Gratitude
Thanksgiving is the ultimate holiday for expressing gratitude. It can be very hard
to find any reason for gratitude when you deal with
mounting challenges of your stepfamily demands. I feel that it is
important though to take inventory of your life and the people in it,
and be grateful for having your beautiful children, your present spouse,
your stepchildren, and even your former spouses that helped make having
your children possible.
Gratitude helps us be humble and appreciative of the gifts of love,
friendship, and faith that we are given. It helps us acknowledge someone
else’s contribution to the quality of our lives. Additionally, gratitude
helps us realize that it often takes more than one person to make our
world a better place for us individually, for our families, and our
society. Acknowledging it to the people in our lives will probably make
them happy that their efforts go noticed. When they are happy, they will
contribute to the happiness of the people they meet along the way, and
thus you create a positive ripple effect with your gratitude.
Relationships seem to be stronger and healthier when gratitude is expressed.
Some people have difficulties accepting gratitude expressed towards them.
However, thanking them for their contributions to you will probably help keep the flow of heartfelt
kindness coming your way. It helps the giver more than the receiver.
Oftentimes, thanking someone for something they did for you tells the
person that s/he matters, that s/he is making a difference in your life.
People like to be acknowledged and noticed, especially in intimate
relationships. Make sure that you celebrate your spouse’s presence in
your life throughout the year, and you will experience a more
emotionally intimate relationship.