Be Grateful!

I love this time of year for many reasons, but I especially love the emphasis that is puts on being thankful and showing gratitude.

Being grateful makes us more optimistic and happier.  I once heard about this psychologist who was a therapist for more than thirty years and she could basically put people into two groups-- determining if they were happy or not. Those who showed gratitude were happy, those who did not show gratitude were not happy.  It was as simple as that.  That really struck a chord with me.  So simple-- looking for ways to see your blessings, thanking others, praising God for all that we have been given will lead to a happier life.

Anyways, I was pondering all this when I decided to change up my chalk board.

I wanted to keep it simple and to the point.

I decided to go with the tree theme because it seems very symbolic to me. 

Plus, we could write in what we're grateful for in its leaves. 

By Thanksgiving our little tree will be all filled up with things to "Be Grateful" for.  I decided not to set on a time when someone could write something, or a specific day-- anyone who wants to add something can.  And if we run out of leaves-- I'll add more.

See that little notch right there with "J + A"?

This is not the first tree to receive such words.

There is an actual tree with a similar declaration.

For the record, I did not write it.  This was knifed into the tree in the backyard where I lived when I first met my husband to be.  He did not write it either.  We were not even dating when this tree got it's marks.

My roommate did it.  She was just so certain we were going to be together. One day she ran out of the house with a huge knife and started carving.  Picture me giggling behind her. You can see to the right of the heart where her original heart was going to be.  I yelled out, "whoa, not so big".  So she started again, a little smaller.

I'm grateful for that tree testifying of my love for J!