For the last few years, my news feed during November has been full of gratitude. Every day friends would share something they are grateful for. It was 30 Days of Gratitude that somewhere along the lines even launched into 365 days of gratitude. Like anything on social media, there was a myriad of opinion pieces that sprang up around this practice.

• Surviving the Gratitude Posts on Facebook
• Please Not Another Gratitude Post
• How Gratitude Can Change Your Life
• 30 Days of Gratitude Challenge, 2016

I’m not one to knock gratitude. In fact, I strongly encourage it. I’m missing it this year. Instead, my newsfeed is filled with dread and discomfort of Thanksgiving with family and politics. No this is not a political piece so keep reading 😉

Teaching Children Gratitude

This past Sunday I read the children one of my favorite stories during Children’s Time, The Giving Tree.

At the end of the story, I asked them to stop and wonder where they were in the story. The answers focused on climbing the tree for apples and playing hide-n-seek. They saw themselves as the young boy enjoying and loving the tree in return.

We turned the conversation to what it might look like in our lives to be the tree. What does it look like to love others? What does it look like to serve others from a grateful heart? We went around the room and each one shared a person they are grateful for and an act of kindness they could show them. There was an overwhelming amount of thankfulness for moms followed by an act of kindness of cleaning their rooms. One child pointed out though that she should probably save her mom act of kindness for Mother’s Day (yes that was my child).

Where Am I In The Story

When I ask myself the same questions, where am I in the story, I feel more like the man asking for a boat to sail away. If I’m honest I’m exhausted by the negativity this month and want to run and hide. I miss the gratitude posts, even the ones just for apples or air to breathe. I have taken several short tech breaks because my heart breaks at the fear and discomfort I find on my computer screen. (No this is not turning into a political post, we all have enough of those elsewhere).

Instead of counteracting the negativity I chopped down my own tree and sailed away. I do not know that I can help heal the heartache all over my facebook feed. And while we all need a break, I shouldn’t run. I am grateful for the many friends of varying opinions, faiths, and ideas. I am grateful to not live in an echo chamber and that I have the unique privilege of hearing from so many voices.

What I Can Do

I can continue to teach gratitude through both actions and words. I can continue to serve from a place of thanksgiving. I can continue to show kindness and humanity to those in my circle and outside. I can believe in a better tomorrow and share that optimism with my own children. I can support my friends in their endeavors, share meals with neighbors and strangers, foster a culture of gratitude and joy, and look for the positive in moments where hope is lacking.

Gratitude to Action

Last year I had several guest bloggers share why they were grateful for their military community. Reading back over the posts is a beautiful reminder of this group of men and women I belong to and their hearts for service.

• Thankful for this passionate rag-tag bunch of awesome-sauce.
• 3 Reasons I Am Thankful for My Military Community
• For Friends and Couches
• Why I’m Thankful for the Military Community, From a Civilian
• I’m So Thankful for My MilSpouse Friends
• Why I’m Thankful for My Military Community

The best part of being named the 2015 Fort Bliss AFI Military Spouse of the Year was in meeting the amazing men and women who saw needs in our military community and sprang to action. These men and women are beyond grateful for the community they serve and have found their life calling in serving others. I am continually awed and humbled by the examples they set to serve others.

Service springs forth from a grateful heart. A natural response to gratitude is one of service. When an individual or a person touches our lives in positive ways it’s natural to respond in kind. For our family, St. Jude Children’s Hospital is one of these places. Service comes easy when you know there is no possible way to repay a kindness.

The holiday Thanksgiving is quickly followed by shopping. I know there are a lot of negative opinions on jumping from a table with family and a time of reflection to the bustle of shopping lines and “greed” but I think it’s more complex than that. Sure, as with anything there can be a negative side. The articles posted previously about the gratitude project show that. Gratitude can be used as a tool for good and bad, it can be a disguise for bragging or it can be a channel for authentic joy and kindness.

I don’t like lines. I’d rather sit in my pjs on Friday all day, read, watch movies with the family, and eat an overabundance of leftovers. But that has more to do with who I am as an introvert then what is or isn’t wrong with the world. In case you’re like me, enjoying the quiet of home, I’m hosting an online Stella & Dot party for a good friend and battle buddy Judy Davis.

However, this Friday I’m not staying home. I’m leaving my house for the first time in years on this crazy busy day and spending it shopping with friends supporting their small businesses. I’ll be signing copies of my book Finding Joy and enjoying a relaxed morning surrounded by people I am grateful for.

I’ve already loaded up on several small gifts to pass out randomly this year from JEM’s Eclectic Home by Janelle. Janelle is another military spouse who I am extremely grateful for. She’s introduced me to herbology and alternative medications for areas in our family where modern medicine was not working.

This community of entrepreneurs, military spouses, and El Paso friends is one I am deeply grateful for. Sharing their passion and businesses with you is one small way I can show my gratitude for all the ways they’ve touched my life. I’m finding joy this year in not only the giving but also the purchasing. I’m sharing my gratitude for friendships in supporting their small businesses while blessing others and my own heart through giving.

I guess I won’t be chopping down my tree and sailing away in a boat this year. I’d like to think I’d be with the kids from Sunday, gleefully playing in the branches and mutually enjoying all life has to give.

How are you showing gratitude today and every day?