Beginning Again: Gratitude

by Dotti

There has always been something about new planners and new calendars that I love, with those fresh, clean pages, blank palettes to be filled. Filled with the notable and not so notable details of my life. A new planner allows me a new beginning.

So, here we are, thirteen days into this latest 'beginning'. It's January. Already major parts of our country and Canada have experienced bone-chilling cold and snow, alternating with higher than normal temperatures bringing not sunshine but rainy, grey days. {Did I mention that January is the longest month of the year?} Parts of Europe have had unusual weather as well. And how are our friends in the Southern Hemisphere doing?

When this happens, people tend to stay home more than usual and often cabin fever sets in. Have you ever had cabin fever? I have. It's not fun. I, and most of those around me, tend to get cranky, short-tempered, irritable. Energy sags, creativity seems to disappear, the desire to pick up a camera does disappear. {Why did I ever think a 365 project was a good idea?}

So, what's a person to do? Well, it just so happens that I have an idea or two.

Pam/Fishgirl, a longtime, faithful member of the FOL family, and I were exchanging emails about this very topic and Pam observed that January should be gratitude month instead of November. After all, gratitude seems to happen spontaneously in November because of the holidays. She suggested maybe there should be a gratitude day in January.

I thought this was a brilliant!

Therefore, with the power vested in me, I, Dotti Rinehart, hereby declare today, the 13th day of January in the year of our Lord, 2014, to be Focusing on Life Gratitude Day. Go forth with an Attitude of Gratitude, being watchful for reasons, both large and small, to be grateful. You shall also practice Random Acts of Kindness, both large and small, as part of your Gratitude Practice.

PS – It’s not too late to join our 365 Project Flickr page, you may start any day of the year. If you’ve tried before and failed, I encourage you to join with us and try again! We’re all there to support one another, making it more inspirational and more fun.

Also – don’t forget our regular Flickr page and our theme for the month, Beginnings. It is helpful to us if you tag your ‘Beginnings’ photos with that word. It makes it easier when we’re selecting each week’s Focus on You. Thanks!