Yesterday, someone asked me if what I am doing with this project was a part of the #21daysofgratitude stream on Facebook. I have given it some thought, and I would like to share my thoughts with you.
The outward articulation of gratitude is important, it is vital to living whole, happy lives. But there is a difference between expressing gratitude for the THINGS in our lives, and expressing gratitude to the PEOPLE in our lives. With this project, I don’t just want to say ‘I am thankful for music’, I want to write the person who makes the music, or plays the music, and say ‘Thank you for bringing joy into my life every time I hear you play.’ Does that make sense? Do you see the difference? This project of mine, and yours too if you choose to participate, is about uplifting both ourselves and OTHERS; it is about allowing our own personal expression of gratitude to multiply and positively affect the lives of those we come in contact with everyday. In this way, the joy found in expressing gratitude compounds with the joy produced in receiving such a gift. Quality human expression/connection is the ultimate aim and result of this project, and I can attest to it’s success – my life, and the relationships I foster, only get better and better with each card I write.
So, that being said, I encourage you to express gratitude every chance you get, and every way you can. I encourage you to look for the opportunities given you everyday to say ‘Thank you’. Take them, it will change the imprint you leave on this world.
All my love,
Lefty Smudges
Allyson Proulx 