for basic comforts. Most days I use a laptop, Internet, camera, blow dryer, oven, and other assorted appliances that require electricity. Occasionally, I get on an airplane.

It’s been a long time since I thought about all the forms of technology that we use on a regular basis. Narrowing my choice down to only one is quite impossible…I really do appreciate them all. The alarm clock ensures that I’ll get up on time. The phone keeps me connected to family & friends. The microwave not only allows me to cook my oatmeal, but to cook it a bit faster. And the coffeemaker guarantees that I’ll be awake for all the other activities!

vintage-technology

It’s amazing when you consider how far we’ve advanced in the last several decades. I’m 55 and our idea of technology in the 60s was television sets in color (and they were big enough to be considered a piece of furniture.) Mainframe computers were the size of small dinosaurs and exclusive only to businesses. I remember when wireless remote phones and answering machines came out. In high school our typewriters didn’t even have a correction key.

Wow, we really have come a long way baby!

But, for the purpose of this Gratitude Journal, I’ll choose one and that is the laptop computer. Without it, I couldn’t be typing to you, dear Reader! I’ve been blogging since last November and truly enjoy it.

The computer was a real lifesaver throughout my college years, from 2009 to 2013. Some of you may remember when rough drafts had to be handwritten in pencil, because copy & paste hadn’t been invented yet. Research could only be done at the library. Typing final drafts and documents are now a breeze with autocorrect, word count, etc. 

technology_world

We all know how computers and the Internet (once called the Information Highway) keep us connected to the outside world. We have instant communication with people on the other side of the planet, as well as folks in our own neighborhoods.

Computers have transformed doing business, as well. Processes that once took days now take mere seconds. However, our reliance on them makes us vulnerable to crashes and hackers. Unfortunately, there’s always a downside.

Because the laptop is mobile, it offers a lot of freedom regarding where and when I can utilize it. Right now, I’m sitting on the patio enjoying the breeze and the bird songs. While I love all that technology offers, I still appreciate the natural world. It’s there for us to unplug and decompress.

Come to think of it, maybe I’ll take a little nap, now that I’ve finished this post!   

Carpe diem!

 

 

Gratitude Journal – Prompt #1

/ Luanne Shernisky / 4 Comments
Processed with VSCOcam with hb1 preset

Photo credit: Ilya Mazurkevich/StockSnap.io

In an effort to finally begin that gratitude journal I’ve been thinking about, I’m utilizing the 30 prompts from my post of  September 4th – 30 Reasons To Smile Again.

30 Days of Gratitude

I found this great tool & visual on Pinterest; it comes from TextMyJournal.com (thank you!) What I like about these prompts are the simplicity of the content. Forget about big bank accounts, fancy job titles, and luxury automobiles. My bank account consistently adheres to the “less is more” philosophy, I have no job title (currently unemployed) and my two cars boast a total of 33 years between them…Bada-boom!

Is the glass half empty or half full? Well, it all depends on perspective. I’m in good health and the battles that I and my people are fighting are pretty average stuff. I’m thinking half full when you consider all the things that can go wrong.

These prompts get us thinking about the stuff we don’t think about. You know…all those little things that we take for granted, like our health, our five senses, family/friends, etc.

gratitude-journal

So…in the spirit of becoming more aware of my many blessings, I begin my Gratitude Journal.

This concept ties in with mindfulness, which is something I’ll be studying and sharing in future posts. Mindfulness is another word for awareness, which helps us to be grateful for what we have!

Day #1 – What smell are you grateful for today?

My answer to this question today is the aroma of morning coffee.

It’s usually the first smell I encounter in the morning and knowing the Keurig awaits is all the incentive I need to get out of bed. 

What is it about a simple cup of Joe that gets coffee lovers moving in the morning? One estimate says 83% of Americans drink coffee everyday. Is it the bold taste of the beans or the caffeine rush? Is it the heady aroma that tantalizes our olfactory nerves?

I believe it’s a Greek combo plate of all those things, as well as the ritual itself. Humans are known to be creatures of habit. I believe our habits or rituals give us a sense of security. They provide structure to our schedules and meaning to our everyday lives. I believe that making coffee in the morning is a crucial element to starting my day. 

smell-coffee

Anyway…I’m grateful for the delightful aroma of my morning coffee as I contemplate the upcoming day and all my life’s blessings (including all my friends from the blogosphere!)

Are you ready to begin a Gratitude Journal? Join me for 30 days of smiles!!  🙂

Carpe diem!