It’s no secret to my friends and family that this time of year is one of my favorite times of the year! I absolutely love the fall season and love the transition into the holiday season even more. Yes, I am one of those people who will immediately listen to holiday music as soon as Halloween is over! What I love most though is the feeling this time of year brings. While I promote kindness, gratitude, and giving back year round, this time of year seems to be the time of year when most people choose to donate, give back, or show random acts of kindness. So, I am going to take full advantage of this trend and challenge each of you to 23 days of gratitude!
What is this challenge you ask? For the days leading up to the Thanksgiving holiday, my hope is that everyone will be reminded of the things in which they are grateful for. We tend to get so caught up in the hustle and bustle of life that we sometimes take for granted the things in life which truly highlight just how fortunate we are. So, if you are in a position to give back, I challenge you for the next 23 days to show your gratitude by doing for others! What’s in it for you? The simple feeling of joy which will undoubtedly consume you. When we do for others, without expecting anything in return, it truly ignites something within us. When we give, we grow. And I have yet to meet someone who felt worse after doing something nice for others.
“We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.”- Winston Churchill
Day 1: Write down at least 5 things you are grateful for in your life in a gratitude journal. If you have more than 5, AWESOME! But try for at least 5! (This is something fun to keep doing daily, even after the challenge has ended! It will help remind you each day of something positive vs. negative.)
Day 2: Call a friend you are grateful to have in your life and tell them that you are grateful for their friendship.
Day 3: Find a local clothing drive and provide a donation to that clothing drive. (It doesn’t matter how much you donate, anything is better than nothing for those who truly have so little.)
Day 4: Find a local food drive and provide a donation to that food drive. (With Thanksgiving approaching, there will be many opportunities for this, especially at grocery stores!)
Day 5: Pay it forward at the coffee shop. Pay for someone else’s coffee as a random act of kindness.
Day 6: Give 5 random people compliments.
Day 7: Find a local toy drive and donate a toy for a child in need.
Day 8: Sign up for an upcoming volunteer opportunity in your community.
Day 9: Give your server an extra good tip!
Day 10: Hold the door open for someone…with a smile!
Day 11: Give a loved one a hug and tell them why you appreciate them.
Day 12: Bake someone cookies as a way to show them you care about them.
Day 13: Send a “Thinking of You” card to someone you haven’t talked to in a while.
Day 14: Offer to help a family member or friend with something they’ve been struggling with.
Day 15: Thank someone in the armed forces for their service.
Day 16: Share at least 3 different charity or donation opportunities/links on your social media page to help spread the word to others.
Day 17: Bring in coffee or some sweet treats for your co-workers.
Day 18: Go to your local pet shelter and give those fur babies some loving! (Also! Pet shelters are often looking for donations of sheets, blankets, and linens. Do a sweep of your house and see if you have any old linens lying around which you can donate as well.)
Day 19: Teach someone something new, share your knowledge!
Day 20: Be patient in a situation where your patience is running thin.
Day 21: Forgive someone you’ve been holding anger towards. (Believe in the power of prayer? Pray for them. It’s difficult to hold anger towards someone you are praying for.)
Day 22: Leave a copy of your favorite inspirational book at your local coffee shop for someone else to read and be inspired by.
Day 23: Encourage someone else to do this challenge with you!
I would LOVE to hear how you feel during this challenge, so feel free to leave me a comment below! Remember that although these ideas seem simple, the impact they will have on those you reach will be HUGE!
“Those who are happiest are those that do the most for others.”- Booker T. Washington
I would LOVE to know what spoke to you today and encourage you to comment below and share with me!
If you are interested in learning more about my therapy services, check out my website HERE. Seeking mental health services can be daunting and if you are finding my posts resonate with you, it is likely you are feeling ready to take that next step to work on leading a happier, healthier life! I would LOVE to support you in starting this journey and welcome you to send me an email at counselingservices@smsteeves.com.
ALSO! Check out my FREE “How Do I know If Therapy Is Right For Me” printable to start the process of deciding whether or not taking this next step is right for YOU! Just add your name + email address below and you will receive an email with a link to your FREEBIE!
Be Well,
Sarah