Monday, October 22, 2007

30 Days of Thanksgiving

The holidays are rapidly approaching, and as we begin the mad dash for gift buying, meal preparation, decorations, travel, and all the busy-ness that comes along with the holidays, I want to share with you a challenge that has me so excited... one that I toss back at YOU!

Beth at Life With Two Little Vikings is hosting 3o Days of Thanksgiving. Put plainly, it's thirty days that you make a concerted effort to share with 30 people how much they mean to you, and how thankful you are that they are a part of your life, in one way or another. As Beth put it, "...it encourages the pay-it-forward spirit..."

Beth suggests making a list of people for your list of thirty, and says: "Who around you do you appreciate? Who makes a tough day a little easier to get through? Who silently takes care of small (or big) tasks around you? Who makes you smile and thankful they are part of your life? Wouldn't it be nice if they knew how you felt?"

Once you have your list ready, beginning on October 24th, send out a note of appreciation, whether it is by email or by snail mail through November 22, Thanksgiving Day (and let me add, that there is NOTHING more powerful than the written word, and I honestly feel that snail mail notes and cards carry much more weight behind them than emails!).

Friends... this is also a hands-on way that you can teach your child the spirit of appreciation, gratefulness, and love... a colored picture, a scribbled note, there are so many things a child can do that can show their appreciation. I hope you consider including them in this 30 Days of Thankfulness!

Stop by Beth's blog and leave her a note that you'll be participating. Grab the button from her blog, then post about it on your blog, and if possible, do a follow-up post about the blessings that you shared, and in turn, received!

I hope you consider participating in this challenge, as I'm certain you WILL receive a blessing in return!

6 comments:

Unknown said...

That is a great idea. So often we make our opinions known when we are unhappy, but why not share the joy? I love this.

Susanne said...

What a great idea, Gibee. And it is a powerful tool to teach your kids no matter how old they are!

And I agree with you, a real, live, hard copy note or card in the real live mailbox is somehow much more effective than email, what with all the email send to everybody in your address book stuff that gets sent around.

Pam said...

Oh, I am definitely all over this. I just made a bunch of thanksgiving/gratefulness cards this weekend while enjoying college football with my family.

Here's the catalyst for using those! Thanks for passing on the info. GiBee.

(This is really from peach, but this is my google addy.)

Anonymous said...

I read this just after I called my elderly neighbor, just to check on her. Turns out I can take her to the doctor and shopping tomorrow; she's been spending her money on cab fare to get to and fro'. I am happy with the lessons my parents taught me. :)

Donnetta said...

What a fabulously wonderful idea this is!!! Thanks for sharing this with us!

Ms. Kathleen said...

What a great idea Beth has. I should write letters to all I know and tell them they are precious! Yes I should!

Hugs!